Boricua! Puerto Rico!

I am so sorry everyone for not updating sooner! You will not believe how busy I have been. I am getting involved in way too much especially for having to work. The classes are super hard too- The University of Virginia doesn’t mess around. Anyway, I’ll tell you more about ship life in another post. Just pray I don’t get sea sick anymore!

So Puerto Rico was amazing! Let me start the night before. Ryan and I got involved in the ambassadors program on the ship and we happened to be in the right place at the right time and we were given the opportunity to greet the governor of Puerto Rico upon his arrival to the ship. So we along with the director of the program picked out a gift for him and discussed vaguely what we were going to do. Ryan and I even ironed our outfits with my flat iron. Lots of fun.

So that same night I planned my itinerary for Puerto Rico. Jenny and Julie from USD were going to accompany us as well as Tiffany from Miami and Sammy from Colorado. So the itinerary was as follows:

Day 1: Explore Old San Juan and visit the Bacardi factory during the day. At night we all signed up for the welcome reception at the University of Puerto Rico.

Day 2: Wake up at 4: 30 and take an arranged cab ride to Fajardo. From there, take the 6:30 a.m. ferry to the second most beautiful beach in the world after Fiji on the island of Culebra. After spending the day there, we were going to take a ferry to the nearby island of Vieques, which is where the best bioluminescent bay in the world is. We would have to stay overnight because the last ferry back to Fajardo was at 6:00 which obviously would not work since the bio bay can only be viewed at night.

Day 3: Wake up the next morning and take the 7 am ferry back to Fajardo. Since El Yunque, the rainforest, is in between Fajardo and San Juan, we were going to visit it on our way back. Later that day in San Juan, we were going to visit El Morro, the fort, before returning to the ship.

It seemed so perfect, right?

So I woke up the next morning ready to meet Anibal Acevedo Vila, the governor of Puerto Rico who was going to come on board to welcome us to the island. After breakfast, Ryan and I made our way to the gangway to greet the governor. When we got downstairs, there were a few members of the press there and we spoke to some of them. When the governor boarded, He was introduced to the dean and a few others, and then I had the opportunity to introduce myself. I had a short conversation with him in Spanish. It went something like Hola Senor Vila, me llamo Erika. Soy una estudiante. He said hi back and then mucho gusto or encantada or something of that sort, see? Very short. Ryan also introduced himself in English I believe. After the governor gave a speech to all the passengers, we were then able to leave the ship.

Ryan and I immediately left along with the above mentioned group to Old San Juan. We shopped around, ate at a local restaurant (I had rice and beans), and saw statues and town squares. We basically just took in the beautiful sights of the old colonial city with the quaint cobblestone streets. It felt so good to be in Puerto Rico!

After a few hours, we walked to the ferry terminal to take the 50 cent ferry to the Bacardi factory. The factory was cool; we were given a tour of the grounds which were nice. We also watched a short video on the history of Bacardi. Apparently the company is still family owned. Can you imagine how much money is in that family? We also got to smell different versions of the rum and learn the process of how it is made. We then were given two free samples. I had a mojito and something else with coconut.

Later, it was off to the welcome reception. We got semi-dressed up and left to the University. When we arrived, I heard the little coquis! My group was given two students to show us around. We had some Puerto Rican appetizers and virgin Pina Coladas. Did you know the drink originated in Puerto Rico? So the students we talked to were so nice! They asked us what our plans were and after I mentioned the cab ride to Fajardo, the girl, Surrae, offered to drive us. She was very insistent so we took her up on it. We felt a little bad but she wouldn’t take no for an answer! The students gave us some other tips too. Like the ferry connecting Culebra to Vieques might not be running because sometimes they just don’t. I had looked up the schedule and everything! We basically had to see what we were going to do when we got there. We might have had to go straight to Vieques! : ( So after the bad news, there was some salsa dancing. It was really fun! We then said goodbye to our new friends and made arrangements with Surrae for the next morning.

We returned to the ship and since it was our only night in San Juan, we decided to explore a little. We told the cab driver to take us to some places we had heard about before. He kept telling us that since it was a Wednesday night, everything was closed. Well this was hard to believe because 700 students just got off the ship and decided to do the same thing we were doing. We told him to take us anyway and along the way he kept stopping at places that were closed and asking if we wanted to go in. He was really rude. When we got to the place we asked him to bring us in the first place, it was packed. He kind of made a comment like, “Well what do you know, it is open” Yeah. I was actually a little bored. So we just stayed for an hour since we had to be up so early.

The next morning I was up at the crack of dawn trying to wake up the rest of the group. Well Ryan was already up I guess I have to give him credit. So Surrae and her boyfriend drove us the hour to Fajardo at 5 in the morning. They were amazing. We got their address so we are going to send them something later. We then found out that the ferry from Culebra to Vieques was not operating. We decided, painfully, that we had to go straight to Vieques. And the ferry at 6: 30 had been canceled so we had to take the 9 am one. So we had breakfast and just hung around. I talked to a local and he told me that Vieques was so dirty (from the U.S.’s target practice) and if we wanted to hang out on the beach we HAD to go to Culebra. After consideration, we decided to go to Culebra, take a ferry back to Fajardo, and then take a ferry to Vieques. Keep in mind each ferry ride was about an hour. Ridiculous right? Well I might as well tell you now that our motto for the voyage became “Do it for the story” So anytime we were going to do anything that might not be the smartest thing, we just said that and did it. So we did it.

Culebra was beautiful! The minute we got there we headed to Flamenco beach, the most popular beach on the tiny island. It was the most gorgeous place I have ever been. As soon as we got there we knew we had to stay longer than two hours. I called the bio bay place and asked if they had a later trip. They didn’t but he gave me the number of a couple airlines that made the 10 minute flight from Culebra to Vieques many times a day. For $28 a person. I called and booked a flight at 5:30. Perfect. So back to the beach. We layed out, swam in the water, and snorkeled in the reefs. We saw all kinds of cute little fishies. Which reminds me Mami, how are my fishies doing? Are you feeding them? We also had some good food at the stands there. Anyway, we left the beach at 5 and arrived at the tiniest airport I’ve ever seen in my life. We waited for someone at the reception desk, which turned out to be the pilot, Raul, once he flew in from the previous flight. He led us outside to the 9 seater plane. Do it for the story, right? Raul was nice though and took pictures with us in front of the plane. We climbed in the plane and Julie got to sit in the co pilot’s seat! Raul started the engines and….the right propeller wasn’t working. Raul got up and talked to some guys, came back, and asked if anyone had a pen. Tiffany pulls one out. Now only Julie knew this since she was the only one that could see but, Raul stuck the pen inside a hole in the propeller somewhere, jiggled it around, got back in the plane, and said we’re good to go. I am not kidding. So the rest of us, blissfully unaware, were still giddy with excitement about our adventure. The engine started and the propeller was fine. We sped down the runway and took off! It was so beautiful to see the islands beneath us and the turquoise ocean glimmering because, as if it couldn’t get anymore perfect, the sun was setting. Jenny’s taking pictures left and right and we are laughing and yelling and generally having an amazing time. Out of nowhere, the pilot nosedives and it looks as if we are going to go straight into the ocean! He takes the plane back up and we are almost crying we were laughing so hard. Then Raul takes us straight up and tilts us to one side and it was just amazing. He even let Julie steer the plane! We all had a great time.

We arrived safely, took a taxi straight to the hotel and the bio bay guys were already there. So we hopped in the back of their truck and it was off to Mosquito Bay. For anyone that doesn’t know, bioluminescence occurs when certain organisms in the water are disturbed. Basically, the water glows when anything causes the organisms to move. The conditions have to be perfect for these creatures to survive. There has to be almost no pollution and the bay has to be surrounded by mangrove trees. There are only a few bays in the world that meet these standards. It was so cool because our group was only the six of us and everyone on the SAS trips that went to the bay in Fajardo said there were so many people that kayaks were bumping into each other. Anyway, the sun was almost setting so we got in our kaykas and started paddling. As it was getting darker, we saw brighter light streaks from our paddles. When it was totally dark, we slipped out of our life jackets (the water in bio bays is so salty, you float), and got into the water. Everytime we moved, the water around us glowed a bright teal. Everything else was pitch black. We made what was similar to snow angels but in the water. It was so cool. I lifted my arm out of the water and my skin glittered gold. It looked like I had a bunch of tiny lights twinkling on my arm. It was a wonderful experience.

We arrived back at the hotel; crammed 6 people in and called it a night since we had to be up super early.

After an uneventful ferry ride, we arrived in Fajardo. Now, I had done research and talked to people and supposedly the taxis can’t take you all the way to El Yunque but there are buses that take you to the trails. Well not really. Anyway we got a cab driver that said he would take us to the base and instead dropped us off in the town of Rio Piedras and told us someone else was going to take us. And he still charged us. So this guy Mike takes us and he turns out to be the nicest person ever and he tells us he was a pilot in the Vietnam War (this comes into play later). He even says he’ll pick us up later and drop us off at the bus station. Mike drops us off at the entrance of El Yunque and we set off for our hike. We soon realize that in order to walk to the trails we would be there all day and there were no buses to take us to the top. We had to find someone to drive us…Ryan talks to the driver of this tour bus (Manuel) but he doesn’t have room. He offers to take us once he gets back from dropping his group off. We accept. The people are so nice! We grab lunch and on our way up, Manuel tells us about a guy he knows that flies planes even crazier than what we experienced. Supposedly this guy starts the plane with two wires and drinks on the job. And he was a Vietnam vet. Yeah, it turned out to be Mike.

So we started our hike to La Mina falls, which was pretty easy. The rainforest was beautiful. Everything was green and lush and shady. The waterfall was gorgeous too. There was just too many people though. We all got in the freezing cold water though and swam in the water. By now it was about 1 pm and to get to San Juan at a decent time we had to leave soon. I still wanted to see Juan Diego falls which were close so Ryan and I hiked there while the others called Mike to pick us up. The hike was literally 3 minutes and I am so glad I did it. Although the waterfall wasn’t as tall, there were more trees and green around it and it was very secluded. We met up with our group and they said Mike should be coming soon. We started walking down and stopped at some shops. Which is where I found my painting! It is a decent-sized original from a local artist and it was only $25! So exciting! Well anyway, by the time Mike got there, a couple hours had passed and it was 4 pm. There were no more buses to take us to San Juan! Mike being the nice guy that he is, drove us there! We just filled up his tank…and he asked for a beer. Well they bought it for him and it was definitely the same guy Manuel was talking about…drinking on the job. I was definitely nervous but we did it for the story! The drive back was scenic along the ocean. We were talking and Mike was telling us that he is part of the group that wants Puerto Rico to become a state. Part of his reasoning was so that his kids can have a better education. He sends his kids to private school now. His views were interesting and I can apply our conversation to my journals for class, yay!

Anyway, Mike drops us off at El Morro and we hang out there for awhile. It is a huge stone fort right next to the shore. It was used against the Spanish way back when. So we walk back into town to make some last minute errands. Mike calls to tell us he is in Old San Juan still hanging out to wait out the traffic and wants to meet up. He really wants money for beer so we give him and his cousin some money since he did go way out of his way for us. I like Mike but maybe, just maybe, he drinks too much. Oh and I had the cutest conversation with this old man on the street! Ryan and I are walking and this old man with a white beard calls out, “Boricua, Boricua” so I stop and we speak in spanglish. Well mostly Spanish. I tell him that yes, my grandfather was born in Puerto Rico and raised on St. Croix. I tell him I’m from California and this man is so excited. It was just the funniest thing. I introduce Ryan and he says lucky for him and sorry for me. He was hilarious…I don’t know how he knew I was Puerto Rican. Just to make him more excited I say “Te vive Puerto Rico” and he laughs and yells in agreement. He kisses me on both cheeks and says goodbye.

Well, we head back to the ship for dinner and say our goodbyes to Puerto Rico as we pulled out of port. I love Puerto Rico and I can’t wait to go back. Everyone was so amazing. The island is beautiful and I seriously would want to go back and live there for a little while. But I’m sure I’ll feel that way after every port. Well, it’s after 2 and we arrive in Brazil in a few hours so, I’ll post Brazil soon!

Love,
Erika