Blogs from Puerto Rico, Central America Caribbean - page 11

After 5 long years ... Dave finally popped the question in the most risky, original and magical way possible. Here's the story you've been waiting for: It was a pitch-black moonless night on Vieques, a remote jungle island off the coast of Puerto Rico. We were paddling kayaks across Mosquito Bay, the world's most spellbinding Bioluminescent Bay, populated by phosphorescent micro-organisms that flash a blueish light when stirred. The darkness swallowed our guide. His splashes and hollers up ahead became our aural signposts, soon diminishing in prominence as our minds swelled with excitement and wonder. Every dip and row of the paddle set the ocean blushing peacock blue. The glow was so intense we could have read a book at midnight. Our kayaks rode glowing ripples of crushed sapphires and fish zipped beneath the surface with ... read more

Breakfast at Denny’s Tour EcoElectrica (Guayanilla) Lunch at “El Paladar” dock side outdoor empanadas (chicken, shrimp and conch) Tour Medtronic (Villalba) Hilton Group Presentations The team regrouped after staying at separate host homes for breakfast at Denny’s where everyone quickly learned that Coop is a big fan of pancakes! After everyone’s tummies got full, we headed to EcoElectrica, which is a large power plant that generates electricity from natural gas. The complex also includes a desalination facility, and 50% of the saltwater processed is supplied to civilians. We had the opportunity to visit the control room and see the employees who keep the kilovolts flowing! They were very eager to share with us that they had never had an accident. Everyone felt the pride the workers had in their jobs which was also demonstrated by the ... read more

Day Uno. The morning of departure, Coop our fearless leader scheduled our team to meet at the Walmart off the University Exit (where I79 and I68 meet) parking lot at 7:00am. Many of us were quite frantic and worn out from preparations and last minute details. Everyone did their best to pack light and the team loaded into Coop's car driven by his brother Mike and Ben's truck. Mike would have brought the Denali if he knew Coop was traveling with ladies and not just "a bunch of dudes". Even after we reached the airport, we still could not quite believe we were there. We ate at the Irish Restaurant O'Briens but Amanda broke out her own breakfast burrito which she made for Jake. Jake apparently couldn't eat it because she was driving too crazy down ... read more

By Melisse The massive forts, El Morro and San Cristobal in Old San Juan, were built in the 16th and 17th centuries. They provided protection of the Spanish Empire that spread across the Caribbean. They prevented sea-faring enemies from conquering the island of Puerto Rico. The massive walls, winding staircases and narrow tunnels are intriguing. This is what the 400-year-old walls look like. ... read more

By Melisse. Getting to know the surf on a daily basis has been one of the highpoints of being in Puerto Rico for three weeks. My after-work attitude adjustment starts at 4pm when I plunge into the refreshing, warm ocean and embrace the waves, or they embrace me, rather. I get to know the sea’s many “personalities”. Some days the waves crash hard and fast and I dive through them as they churn over me or I catch them to ride them ashore, hoping I don’t get the “ragdoll treatment”. On other days the swells lift me high then lower me down gently, caressing with weightless ecstasy. The latter type of waves dependably hearken me back to ultra-sweet memories of my very first time bobbing in Florida’s ocean waves as a kid WITH MY DAD! ... read more