Puerto Rico Day 1

Puerto Rico Day 1:

I've wanted to go to Puerto Rico for years. I was able to enjoy P.R. in September 2008 with the Wifey for our 11th anniversary.
I wanted to see Loiza badly. I've read so much about Loiza as I've studied the African influence in Latin America. I really want to visit Puerto Rico during the annual Loiza Festival so I could witness for myself Puerto Rican people celebrating the African portion of their cultural and familial heritage. Many of the Puerto Ricans that I've known haven't been outwardly proud of Puerto Rico's African presence......... I guess I could say the same about African-Americans as well.
Today we touched down in P.R. We visited San Juan, drove through Old San Juan, and made plans for me to visit Ponce (Home to one of my heroes - Roberto Clemente), Loiza (Home of the Loiza Festival), and I hoped to walk the grounds of Santurce (Home of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg). It took us a while to get from the airport and to obtain a vehicle. Once that was in place we drove to our Timeshare by Wyndham and enjoyed the sounds of the Puerto Rican frogs. Here are a few photos:

Puerto Rico Day 2 - Team VArner

Day Two !

This was the day I've been waiting for ! Today we had a chance to visit Old San Juan and view the old Spanish inspired/designed and Indian/African handcrafted scenery that is Old San Juan. Along the way we were able to view a few museum exhibits on the African influences in Puerto Rico and visited some historic forts where the Spanish (from Spain) battled various folk. We visited San Juan (proper) and then drove out to Loiza for a short rainy stay.
I've been wanting to go to Loiza for decades now. As we talked to staff in the Hotel about our plans they would shake their heads saying "Si, Old San Juan is beautiful" and "Si San Juan is very active" and then "Loiza ? Why would you want to go to Loiza ?" Loiza is one of the areas in Puerto Rico where our enslaved imported Africans didn't mix as heavily with our indigenous Arawak/Tiano/Boriquen indians or the Spanish colonizers that invaded Puerto Rico. One of the hotel employees, who appeared lilly-white (caucasian) looked at the Wifey and I and said.... "Brother, Loiza is the place where you can most easily see our African heritage as Puerto Ricans. It's not that obvious in other parts of the Island although we know about it. I know why you want to visit. Just be a little more careful. Loiza is where the Puerto Ricans go to party when we want to go wild and loose. Some things are easier to get in Loiza than anywhere else 'if you feel Me'." ................................. Here is a photo montage of the day:

Puerto Rico Day 3 - Team Varner

Day Three !
Enjoyed some great breakfast food (not shown)from a local resturant and hit the road. Today we did some shopping (to ensure the Wifey was happy) and we did get to drive to Ponce ! I've wanted to go to Ponce, the birth-home of one of my Pan-African/Latino/Puerto Rican/American heroes Mr. Baseball himself Roberto Clemente. While in Ponce we ran into a community parade and enjoyed the pagentry of the community celebration. We also ordered ate some fast food to make sure we still had American stomachs. We ended the day with some Latino Food Favs' like the pictured Aroz con Pollo and the dish of 'African heritage' (as the waiter stated) named Monfongo. When I noted that the Platinos (Platains) were also a dish and cooking approach that came with the enslaved Africans the waiter applauded me for doing my research (but I think he really wanted to ensure he had a big tip....)...