This is my first time in the Caribbean, first time hiking in a rain forest - the El Yunque National Forest, and first time to hear Ko-Kee (Coquí) frog at night. I went to Puerto Rico for many reasons, however, probably because unconsciously I knew I have to leave the United States for good. Thus, do it now or regret it for the rest of my life.
I stayed in PR for two weeks, the first week I stayed and worked at the Rainforest Inn, met good people there, Bill, Laurie and my friend from TX, Shane.
Then, with a rental car - a small two door Kia, I went on exploring the island, unlike Ulysses, I slept in the car, for 5 days. I drove around the island up and down, left and right; made great friendship with local mosquitoes, they loved me. I must say, what a beautiful place, with truly nice and warm people. Puerto Ricans are great drivers too; a car’s headlights are unnecessary at night and in a storm.
Puerto Ricans are really warm and gentle people indeed, and they keep telling you that "beware, there is always an exception," which I saw. However, the only thing I didn't like is regrettably the local food, especially the fresh fish ..., which unfortunate experience has been substituted by the incomparable excitement of driving on Puerto Rican freeway along the Puerto Rican drivers or horse riders on Saturday night.
PS. Puerto Ricans drink local beer, local Rum - Bacardi and Don Q , or imported Heineken; only "white People" from the continent want drink a shot of tequila with lime and Corona. This made me to think about the power of TV commercial and disinformation. The Corona beer commercial tells you that if you go to a exotic place, such as an island, you have to drink a Corona in order to fully enjoy this special moment; yet, locals prefer drink imported Heineken ... another irony of life isn't it.