Home again, Home again, Jiggity Jig!

 If I had to sum up our trip home in two words, it would be delays and kindness.  Our plane was not scheduled to leave until 3.50 p.m. (the only other United direct flight left at 5:00 am) so one was too early and one was too late.  The San Juan airport was just as crowded as OHare had been.  Most of the crowd was Springbreakers  or families —very few grey hair.  I kept thinking when I signed up for this Road Scholar trip, there should have been a crawl along the bottom of the screen reminding me that it was Spring Break Time.  When we boarded, I was standing in front of my seat waiting for an opportunity to put my backpack in the overhead. As the line chugged by, a young man asked me if I needed to get out and I told him that I was just waiting.  He said, “I can put that up for you.”  He did and I thanked him. Problem solved. We landed at OHare at 8:00 pm.  Our gate was not ready.  It was 9:00 before we got off the plane.  After we picked up our bags, we had to go up a level. Of course, the escalator was not working.  I was on about the 4th step and obviously struggling when another nice young man asked, “Could I carry that up for you?” Wow!  I was sure glad that God sent that angel along.  Caught the 10 pm bus back to Rockford.  It was cold and windy, but we were home by 11:30.  

Puerto Rico was a great experience. Thanks for traveling with us.  I always appreciate feedback so if you are so inclined, a text, call, or email would be appreciated.  

Last Day in Puerto Rico

 Yesterday I said it hadn’t rained—-well, guess what it was doing when we got up? Actually it turned out to be a nice and cloudy day.  It never rained when we were out, just a little here and there. 

We left at 9:30 am and headed for Old San Juan. Getting there was not easy because there was a run of some kind blocking street.  Our guide, Andrea, got out and sweet-talked the police into letting us pass a closed road to get to our destination. We were dropped at Columbus Square.  Spent the morning, wandering around, looking in shops, people watching, sharing a small pizza and meeting the bus at 1 pm.  Drove one hour to Hacienda La Esperanza which is a 2200 acre piece of land- part of which is rented out.  It details the role of African slaves in the development of the sugar industry when SUGAR was king in Puerto Rico.  By 4 pm, we were headed back to San Juan.  After a quick change, we gathered for our farewell dinner at a noisy restaurant across the street.  Time to say Good-bye to Louis, our bus driver, and Andrea our guide.  

Our flight out is at 3 tomorrow afternoon.  Will probably blog one more time after I get home.  Thanks for traveling with us.  Wish we could have shared the very warm temps we experienced.  Wish we could have shared some of the delicious food we ate. Wish you could have helped me scrape the gum off the bottom of my sandal. But most of all I wish you could have helped me when a pigeon pooped on my shirt today —shades of Cartagena, Columbia when birds dumped on my hat much to the amusement of some little boys.  Good Night.  

Up to the Rainforest

 We left the hotel at 8:00 am and headed to the El Yunque National Park.  After 45 minutes, we transferred from our regular coach to.a smaller bus (think a small upgraded 30 passenger school bus) with a different driver. We continued to climb from sea level to almost 3,000 feet.   Along the way, there was road construction to repair hurricane damage - mud slides. We eventually parked and then started our climb with a local guide who identified trees, flowers, birds, insects, etc. The climb was fairly steep. Did you notice that I resorted to using a walking stick (cane) and was panting? I was sure glad when we turned around and started back to the bus.  On the way down the mountain, we stopped at a lookout tower and also saw a beautiful waterfalls.  The scenery was breathtaking with the sea in the background. We stopped for lunch at the park visitor center.  Our second destination was a spot on the beach where Shayla (a local entertainer) was giving La Bomba lessons to all who were willing to learn.  We enjoyed seeing the whitecaps coming in to a nice level sand beach. It was an idyllic scene with many locals—not touristy. 

After hearing repeated instructions to have a rain jacket/poncho and an umbrella at all times, we have yet to encounter one drop of rain (OK we still have one more day).  Today’s rainforest was located on the east side of the island which gets up to 200 inches of rain per year.  The foliage was very lush.  You could understand how someone could easily get lost.  

We finished the day with Happy Hour and appetizers in the pool area.  We traded war stories with fellow travelers between airplane noise.  We are VERY near the airport and every plane flies over this hotel.  

Back in San Juan

 We checked out of the hotel and were on the bus by 8 am.  We drove up into.the mountains (cooler) to visit a 19th century coffee plantation which has been restored as a museum explaining coffee production. The path was gravel and upward, but the pace was not fast.  At the head of the trail was a beautiful waterfall. The water was channeled down the mountain to a waterwheel which was used to process the coffee beans.  The whole coffee production was explained.  The road up (and down) was narrow and very curvy. If we started around a curve and met a car, you know who backed up.  We are so blessed to have a wonderful bus driver, Louis.  

At exactly 11 am (we were on the bus), everyone’s cell phone sounded an alarm (like when there is a tornado).  They were conducting a tsunami drill. We had been forewarned about it.  We did not have to do anything. Our guide told us that they had two earthquakes last week: one was 5+ and the other 4+.  Plus every guide has related how Hurricane Maria in 2017 impacted them: six months without water, no electricity, supplies, roads, etc. We started to get the feeling that natural disasters are common!

We stopped at Caguas for lunch.  We ate a local barbecue place that looked very unpretentious but had a line of customers.  Two pigs and many chickens were on spits and in full display. (Later found out that they have several local locations and cook 8 - 10 pigs everyday and many, many chickens.) The first thing that caught our eye was a woman standing in the open-air kitchen with a machete (18” blade) whacking up the pork.  We picked up our meat of choice, rice, and beans and sat down to eat. We also visited two small museums in that town that dealt with Puerto Rican history.  Back in the bus and on to San Juan.  We visited the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico - a fairly new art museum filled with wonderful exhibits—some quite modern.. Headed back to the Hampton Inn and waited for our rooms.  Dinner on our own by the pool.  

From the Seaside

 Today has been rather laid back compared to the pace we have been going.  Chuck and I walked on the beach early this morning.  In our ‘just fell out of bed stupor’ neither of us had phones so no pictures of the pelicans in the bay or of the beach.  After a large buffet breakfast, we left the resort at 9:30.  Must add that the lobby and restaurant areas are open-air.  That means that the minute you are not paying attention to your meal, you must cover it with a plastic cover or the ever-present grackle birds will swoop in and eat your food.  Drove into Ponce and then up the mountain to Castillo Serralles.  It is a luxurious mansion/castle built by a wealthy man from 1930 -1934.  First he made his money in sugar cane and then in rum.  The views from the castle were spectacular as were the gardens. The three story house was built around a courtyard -with a fountain that would shoot water 30 foot in the air.  To cool the house, they opened the windows and doors which let the breezes in to spread the mist about. Innovative. 

Lunch was at the restaurant where we learned to make mofoungo.  By now, you probably know the menu. This afternoon was at leaisure. This evening we enjoyed dinner in the hotel.  Same restaurant as breakfast, but the birds were not there.  Maybe they go to bed early. There are some very interesting people on this trip and we are enjoying meeting them and visiting.  We check out tomorrow morning and leave Ponce. 

Tuesday travels to Ponce

 We checked out of our hotel and left San Juan which is on the east side of PR. We drove through the mountains (hour and a half) to Finca Don Manuel. We visited a 520 acre farm which is set up to produce a wide range of produce on very fertile soils.  We were greeted with fresh pina coladas (non-alcoholic). The farm has 20 workers and has been established for 10 years.  We took a ride around the fields, stopping to observe plantains close up.  Also saw pineapples, bananas, avocados,  cotton, and other crops.  Lunch was served in an open-air gazebo: ribs or fried chicken, beef in banana leaf, casaba, salad, rice. A wonderful small banana and fresh pineapple topped off the meal.  Back on the bus. Headed  to Ponce which is located in the south and the second largest city.  Our first stop was at an archeological study where the local guide described the finds in that area: pottery, bones, etc.  Then we went downtown Ponce which is a very colorful city featuring architecture similar to New Orleans.  After a walking tour, we had sorbet which the city is famous for. Checked into our new hotel which is a resort on the shore and has a casino (WooHoo).  

Tonight we had dinner at a local restaurant where we were taught how to make Mofongo.  First we, got ready: plastic apron, plastic gloves, paper hat  (apparently plantains really stain). Then using our mortar and pestle we each smashed raw garlic, and salt.  Then the chef had plantains which had been lightly fried along with pork ride and oil.  We mushed and mushed it and formed a cup shape.  The chef carefully removed the ‘cup’ and filled it with flank steak/shrimp.  We also had rice,vegetables and salad.  Finished the meal with a small slice chocolate dessert.  It was a fun night with new friends in an open air restaurant with new food!

All around Old San Juan

 Our morning was spent tramping around Old San Juan. As with many old cities, It was very cramped. The sidewalk was wide enough for one person going each way (in close proximity) and then the cars were creeping along the streets with very little wiggle room.  From a local guide, we learned about PR’s history from the Spanish colonial period to the present. We toured Castillo San Cristobal- the old fort.  Did I mention that it was hot? After lunch, we took a walking tour of the many large murals in Saturce.  They were nicely done with a great variety of subjects. 

Food has been handled in a different techie way.  Andrea passed around a spreadsheet with the lunch menu selections. We make our selection, and then she snaps a picture of it and sends it to the restaurant.  For lunch I had a salad: greens, avocado, bacon and chicken.  Chuck a tuna salad on pita.  For dinner tonight, we drove across town and ate outside near a park.  We both had red snapper in a Mufango (plantains) crust —more on that tomorrow.  

Tomorrow morning we check out of this hotel, so I better get packing.