Ponce, Puerto Rico
The famous writer, Mark Twain, once said, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in you sail. Explore. Dream. Discover.” The Caribbean is bursting with alluring islands and spectacular sights. Puerto Rico is simply one of multiple intriguing travel destinations. This enchanted island has many great things in store for tourists that come to visit, such as crazy drivers, historic monuments, and sandy beaches.
From the moment that our feet touched Puerto Rican soil, everything went askew. The taxis were lined up and waiting on cruisers, such as ourselves. A rental car had been booked so that we could travel the island and see all that there is to see. Most people bought excursions on the island. Some excursions include zip-lining, hiking, snorkeling, and boating. As we were about to step into the open door of a taxi, my dad called the dealership and they informed us that a driver was right outside of the gate to the pier. Not even 500 yards from where we were standing, there was the driver! The kind woman drove us to get our rental car, and we had a lot of laughs along the way. Driving here was very different from America. Apparently, the laws were very lenient and most drivers did not obey them. Our driver proclaimed, “These people, they savages!” Bursting into laughter, I couldn’t help but to jokingly ask my parents if they wanted me to drive, even though it had only been a few months since I had obtained my permit. Looking out of the car window, I also noticed a bit of debris and a numerous amount of trees that had been knocked down. I had heard about a horrible tropical storm that raged through many of the Caribbean islands, but I had no idea how extensive the damage really was.
Hurricane Maria – a category 5 storm- managed to make its way through and nearly level several Caribbean islands, including Puerto Rico. People from all around the world gathered to assist in putting the islands back together, but even with this overwhelming amount of help, the Caribbean is still suffering from this great tragedy today. Several famous landmarks did, however, manage to make it through the disastrous storm. El Parque de Bombas is an old fire station in the Plaza las Delicias. This red and black striped building is one of Ponce’s most recognizable structures and Puerto Rico’s first ever fire house. The name comes from the mobile hand-pumped fire fighting units that this remarkable place once housed. Today, this well-know monument serves as a museum, commemorating Ponce’s firemen every day. As great as this sight is, there is much more to behold throughout the island of Puerto Rico.
The beaches in Puerto Rico are something that no one would want to miss! The rock formations are naturally gorgeous and the ocean is a beautiful aqua blue. Waters here are very calm and the weather is absolutely perfect. Trees around the coast are vibrant colors of green and the sun shines bright enough to give a tan! Iguanas make their homes in the hot and humid climate and the giant lizards can be seen sunning on rocks or crawling around in the sand. As I was recording a fitness video, an iguana decided to photo-bomb and run right behind me in the process. Be sure to look close while you watch the video! A lot of weird and interesting things happened in one tiny island, but I would not have missed it for the world.
Puerto Rico can create lasting memories for anybody that decides to visit this ravishing place with its confusing road rules, aged landmarks, and attractive ocean views. Just as Pat Conroy said, “Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but it is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey.” Unforgettable journeys turn into unforgettable places, which turn into unforgettable memories that last a lifetime.