Its almost that time again...SPRING ROAD TRIP 2020 Itinerary

good point , ttobey you's got's fur.

My poor hot tub has been out of commission since last summer. Leaky pipes, and me trying to fix them made it worse! They are in the worst area too. I have to get some out to fix, maybe won't be as expensive as I am dreading.

Yeah, I was gonna say don't visualize...

If you can get someone out these days, but if it's under the "plumbing" category, it might be considered an essential service.

Good luck!

Uwk

PUERTO RICO
part one


Puerto Rico is considered one of the best vacation spots in the Caribbean..
Not only does it offer tons of attractions , but it also boasts s dual nature that has been fascinating visitors for centuries.
You can swim at beautiful beaches and zip line through exotic rain forests ; you can jump from towering cliffs and descend into creepy underground caves.
There is no limit to cool experiences to have on this island.
On the other hand , there 's a deeper side to Puerto Rico' it has some of the oldest , most carefully - preserved architecture in the world and it's filled with landmarks of great cultural and historical value.
You can learn a lot about pre- Columbian civilizations with a trip to its museums , galleries, churches , and military fortresses.

Old San Juan :
Old San Juan is one of the most vibrant places to visit in Puerto Rico.
You can see evidence of its past in the abundance of churches , the cathedral and colonial homes.
If you're a history buff, this is one of the most educational places in Puerto Rico.
A free trolley rambles through the neighborhood
Old San Juan also has lots of shops and markets to buy food and souvenirs .
Whether you are going to Old San Juan for the markets , museums , or the memorials you definitely won't want to miss it .

Castillo San Felipe del Morro :
known to the locals as " El Morro " the Castillo is a gargantuan citadel, that was built in Puerto Rico in the 16th century , to defend the island against pirates , soldiers, slavers , and anybody else who wanted to test themselves against it's giant walls.
Once upon a time , "El Morro " was the most important fortress in Puerto Rico and it's huge walls have seen a lot of history.
My husband wanted to spend a long time in this place , exploring every corner of this place .

Museo de las Americas :
This museum is all about Puerto Rico .
It has artifacts , tokens and textiles from dozens of indigenous groups that lived in Latin America before it was colonized by
Europeans.
This museum is a hands on experience , with interactive stations and an audio room , where you can watch
videos about how people lived in the time before Europeans arrived .
The Museo de Americas is both entertaining and educational.

Los Morrillos Lighthouse :
Located in the city of Cabo Roja
the building is nothing special , but the views from it's observation deck are top notch .

Ponce :
Ponce is a beautiful , colorful , bustling city in Puerto Rico where you can find everything from pink houses to pinapple shaped ice cream shops.
The city is filled with some of the best things to do in Puerto Rico.

Arecibo Observatory :
You don't have to be a scientist to appreciate the worlds largest radio telescope.
Towering more than 1,600 feet above the lakes and fields of Puerto Rico the observatory is a testament to the power of man .
It operates 24/7 and transmits data to and from people from all over the globe .
The views are breathtaking.

Caguana indigenous Center :

Before Puerto Rico was discovered by Europeans it was home to a number of indigenous tribes .
They had their own art , culture, traditions , medicine and athletic games .
The Caluana Center is located on a 800 year old site .
The Caguana Indigenous Ceremonial Center ensures none of those ancient live styles are forgotten.

San German :
This is the second oldest city in Puerto Rico.
There are hundreds of historical sites
Most of it's important landmarks are within 30 minutes of each other , so you can see all in an afternoon .

Cueva del Indio :
These caves are a prehistoric rock site , where history comes alive in a series of paintings , sculptures and petroglyphs.

Casa Barcardi :
This is the distillery of the world - famous Barcardi brand .
Tours , tastings mixology classes and special events are offered

Humacao :
The city has year around celebrations and festivals that draw people from all over Puerto Rico .
The breadfruit festival in September is probably the most famous ,you can get breadfruits prepared in many different ways imaginable .

Hacienda Buena Vista :
This is the place for coffeine junkies .
Once upon a time Hacienda Buena Vista was one of the most important coffee plantations in Puerto Rico .

Ciales :
A small layed back town inland town , where you can ride your pony into town and nobody will even pay attention to you .

I knew Schmet would find us some fabulous stuff to do Thank you Schmet

here comes part 2 Breanna .

PUERTO RICO
part 2 , entertainment and food

Toro Verde Adventure Park :
This park offers zipelines , rope courses and rock climbing challenges.
The parks main attraction " The Beast " is entered into the Guinness book as " the worlds longest zipline ".
You get straped into a harness and fly . . . . careen trough the open air like a jet for 4745 feet .
Other attractions include " The Wild Bull " a series of hanging rope bridges that will away in every direction .
And " Escape if You can " , a course that includes everything from zipelining to rappelling down a rock wall ,
move over Indiana Jones .
If you laugh in to the face of danger , this is a must do place to go to .

Las Cascadas Water Park :
This is at least one of the largest aquatic parks in Puerto Rico.
You can go on rides , swim in rivers ,tunnels , and splash in kiddie pools .
If you feel like testing your bravery , you can strap in for El Laberinto ( The Maze ), or El Torbellino ( The Twister )
If you prefer something calmer , try Rio Tropical Pasivo ( The Tropical Lazy River )

Caino del Sol :
Gambling is completely legal in Puerto Rico and Casino del Sol has a good reputation .
I rather hold on to my money .

La Guacha Boardwalk :
Go for a stroll down the beach , munch on some shaved ice , or indulge in playing some old fashion arcade games
or maybe you like to dance Salsa with complete strangers .
there are shops , bars , cafes and restaurants
You can feed the tarpon at a special pier where they gather in numbers , you can rent a pedal boat,
or watch a sidewalk artist , or how about joining an outdoor jam session .

San Juan Catamaran Sunset Sail :
You begin your adventure by boarding a 37 -foot catamaran in the bay .
Once your away from the shoreline of Puerto Rico the captain will cut the noisy engine and the dails do the rest of the work , propelling you trough the water as the sun sets over San Juan .
The views are incredible .
You pass everything from El Morro to the Governor's Mansion . You might even spot a few dolphins .

Plaza Las Americas :
this is the biggest shopping mall in the entire Caribbean
There are more than 300 businesses , and they are spread across 2.2million square feet of retail space.


The Pork Highway :
Officially known as La Ruta del Lechon , the pork Highway is exactly what it sounds like : a 3 mile stretch of road where every restaurant specializes in pork.
The most popular type of pork dish is lechon a dish involving spit -roasting an entire pig with a blend of sauces and
spices.

Jose Enrique :
This place is not like any other restaurant in Puero Rico .
There is no sign outside so you have to know where to go or let your nose find the place.
The restaurant has a relaxed atmosphere where locals and tourists mingle freely .
The menu is written on a whiteboard and changes every day .

Pinones :
This is one of the most unusual places to go in Puerto Rico.
A strip of land along a local highway where people go to eat.
Pinones specializes in chinchorros or road side food stalls where you can find all kinds of traditional Caribbean dishes.
From sweet fried bananas to sticky rice bowls filled with pork and pigeon peas.

WOO HOO!!!! Good thing this is virtual, I can wear my bathing suit. LOL

Hmm maybe we could visit the otherwise closed off volcano on Montserrat. I wouldn't mind swimming with sea turtles either! Just be quiet and take pictures.

Cool! I had a friend who took his fiancé on a trip to South America and they stopped in Puerto Rico on the way. He hadn't made any hotel reservations and there were no vacancies, so he kept driving their rental car till they saw a place that had a vacancy. He turned in and was asked for his credit card, was asked how long they would stay (all night) and was then told 'wow' and given a garage door opener with a number on it. He thought that was odd, but drove down the rows of garages until he found the right number and clicked it. The door opened and he drove in. The door closed automatically.

Puzzled, he and his fiancé opened the door to the room and found a fairly basic room. He turned on the TV and saw things that a religious person like him wasn't used to seeing on TV. Turns out it was a place where people had affairs in secret.

PUERTO RICO
part 3 nature

El Yunque National Forest :
Covering more than 28,000 acres ,the forest is a lush, humid rainforest where dense foiage covers everything
from snakes to tiny tree frogs called " Coqui " that chirp like birds, and the male protects the eggs till they hatch into even smaller frogs , or one kind even gives birth to little ones without ever laying eggs .
It's the only tropical rainforest in Puerto Rico , and visitors come from all over the Caribbean to see it's beauty and
biodiversity .
It has all kinds of sightseeing trails for rivers , crags , waterfalls , meadows and mountains .
There are designated areas in the forest for camping , swimming , biking or picnicking .
a visitor center provides information on any hours for tours or nature walks .

Guanica Forest and Biosphere Reserve :
a trip to the Guanica State Forest is one of the most unique things to do in Puerto Rico.
It's located within the rain shadow of it's mountainous landscape , so instead of being humid , muggy rinforest , it's a
dry forest that receives very little precipitation throughout the year .
That means the forest looks different from other nature preserves .
You might forget that your in Puerto Rico when your standing in the middle of a desert .

Rio Abajo Forest Reserve :
Covering more than 5,000 acres of central Puerto Rico Abajo Forest Reserve is one of the craziest places in the Caribbean
if you enjoy unusual geography and topography.
It's recommended that you hire a tour guide .
The ever changing conditions of this forest can make it hard to navigate it without help.
This place is even home to several different endangered species.

Charco Azul :

Go of the beaten path in Puerto Rico with a trip to Chadco Azul .
It's located deep within a forest in the Cayey region .
Literally translated as " blue pond " it is a swimming hole that extends a good 30 -40 feet across and can reach
depths of 10 - 15 feet in the center .

Camuy River Cave Park :
As the largest cave system in Puerto Rico . this cave is one of those places that feel forgotten by time .
The cave is a labyrinth of tunnels ' side caverns and sinkholes , you can hear bat wings and dripping water from Stalactites .
It's perfectly safe , there are lights and walkways and guides are everywhere .
You can even board a trolley ride through the caves if your tired or disabled .

Mosquito Bay :
Located just off the coast of Puerto Rico , the bay is one of the most stunning sights in the world .
The name of this bay has nothing to do with blood sucking insects , it comes from an old pirate named El Mosquito .
Mosquito Bay is home to tens of thousands of bioluminescent organisms that make the water glow and sparkle like
blue gemstones.
The best time to visit is at night . The moon will light up the glittering blue waves like something out of a movie
You can rent a kayak to get close to the sparkling blue water swimming is not allowed .
This is one of the rarest sights in the Caribbean , so it's worth going a bit out of your way .

Cayo Santiago :
This island is of limits for humans.
Cayo Santiago translates as Monkey Island and is a research site for monkey behavior in the wild
In the 1930s a group of monkeys was imported from India , now there are more than 1000 roaming the island.
the monkeys can be watched from boats .

Vieques National Wildlife Refuge :
This is an island outside of Puerto Rico , but a short ferry ride will take you to this wildlife refuge .
Hundreds of species call it home , including birds , lizards , monkeys , manatees and sea turtles.
There are even wild horses roaming the shoreline.
You can splash around in the water , swim , snorkel , and scuba dive , or you can go hiking , biking or horseback ride .

Other Islands :

Isla Culebrita :
If you need to get away from the party every now and than Isla Cuebrita is your go to place .
This island is uninhabited of the coast of eastern Puerto Rico .
Manny tourists don't realize that it exists .
The beaches are clean , you can dive for corals or wade through tide pools without anyone else around .
there is also an old fashioned lighthouse and a special beach where sea turtles lay their eggs.

Gilligan's Island :
This island is officially called " Cayo Aurora ", but this small piece of land is more commonly known as Gilligan's Island .
Gilligan's Island is located of the coast of Guanica , a popular beach destination , and it's quite small.
The water is incredibly clear and the waves are always calm and mild .

Named Beaches :

Flamenco Beach :
This beach will live up to your dreams of fun on a tropical beach .
Not only does it offer white sand and blue water, but it has bathrooms , lifeguards , food kiosks , volleyball nets and tourist stations where you can rent equipment for things like snorkeling and scuba diving .
If you want to go surfing hit the Horseshoe bend for great waves.

Playa Sucia :
Consistently ranked as one of the best beaches in the Caribbean .
The water is clear as glass , the sand is clean and you can do all the usual beach activities .
The single best thing about this beach is it's paradore .
Paradores are old - fashioned Spanish inns that will treat you like royalty, and Puerto Rico has strict guidelines to keep them authentic.
"Playa Sucia " sometimes goes by the name of " La Playuela ".

Kikita Beach :
Known as the surfing paradise of Puerto Rico , Kikita Beach is heaven for anyone who wants to practice their surfing skills .
This beach has amazing waves and swimming is strongly discouraged .

Seven Seas Beach :
This is another nice beach .
This place is good for a base for other destinations , it's home to Puerto del Rey Marina , the largest marina in all of the Caribbean .

Rincon :
Rincon is not a major point of interest , but Rincon hosted the World Surfing Championship in 1968 and is know to surfers.
Rincon is also a great observation spot for the annual migration of humpback whales .
The best time to see them is January and March : hundreds of this majestic creatures will pass by the beaches of Puerto Rico. Rincon is quite and calm .

Fun in the sun

It's summer here now! Sorry I missed your spring thing.

Where do I sign up for Ttobeys Summer Tours?

I would hate to do that because mine would be much more fun and interesting.

Prove it! Do one! I dare you.

OK Here we go, Everyone on the bus! Look a bar let's stop here. The End.

Way more fun.

you can visit LOTS of bars in Puerto Rico and even one distillery ,.and after going to Barcardi
you can rum kugeln ( roll around ) I know makes a lot more sense in German.

A Bar? A Bar! And how is that so much more fun??!!