Fri 29 Aug 2008
Puerto Rico, 2008
Posted by JC under Random
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Going back to PR again this year! Here's the current outline of the vacation plans… subject to change.
Here's the map.
Arriving Friday afternoon, staying Friday night in "Da House", a sort of bohemian artsy place on top of a popular nightclub, packed full of art by local artists.
Spending Friday afternoon/evening exploring Old San Juan, probably have dinner somewhere with local criolla food, and walk along the walls of old san juan, the street vendors, etc… have some good coffee…
Saturday morning, head to Fajardo and board the Erin Go Bragh, a 50 foot sailboat, which will take us on a 7 hour tour of some of the small islands of the Spanish Virgin Islands (you never hear about them because they're smaller than the other ones, considered a part of PR and until like 2004 they were mostly restricted military training grounds), including snorkeling and lunch.
After that, we head to the island of Vieques, either dropped off by the Erin Go Bragh, or taking the ferry from Fajardo, and check in to the Casa de Amistad, drop off our things, and as the evening approaches, head off for a biobay tour, where we'll boat and swim in one of the worlds few bioluminescent bays, where little plankton things glow when the water around them is disturbed. (We might end up having to do this Sunday instead because of time constraints)
Sunday we'll rent a jeep and explore the island. Until very recently it was almost entirely restricted as a naval training area, but now it's a protected national or state park or something… we plan to visit the other town on the island, take a quick half hour tour of the local fort and museum, and then drive around… maybe do some more snorkeling on our own or find a nice beach to relax on. In the evening, we'll watch the sun set over the ocean from a beach on the west coast. (Unless we can't get in a biobay tour on Saturday).
On Monday, we'll leave Vieques by ferry, and head to El Yunque rain Forest. We haven't decided exactly what we want to do there, but probably a guided tour and some hiking and maybe swimming in one of the pools with waterfalls and stuff. 
From there, we head back to Old San Juan, check in to the "Jungle Room" at the Caleta Guesthouse, and tour the old forts and we're not sure what else just yet… there's lots to do there. I suggested celebrating our stay in this bohemian crash-pad by drinking copious amounts of local rum.
Tuesday morning, we'll check out and head east. We may visit Arecibo town and the lighthouse park there, may not. Then on to Arecibo Observatory, that giant radio telescope up in the mountains that was used in the movies Contact and Goldeneye.
From there, we'll visit the Caguana Ceremonial Ball Courts in Utuado, a Taino indian site with over 25 ball courts. They played a sport similar to soccer to resolve disputes, and for fun.
And then from there we head to the Casa Grande and relax for the rest of the day, with maybe a short hike through the surrounding area if time allows. Yoga every morning at the casa, also.
Wednesday, depending on how time goes, we plan to take the ferry around the nearby mountain lake, stopping at one of the cantinas for lunch, and if time looks good, head south to Ponce to tour a coffee plantation, the castle home of the Seralles family, who founded DonQ Rum, and a second indian site. We'll also do some shopping (Ponce is sort of the arts & crafts center) and visit the art museum there, then head back to the hotel for dinner and relaxation.
Thursday we'll either relax completely with maybe lunch at a cantina, or do al the stuff I listed for Wednesday and have lunch in Ponce, which seems much more likely as we continue adding ideas to the ponce visit.
Friday is *nothing*. we're going to spend the day soaking up sun, napping in the hammocks, and just totally, completely relaxing.
Saturday we head back to San Juan, possibly taking care of any little things we wanted to do between the casa and san juan on the way… our flight doesn't leave til 2 or so, so we have a good bit of time.
And then we're back in good old Chicago and on our way to SB and … work. blech!