Bienvenido a Puerto Rico!

Where?: Rio Grande, Puerto Rico

San Juan, Puerto Rico

When?: Memorial Day Weekend 2007 w/ my mother.

Hotel?: Melia Caribbean Resort in Rio Grande

Duration of Flight?: 3 1/2 hours

Population?: 3,994,259 (Puerto Rico)

434,374 (San Juan)

52,362 (Rio Grande)

Why?: Memorial Day Weekend!

My experience: Puerto Rico is a beautiful island with lots to see. My mother and I stayed at the beautiful Melia Caribbean hotel in Rio Grande. Melia hotels are very nice hotel no matter where you go to. I stayed at the one in Cuba and I had no complaints at all, same with in Rio Grande. What I liked the most about the hotel (which others might not like) was the fact that you had to walk everywhere if not have someone in a golf car take you to your destination. In the hot weather, sometimes this isn't your favorite thing to do but when its nice out, it's definitely a beautiful scenario. 

Just like any island, there are always famous monuments to go see. For instance El Morro (the first picture on top), is a famous monument which Cuba also has. I think that if anyone goes to Puerto Rico they should definitely go to the Bacardi company (picture on the left). Considering many people around the world probably drink this alcohol, it would be nice to see exactly how it is made. I honestly had a great time here because when you first get there, you enter this like movie theater which everyone sits down and they give you background information about how Bacardi originated and what not. Which is anyone does not know, Bacardi was started in Cuba not Puerto Rico, so for all of you Puerto Ricans who think your country started Bacardi, you are wrong! :) And I have proof which I will show you in a second. But back to the tour. Once you are done with the little movie that they show you, you then are placed in a different room which shows you exactly the process of how Bacardi is made and its different flavors. It was really nice to actually see in front of you how it was made. There were different tables in which you would press the button and put the headphones on and it would give you information on whatever button you clicked on. The good thing about going to Puerto Rico is the fact that they allow each person to bring back 5 bottles each back to the United States, therefore my mother and I brought back 10 bottles of all different flavors of Bacardi! And no we are NOT alcoholics, we gave out pretty much all the bottles except two to our friends and family members. 

Now back to the moment that all Cubans want to show all Puerto Ricans. (Drum roll please)... Here it is! The actual first seal proof certificate that says Santiago de Cuba, because this is where it started! The original owners of Bacardi were Cuban and then they eventually moved to Puerto Rico in which they decided to change it Puerto Rican Rum instead of keeping it Cuban Rum. It is ok Puerto Rico that you took our rum, just give us our recognition, that's all! :)

But anywho, I would definitely recommend anyone going to Puerto Rico and enjoying their beaches, the nice people, the beautiful monuments, and of course their so called rum. 

Bueno, adios y ven a visitar a Puerto Rico. (Well, goodbye and come visit Puerto Rico).