Another day in Puerto Rico. Now heading out of the main part of San Juan.
I think I'm often too picky. While traveling, or even not traveling, it makes daily activities more complicated.
I'm walking away from the core of San Juan. Aiming east...
There's not much more that I want to see in San Juan. I feel like I've already covered the most interesting parts. I guess I'm ready to see more of the rest of the country.
Not sure yet whether to go clockwise, counterclockwise, where, when...
Puerto Rico seems to have a bunch of ferries. I want to take a ferry after seeing this island, to see Republica Dominicana, then Haiti. Maybe also other islands.
Maybe go to Vieques, it apparently has the brightest bioluminescent bay. New moon phase. Maybe end of May, or in June. Or maybe at the end of my counterclockwise tour around the main island? Or maybe go clockwise just for that?
The ferry from Puerto Rico to Republica Dominica looks expensive. Around $200 round trip, $100 one way. It's an overnighter. Cheaper to fly? Looks like around $150 one way to fly.
Looks like there are also ferries to St. Thomas, in the US Virgin Islands. From there it may be possible to get to the British Virgin Islands. Maybe I can then keep traveling on…
Around $100 Puerto Rico to US Virgin Islands?
This service leaves sporadically and unpredictably. You can try calling the phone number above to see if there is anything on the dates you require.
I'm thinking of touring the island of Puerto Rico soon. Maybe I'll walk. Maybe ride a bike. Maybe bus.
It looks like there are a few Airbnbs in Aguadilla, on the west coast. Rincon also seems to have some surfer spots. Maybe I'll camp out a bunch along the way.
It's a small island. Looks like around 150 km by 50 km, roughly rectangular.
I don't think there's that much to see, it seems like a small country. I'm somewhat curious about the small towns, although I think that most Puerto Ricans reside in the city.
The weather in Puerto Rico seems more moderate than in Cuba. Not sure if that's generally the case. If so, it could explain in part why Puerto Ricans seem so much milder.
Woke up. Powered on laptop. Screen froze. Laptop wouldn't reboot.
After looking up laptop repair shops, eating breakfast, drinking beer and coffee and Zombie mixed drink, laptop still didn't turn on. Shook it around a bit. Laptop turns on. Yay!
Went to the beach!
Puerto Rican beaches have fine sand. They remind me of Florida.
I think that Puerto Rico or Florida is what you get with American culture on Caribbean land.
Much is private in Puerto Rico, even more than in the continental US. Here I've seen entire streets and neighborhoods behind locked fences.
Finally, a chance to take care of some chores.
Most Puerto Ricans reside in the rest of the US.
It's a small country. Most Puerto Ricans reside in cities.
There's a nuclear power plant!
I no longer like the sensation of drunkenness, in general. Occasionally I do. I still like the taste of many alcoholic beverages. I consider it lucky, because I have a tendency to overindulge.
Now getting the hang of San Juan.
It's much easier to maintain cleanliness, do work, etc., while in comfortable quiet place than in noisy places or out camping. In PR than in Cuba.
Below, you can find a bunch of blog posts from my first few days in PR, and from my stay in Cuba. I didn't have much wifi in Cuba, to the point that barely had enough to leave the country.
Rock & Roll!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
So far, Puerto Rico strikes me as the most boring Caribbean island. It feels like a chunk of Florida broke off and floated into the sea.
The Spanish-speaking people seem like gringos. They mostly speak English.
I ate mofongo, a pile of fried plantains. Delicious!
The same chain stores. Highways. Things seem private, fenced off here, even more than in the continental US. I've seen entire streets and neighborhoods behind fences.
Street signs are in Spanish, Puerto Ricans speak Spanish, but they seem to want to speak English with me. Their English is fluent, but they have an accent and sometimes make typical Spanish-speaker mistakes.
Maybe I'll teach English in PR.
Maybe I'll stay at some hotels, now that I can use bank card again.
Maybe camp out again now that I'm in PR.
I'm getting the hang of Puerto Rico. Seems like a boring American city, but with beautiful weather, and Spanish! :)
Just what I want! :)
In Puerto Rico, things seem to move slowly, but surely.
In Cuba, things hardly seem to move.
In PR, you have a reasonable expectation that things will work.
In Cuba, you have an expectation that things will probably not work, it will probably be a pain, but it will probably be beautiful.