If you haven't checked out Puerto Rico, I strongly suggest you do. It is one awesome place. The boy and I took a trip back in June for a good friend's wedding, but I haven't gotten to write just about that trip and great things to do there:
El Morro - This is a Spanish build fort from the 1400s. It is not only huge, but an incredible feat of engineering. It is very castle like but without the glitz and comforts inside. It has quite a few levels and you can see where the cannons would be placed to help defend the fort. I thought overall it was pretty cool that it was still standing in general. Check it out, it has some great history.
Old San Juan - This is the most vibrant city I have ever seen. They filmed Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights in Old San Juan because it resembled Cuba the most. You can see the great love Puerto Ricans have for life through their great expression on the outsides of their buildings. Even the grand church has a homey elegant feel to it and is a stones through away from the Old San Juan Gate - which was once the gate that dignitaries used to enter into the city by boat. It still has the 1749 carved into the huge door.
The Ocean and Beach - Living in Texas, I've only seen Texas beaches which due to the Mississippi River Delta are quite brown and dirty with sediment. In Puerto Rico, you have the clearest water I've ever seen. The ocean turns from green to blue to dark blue, colors I have yet to see turned into crayons. Photos don’t even do it justice - at least not with my camera. The beach is a great place. All beaches in Puerto Rico are public, so you could go to a nice resort and just hang out on their beach and no one would say anything to you.
Pimp Hotels - We stayed at the coolest hotel - Marriott Sellarias and Casino. When you walk in it has this great lobby bar right smack in front of you. With a bandstand and dance floor behind that. There is live music at night and people around this part of the hotel at all times. The Casino was right off of the lobby bar. I've never been to a Casino before, so it was great to check out games and play penny slots…we even played nickel slots a dollar or two. The pool was large and had a shallow section mostly for children and a larger deeper section with a swim up bar. I think what we loved most about the hotel was our room. We got an upgrade at check in to a corner king room on the 18th floor. We had two balconies overlooking the ocean and windows around the whole room. I still have dreams about waking up in that awesome room.
Night Life - Just a hop skip and jump away from the hotel are great clubs, after hours clubs and restaurants. Be warned that bars close early (like 11 pm). Our bachelorette party made the mistake of hitting up the after hours club before the bar then trying to go to the bar and it was closed. So it was just an adventure in going out. Also, pretty much everyone knows how to make the best mojito you have ever tasted. Just try one you will like it. Their local beer - Medalia is also great.
Sites: The Jungle - I hear this is one of the most beautiful things to see on the island. Puerto Rico has the 3rd purest water on earth due to its rain forest. You can do about any adventurous type thing you would like. From hiking to kayaking, they have it all. Bacardi Factory - Puerto Rico is home to Bacardi rum and they have a cool factory tour you can take with a taste test at the end. It was one of the highlights for some friends.
Overall, I can't wait to go back to Puerto Rico. Everyone was nice and incredibly friendly. Check it out, you will enjoy. Also, they take US dollars and as a protectorate you don't need a passport to get there.
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for taking the time to comment!!