So apparently it’s been over a month since I last updated this blog. Crazy considering how little time I felt like it has passed. I finally took some time off work for something that is not adult stuff. So I decided to take that trip I’ve been meaning to take for what feels like ages. I went to Puerto Rico.

To preface this I would say I might be biased when it comes to Puerto Rico. I’m also from the caribbean, albiet not an island, but from the caribbean part of the South America. Regardless, I stand by the fact that Puerto Rico is an amazing place. There is a lot of stuff I can ramble about. But I decided I will only talk about three things.

Case 1: The Food

I don’t think people understand what I mean when I say that puertoricans make one of the top cuisines in the caribbean. I guess it’s hard to imagine how caribbean food will differ from each other considering we all eat pretty much the same. Some variaties of beans are more popular than others depending on what country you are looking at. But you can always expect some beans, some rice, and some plantain when you are talking about caribbean food. This time I want to talk about one of those dishes that yes, every caribbean country has, but we all make it different. I am talking about Mofongo.
I got to say that the Wikipedia image does not make justice as to how good this thing actually is. Puertoricans cook it many different ways, there are like everything, fancier versions that use more expensive meats and different companianions.

I really like mofongo, but the star of this post is not the regular mofongo, I would say I would be doing a disservice to Puerto Rico if that was all I was going to be talking about. Puerto Rico, like many other countries, experienced Chinese migration to an extend, and I imagine this result is somewhat of a phenomenon everywhere Chinese people go, where they adapt their food to match the local dishes but always adding a twist that is easily recognizable so that you know right away there is something going on.

Case 2: The Beaches

In my previous image you can see a little bit of it, but no picture I can take would really show how insanely beautiful the island really is. That said, there are a few things to keep in mind: not every beach is the same. Some beaches have rougher waters, and it all depends on which part of the island you’re on. Here are a few observations:

1. Near San Juan, and in general every beach in the top part of the island are surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. The waters here are generally more agressive in my opinion, and it is also significantly colder. They are also way more touristy as many more people decide to stay near San Juan, and there are many good reasons for it. These would be generally where you’ll see most of the people and there is absolutely nothing wrong with them.

   There are some hems in here. Isabela is beautiful, and there are many people that go near that are to do some surfing. The waves certainly look like they would be a lot of fun to ride. Maybe once I learn how to even get on a surf table I’ll consider it.



2. The south side of the island is my favorite place. Most of my time I spent here. I just can’t bring myself to go anywhere else for longer than I absolutely have to. The beaches are simply breathtaking, the water is so warm and calm, and the people are some of the kindest you’ll meet anywhere in Puerto Rico. There are some secret spots, but I would say you really can’t go wrong with any of the mainstream options. While everyone else is busy in Gozalandia or partying in San Juan, you can enjoy some beaches that are worthy of some sort of prize. I’m not even exaggerating when I say I could spend the entire day there without moving, and I still wouldn’t feel like I’d gotten enough sun and fresh air.

Case 3: The People

I know I might have hinted at this in the previous point, but Puerto Rican people are among the nicest in Latin America by far. Of course, like everywhere else, your mileage may vary. Still, Puerto Ricans are almost always happy to listen to a foreign Spanish accent.

Being from Venezuela, I’d say our accents are somewhat similar, Caribbean and all that. But Dominicans, Cubans, and Puerto Ricans have accents that are completely different from most other Spanish-speaking countries. It’s always a nice feeling when people ask me about my culture; it feels like I’m representing something sacred to me, while connecting with people who are sharing something sacred to them, their country.

Everywhere we (my girlfriend and I) went, someone always greeted us and shared a bit of their story, whether it was at a hot dog stand, a restaurant, a street vendor’s booth, or just people hanging out in public spaces. As long as you share some common ground, it’s incredibly easy to strike up a conversation that might end with you sharing a couple of beers with someone you just met.

Not only that, but even in the most off-the-beaten-path places with hardly any tourists, people were still welcoming. I think that speaks volumes about the average person on the island. Like I said, there are, of course, some bad apples, but where aren’t there? No place on Earth is without them. You should still be cautious in certain areas and, of course, try not to overstep any boundaries.

TLDR:

Go back and read. This one deserves it.

In general, the only thing I can take away from writing this article, is that I should be saving my PTO. I really wanna do more than a week next time.

I’ll catch you guys on the next update, hopefully it won’t take me two months to write it.