The Yunque rainforest was
beautiful.  We could hike
from our inn down to two
different waterfalls and
swim in the pools.
Puerto Rico


Puerto Rico is a short hop from Provo
as the crow flies, but it’s illegal for any
plane from the Turks & Caicos to fly
into an American territory (i.e. Puerto
Rico or the American Virgin Islands),
so we had to fly back to Miami first.  
How crazy is that?  

Puerto Rico is really beautiful – lush
and tropical.  The people were very
friendly and helpful, and a large
percentage of them spoke English.  

We spent a few days in San Juan in
Isla Verde, a touristy beach area that
had every hotel and restaurant chain
you’d see in the States.  We lavished
in fast food; big, non-rocking beds;
long, hot showers; TV and in-room
internet service.  I read USA Today
and decided I didn’t miss news.

One day we braved the public
transportation and rode a bus to Old
San Juan to explore.  The fare for the
three of us was $.75.  People watching
on the bus was a highlight.  San Juan
is very diverse.

After a few days, we rented a car and
drove to the Yunque Rainforest.  After
a drive that was 2.5 times as long as it
was supposed to be (we got as far as
9 kilometers from our destination, but
had to backtrack 20 miles or so
because the road was closed due to a
bridge that was washed out ahead),
we arrived at the Casa Cubuy
Ecolodge.  

Funky at first, it became a favorite
place.  Mary Ann, the owner, greeted
us, and gave us a quick tour – honor
bar fully stocked with drinks and snack
foods, trail to nearby waterfalls, etc.  I
asked if they had internet access, and
was told to sit down in the office and
use their computer whenever I wanted
to.   Breakfasts and dinners were
served family-style to occupants of the
10 rooms onsite, and we had a great
time dining with the people we met.

The kids loved hiking through the
rainforest, especially climbing up and
down the waterfalls. I spent a lot of
time worrying about what I’d do if one
of us fell and hurt something (kept
envisioning my sister, Suzanne, being
carried out of a similar place in Belize
last year with a broken leg.)  We
eventually got our nerve up to swim in
one of the pools.

Next stop was Hatillo, where we drove
to see a big observatory, and the
Cabuy Caverns.  Jay liked the
observatory because he’d seen it in a
James Bond movie.  

Back to San Juan… the drive across
the city was a challenge.  Jay got a lot
of practice on his map reading skills as
we tried to cross the city.   We
eventually made it and spent one
more night in Isla Verde before fllying
to St. Thomas to meet Steve and get
back on the boat.