Blogs from Puerto Rico, Central America Caribbean - page 34

13 April 2000 Thursday. For the kids Spring Break we decided to fly to Puerto Rico. We all had an early start…3:30 am for Linda, 4 am for me and 4:30 am for the kids…in time for the taxi which arrived at 5 am. It was dark and cold; Rosanna was the only one to refuse to wear a jacket knowing that she wouldn’t need it where we were going…she is the stubborn one. We departed Reagan National at 6:30 am for Puerto Rico, via St Louis. We were using TWA frequent flyer miles so had to go through their hub…maybe that’s why they got eaten up by American…who wants to fly down the East or West Coasts via the middle of the country? Linda was surprised at the meager airline food…no surprise to me as ... read more

Mar 15, 1993 *City official name :San Juan *Founded date : *Location :San Juan Municipality *Elavation :? ft (? m) *Area :Approximately ? square miles (? km²). *Facts :San Juan (sahn HWAHN) is the capital and largest city in Puerto Rico, located in the Northern Coastal Plains region in the karst zone, north of Aguas Buenas and Caguas; east of Bayamón; and west of Carolina and Trujillo Alto. The city is named after Saint John the Baptist (Spanish: San Juan Bautista). The latest census estimates place the city's population at 433,733, making it the 42nd-largest city under the jurisdiction of the United States. It is also the oldest European settlement in United States territory. San Juan was founded by Spanish colonists in 1521 and is the old... read more

May 1, 1993 *City official name :Ceiba *Founded date : *Location :Ceiba Municipality *Elavation :? ft (? m) *Area :Approximately ? square miles (? km²). *Facts :Ceiba (sai-EE-bah) is a small town in northeast Puerto Rico. It is named after the famous Ceiba tree. Ceiba is located in the east coast of the island, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Naguabo, south of Fajardo, and east of Río Grande. Ceiba is spread over 7 wards and Utuado Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city) Driving Time from San Juan: 1 hour. Ceiba, situated near Fajardo, used to be home of an American military air-base, the Roosevelt Roads Naval Station. Most of the units there were relocated and the base was closed on 2004. Ex-governor Sil... read more

Before Panama was open to land tours, my father and I took a cruise through the Panama Canal. As an engineer, he was fascinated by its construction. He read and urged me to read The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914 . Without this historical guide, looking at the water and buildings would have had little meaning. The Canal passage takes only one day; we agreed to spend some time in San Juan , Puerto Rico to extend our holiday. My father was the one to take notes, and his laconic voice focused on the practical details. Without digital camera... read more