10 Reasons to Get Yourself to Puerto Rico

1. You wont have to calculate exchange rate for currency in your head: Because its in the US, duh... Well, kind of. When you first touch down at Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport, you get the feel a sense of Caribbean vibes without having to clear customs. No sketchy communication barriers when attempting to land a decently priced taxi to the city. No worrying about bringing your passport (but we tend to carry in our wallets anyway). 

2. There's 3G phone service on top of the rainforest. Perks of traveling within US territory is the lack of roaming charges. And trust me, wi-fi and 3G connections are beginning to be just of a necessity as oxygen. Go ahead and check yourself on Facebook and brag to your friends about the highest peak in El Yunque National Rainforest that you just hiked..in real time!

3. Former criminals were living the good life. Castillo San Cristobal is not only a Puerto Rican landmark but an ironic historical reminder that beauty exists in the most solemn places. The fortress was a former military base with the best waterfront view of the Atlantic. Built by the Spanish in the late 1700's, the site has an underground galleon where they ept prisoners. Now the fortress is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

4. Deep Fried Everything! Including Mofongo. Mofongo is a deep fried mash plantain and a mouthful of goodness. The island staple, along with Yuca fries, sweet fried plantains, and green fried plantains are a must. We checked into El Jibarito in Old San Juan for our first lunch time meal. Reasonably priced items and good native Puerto Rican food had us thinking we made the right weekend destination choice. 

5. Old San Juan: minus the traffic (but you shouldn't be worried since you don't even have a car). The best place to see the colorfully pastel colonial style houses is by walking the cobblestone road. Busy neighborhood streets are jam packed with traffic and people are bustling into nearby stores. Though hectic downstairs on the sidewalk, we catch a glimpse of the residents of these million dollar estates enjoying the view from a balcony hammock. Now, THAT is the good life.

6. Cafe con leche from Cafe Mallorca: some REAL coffee that isn't watered down into an obesity big venti cup from you-know-where. Cafe con Leche isn't supposed to be a meal, but not as strong and small as a single espresso shot. It's the right amount of coffee and milk for a quick morning pick-me-up.

7. Quesito: heaven in your mouth. a mouthwatering cream cheese filled pastry that melts in your mouth. You can find it at the cafe that Obama helped to make famous: Kasalta.  

8. Taberna De Lupulo. local bar with watermelon beer! My first time watermelon beer experience was here at lively neighborhood bar in OSJ. To my surprise, the brewery that made this ambrosial concoction is a California based brewing company in California. (Lost Coast in Eureka). Good beer, good music, great crowd. What more do you need on vacation?

 9. A tropical twist on Fast Food: fried plantains (Amarillo) Yuca Frits (Yuca fries) rice and beans with your fried chicken. It's like the El Pollo Loco of the Caribbean

10. It's a Weekender to Paradise!

 

Old Town Dubrovnik, quickstyle.

With Croatia being dubbed an up and coming European destination by Hollywood superstars, travelers seem to have hit the jackpot on a fantastic European getaway. Croatia comes fully equipped with lively culture and gorgeous scenery, not to mention tons of historical sites dating back to the 7th century. If you are worried about being bored here, don't. Croatia is made up of more than 1,000 islands (66 inhabited), so there will be plenty for you to do. And with some mild Mediterranean weather, you won't have to worry much about the extreme wardrobe changes.

But what makes Croatia so appealing to travelers worldwide? The city of Dubrovnik. Named the "Pearl of the Adriatic", this city is an upcoming tourism hotspot in the EU and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Heres why:

Gorgeous Beaches
Dubrovnik lures travelers in the summertime with its gorgeous beaches and breathtaking waterfront views. So much, that it has become a summertime hotspot for Hollywood celebrities. During the summer months, somewhere around 8-10 cruise ships dock in Dubrovnik each week, bringing in thousands of vacationers and generating serious income for the city. Beaches are packed with sunbathers and swimmers eager to score some nice summer skin color.

Stone Walls
Over 6,000 feet of fenced walls surround the perimeter of the old city. Historically, these walls served to protect citizens from maritime attacks. Now, these walls are a monumental part of the sightseeing in Dubrovnik. Climbing the walls allows you to catch a view of the city and coast from different angles.

Yachts
You'll find these floating at the dock of the Old City. Depending on how much you're willing to spend, charter companies will allow you to rent yachts, sail boats, or small fishing boats to tour around in. You can feel like an noble sailor, a lucky fisherman, or a million dollars depending on what you're up to doing.

Gateway to other Islands
Many tours to neighboring islands dock from Dubrovnik. You can embark on a day tour to the island of Lokrum to check out the remains of an old monstary, or stroll around Mrtvo More (aka The Dead Sea Lake). Other day tours such as Cavtat, the Elaphite islands, or the Island of Mljet are easy destinations from Dubrovnik.

But as usual, Cyn and I only have a few days to conquer the city. So below, we break it down into the usual "long weekender" trip that we often take.



After breakfast, catch a cab or local bus to the main entrance of the old city at Pile Gate (the last stop for local buses) where you start your tour inside the walls of the city. Venders surround the inside walls with souvenirs for you to pick up (our fav: the handmade jewelry)

Make your way to the main plaza, Placa-Stradun street where you will find a variety of shops and restaurants to peek in. But don't buy anything just yet. You might find better deals in stores along a few alleys in the town.

 

As usual, I find some place to run around in...

Closer to the Pile Gate is the entrance for the tour of the city walls. The entrance fee is about 12€ and good for one entry (no ins and outs). Wear comfortable shoes since the floors are made of slippery cobalt stone and and steps up the walls are steep.

After the city walls tour, make your way down Placa-Stradun street to St. Blaise Church to peep out the Roman architecture. Inside you'll find gold plated statue of St. Blaise himself, named the patron saint of the city of Dubrovnik. 

 

Down the way from the church is The Rector's Palace, which was once home to the central government in the Old Dubrovnik Republic. The structure was built mid 15th century by the famous Neapolitan architect Onofrio di Giordano de la Cava who also constructed the Dubrovnik's water supply system and famous Onofrio's fountains. The palace atrium today is used as a music venue for concerts during the Dubrovnik Summer Festival.

Across from the Rector's palace is a town square set up with a few tables of fresh fruit and vegetables along with handcrafted goods for sale. (our fav's: pouches of lavender potpurri, small bottles of olive oil, and fresh fruit).  

Make your way through the town and to the entrance of the Dubrovnik Cable Car. The 5min ride to the top of Srd Hill will give you a birds eye view of Old City, Adriatic Sea, and neighboring islands. The cost: 80,00kn (about 10€). Feeling a little adventurous? You can hike up and down the Srd Hill if you enjoy the fresh air and a bit of a challenge. Just keep in mind that the trails are steep with loose gravel.

 

 

At the top, you'll find restaurants both inside and outside where you can enjoy an uninterrupted panoramic view of town down below. Be sure to pick up a few keepsakes from the souvenir shop as too.

 

Whether or not you took the long trek down Srd Hill to the bottom, you'll probably be a bit parched from a day's worth of sightseeing. Back in town, enjoy a few drinks and live music at cafe's close to the town's square. The Jazz Cafe Troubadour caught our attention with its serenading tunes funneling from inside. A half hour break to rest your feet and quench your thirst before making your way down to the dock for a waterside stroll.

 

  

Your last stop in Old Town Dubrovnik close to where you started your day-long journey. At the front of the Old Town is a great coast-side restaurant where you can enjoy a light dinner or dessert while watching the sunset. Here, you sit and reflect on Croatia's beautiful scenic offerings while you plot your next scheme. 

 

 

  

And Voilà! Your fastfowarded journey through The Old Town of Dubrovnik is accomplished!