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Destination : PUERTO RICO
Puerto Rico is friendly, diverse, and historic. At 110 miles long and 35 miles wide, it is one of the larger islands in the Caribbean. Its airport serves as a hub for flights to many other islands and its port is a popular stop for cruise ships. Discovered by Columbus in 1493, the island was ceded by Spain to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. A popularly elected governor has served since 1948. In plebiscites held in 1967 and 1993, voters chose to retain commonwealth status. Puerto Rico is a commonwealth territory of the United States. Puerto Ricans are citizens of the U.S. Spanish is the first language but English is widely spoken.
The island's beaches range from nice to spectacular. Luquillo Beach east of San Juan is one of the best. A stop at this beautiful beach is frequently included with tours to El Yunque rain forest. A day trip to Viequesor Culebra is another option for beach lovers staying on Puerto Rico. These small islands and their lovely beaches are easily reached from Fajardo in eastern Puerto Rico.The shopping environment is enjoyable, particularly in historic Old San Juan. This is not a duty-free port, however, so bargains are generally limited to locally made products such as art, crafts, and rum.
A variety of sports are available. Golf, however, is the star. Puerto Rico is arguably the best golf destination in the Caribbean. There is a relatively new course at the Westin Rio Mar designed by Greg Norman. The El Conquistador and Hyatt’s Dorado Beach and Cerromar courses have been respected by golf enthusiasts for quite some time.
Known as "El Viejo San Juan," Old San Juan, with its priceless architectural treasures, embodies the spiritual heart of the island's 4 million inhabitants. Caparra, inland and across the bay, was the first choice for a capital back in 1508 when Juan Ponce de León, the island's first governor, scouted the island of San Juan Bautista. Nightlife is varied in the San Juan and Old San Juan areas. Start the evening with local cuisine before heading to a show, lounge, or disco. Casinos are found in San Juan and at many of the larger hotels and resorts elsewhere on the island. One can also wager on horse races at the local race track, El Comandante.
Quincentennial Plaza, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean from atop the highest point in Old San Juan, usually serves as the kickoff for visitors seeking the history and heritage of the rich Spanish colonial era in Puerto Rico. A symbolic feature of the plaza, which was constructed as part of the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the New World, is a sculpture which rises 12 meters (40 feet). The monumental totemic sculpture in black granite and ceramics symbolizes the earthen and clay roots of American history and is the work of Jaime Suarez, one of Puerto Rico's foremost artists.
The Paseo de La Princesa, a 19th-century esplanade where Spanish colonial gentry once strolled and inhaled the balmy Caribbean air, is a special thoroughfare—something akin to the Piazza San Marco in Venice or the promenade des Anglais in Nice. The Paseo sweeps from the piers which welcome cruise ships past La Princesa, a restored former 19th-century prison housing the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, around the old city walls beneath Casa Blanca, the ancestral home of the Ponce de León family and continuing to the entrance of the famed 16th-century El Morro fortress. A charming gazebo serves light seafood, dishes, salads, and the island's famed coffee. Outdoor tables with umbrellas, and the shade of more than 20 trees, make a lovely place to roost, especially since delicious criollo dishes are dispensed from specially designed food carts with gaily colored awnings.
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