Well, we're 4 days into our 5 day grown-up only trip to Puerto Rico. It's "La Isla del Encanto" which means the island of love....or charm...or shoelaces? Our Spanish has not actually improved at all during our visit.
So, travel log, Day 1: (Is that how you spell 'travel log? Is it logue? This brings up images of a log on an adventure and that could be hilarious. A little hat? I digress. I don't know how to say that in Spanish).
Have I mentioned that I'm about 6" deep in rum right now? So, my apologies if this sense no make.
We're staying in this really hip, modern hotel with gorgeous architecture, in a cool neighborhood near the beach, in San Juan, PR.
They have an agreement with a local bakery/deli for free breakfast for their guests. It's delicious and fun, and it turns out that a while back, President Obama ate there while visiting San Juan. There are posters all over the restaurant of a pic of him paying for a croissant, and we actually sat at the VERY TABLE where he ate. It prompted discussions on whether we should ever wash our elbows again, after they grazed that sacred tabletop, and also about how surprised we are that he actually pays for stuff when he's out and about. Like, if I were a deli owner and el Jefe came to visit my shop, there'd be a sandwich on the house, you know what I mean? On the other hand, it's roundly agreed that the US government 30 way fucks the PR people, so maybe he can buy his own damn pastry. Probably wise he doesn't take freebies from one of our poorest territories. Good policy. He's smart. And handsome. Did I mention the rum?
Anyway. All the food there is delicious, enhanced by the Obama thing, and there and elsewhere, I'm drinking as much Cafe Negro as a can get in me.
ANYWAY again, what is Puerto Rico like? It's robust with flora. That sounds smarmy to say, and it's meant to, since I'm travel logging. I'll say it again: It's robust with flora. It looks like Jurassic Park island except we've yet to have a goat part hit our windshield
Everyone has been really friendly and speaks waaaaay better English than I do Spanish. Considering how bad the economy is, I expected more severe signs of poverty, but at least where we are, things seem OK. Sometimes it's hard to tell in warm climates just how much a people are struggling, since you can get by with so much less structure on your house than you can up north.
There are a lot of boarded up buildings, but there are also a lot of thriving restaurants, bars, stores, coffee shops. Frankly, that kind of feels like home.
People described PR as Florida-like, especially Miami. It's definitely more same than different- there are Walgreens on every corner, KFC, Big K, even Dress Barns. We've noted the following differences: Spanish first, then English; kilometers vs miles; more churches; fewer exclusively rich areas (dude on a horse, looking like a farmer, definitely not a cop, just sort of strolling near a swanky resort); more pro wrestling in a barn along the highway; very few street markings; a more casual attitude about drinking and driving; no real rules about where you can park your car- if it's a big enough hole and you won't lose it over the side of a mountain, yer good.
Have I mentioned the weather yet? It's a perfect, sunny, breezy low '80s all the time. It practically smells like freshly baked cookies here, it's that good.
The food is great. We're doing completely fine eating vegan(ish). Mofongo is one of the coolest local dishes we've found. It's either plantains or yuca fried and then mashed into a ball or a bowl and topped with veggies/meat. There's fresh fruit and beans and rice and cool salads everywhere. The seafood is to die for (when I'm feeling less vegan-ish). Every single restaurant offers "THE BEST" rum cocktail, so I have to try them all to be polite and for science. ("You did it! Congratulations.") Also champage sangria is pretty brilliant and again with the coffee. Ave Maria, that coffee.
So....day 1 we got here mid-afternoon and checked out the beach and ate great food. Then we fell asleep at 9pm watching the new season of "Kimmy Schmidt" because you can bring a little piece of home with you anywhere you are.
I'll talk about Day 2 next. It contains action! Adventure!! And coffee.
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