Helpful hints for tropical living

Several things you might want to think about when traveling away from the "big" cities.  Once off rt. 2 you will find the roads getting smaller and the drop offs getting steeper!  We spent our time in Rincon and went as far south as Ponce and as far NE as San Juan to fly back to the States.  Most of our driving was on the smaller roads.  You WILL need a detailed map of the island and also a compass might help!

At first driving makes little sense but then maybe a day in it is completely logical.  The laws are truly only suggestions but once off rt. 2 people just seem to know exactly what they are doing and though traffic may move slowly everyone seems to know what they are doing.  We had no problems with traffic and had a chance to do some great sightseeing while we were waiting for traffic to move.

Be aware that turns come up quickly and may sometimes involve what seems to be a 45% turn up or down a slope! And those turns are really tight!!!  Also, roads are not marked very well by US standards.

If you are away from the large cities you will need to speak a little Spanish if you get lost.  Trying to get to the airport in San Juan I was thankful to speak some Spanish otherwise we would still be going in circles.

Remember it is THEIR island and we should honor their language.  It helped me to become friends with many people who I otherwise would never have met! And all the people I met were wonderful and very helpful.

Also, in one discussion with a neighbor I asked him what nationality he considered himself.  The literal translation was "a man of the Caribbean".........this gave me a lot to think about.  Puerto Rico is a territory of the US - but the people are part of a country of their own.  They do not consider themselves Americans, at least not the ones I met.

And finally, if you  have a great need to eat vegetables learn to eat frozen ones!  Most veg. we are used to - say for American salads - must be brought in from state side and cost an awful lot! Once I saw iceburg lettuce going for over $3.00 a head! Be rich and afford them or learn to live on those frozen or learn to love plantains, bananas (which taste so much better right off the tree!), breadfruit and etc.  And learn to eat criollo foods!  Oh yes, if you get a chance - try the lion fish it is delicious and invading the waters so you might get a chance to try it at a local restaurant!  It is a real treat!

Life is good in PR and we would happily have moved there ASAP - but with our economy we can't sell the state side house and transport of our stuff would be too expensive and housing in PR IS expensive if you want your own house.

Ah to be back in Rincon, up in the hills with the coqui at night and the flamboyant in bloom and the sea breeze..... if you are an adventurer it is a wondeful place to live.  Otherwise stay in San Juan and miss the real Puerto Rico and her wonderful people!

We hope to go back when the economy picks up - if that ever happens - and make it home!