July 6, 2007 Frommers




• *If you heard about us somewhere else or have the link to the story please email Johnny Jet media and let us know where!

• I worked on the FIRST SPREAD EAGLE>>BACK IN THE 70's...lots of stories. Question: What is the name of the group/song that is layered over your Puerto Rico video? Thanks, Alan S - REPLY: Too funny! Johnny is not sure of the name as someone gave him a CD of unlabeled Puerto Rican music.



• “Slept like an overworked donut maker?” Love your writing. Kara R – Miami, FL



• I read your blogs on Frommers and I must say that today's caught my eye. You see, I was one of the survivors of the Dupont Plaza hotel fire on 12/31/86. And what a terrible New Years it was. I, like you, was a teenager during the fire; a senior in high school to be exact. I had flown down to PR for Menudo's "Dia de los Reyes" concert in January; at the time of the fire, my friends & I had been on the island for 2 days. We ended up being amongst the people rescued from the roof (after spending about 3 1/2 hours up there) by baskets dangling out of helicopters. The whole thing was handled poorly, but I had so many friends down there at the time who were looking for me (good to know boy bands, huh?), and met so many locals during the experience who also helped us out and tried to keep us away from the goings-on with the government and hotel people. I continued going to PR once a year through 1990, and have since been back twice (2000, 2005). (The interim was spent, as you, traveling the world). I am planning another trip this summer to visit a dear friend who moved back home. Needless to say, though I love the island a lot, I have never ever set foot on the property that once was the Dupont and is now the Marriott. Too many bad memories of that day tucked away...I still don't like being alone on New Years Eve because of it. And don't even talk to me about heights; when I climbed the pyramid at Chichen Itza in 1991, I had such a flashback that I couldn't even imagine how I was going to get down off the thing! I've been all over the world, but PR still holds one of the dearest spots in my heart. And although I'm not friendly with anyone who traveled with me on that fateful trip, and am in contact with just a select few of the many people I knew on the island, the memory of that event will stay with me forever. Anyways, such a shock to read about it this morning in your blog. Just thought I'd write my two cents worth...those of us who survived are still out here and still traveling.



• I have owned an apt. in the Condado across the street from what is now the Marriott since 1979, although my home is NYC (where I'm a corporate lawyer) and I do NOT speak Spanish or come from Spanish heritage. My father was staying in the apt. on the night of the Dupont Plaza fire and saw and photographed quite a bit of that tragedy from our terrace. What, you may ask, brings me back to San Juan over so many years (even though I usually go to Europe 2 or 3 times a year and various places in the US and Canada)? The wonder and diversity of the island - and its cultural stew. If you only stay in the greater San Juan area, you are missing quite a lot. For your next trip, you should visit Ponce, its central square of Colonial Latin America architecture and its wonderful art museum, in a building designed by Edward Durrell Stone and housing, among other items, the largest and best collection of pre-Raphaelite art in the western hemisphere. The core of the collection belonged to the Ferrer family; one of its members ultimately became Governor of the island. Not far from Ponce is the Phosphorescent Bay, which is a little tired these days. Continue on to Boqueron, the Hamptons for wealthy Puerto Ricans - although many also maintain weekend homes in the Dominican Republic - for a low key weekend of rest, water sports and delicious seafood. Or continue a bit northwest from Ponce inland to San German - a community settled by Germans in the 1700's who brought their art and traditions with them - and which have become wonderfully mixed with Puerto Rican culture. There is also the Guanica Dry Forest. On the west coast, Rincon is a world-class surfing locale from Jan- to about April. Arecibo also has Colonial Latin American architecture - although not as beautiful as in Ponce. From Arecibo, you can go to its Observatory, sited in a huge, natural karst bowl and operated by Cornell Univ. - a legacy of Carl Sagan. It has exhibits explaining the solar system and other space phenomena. It was in one of the James Bond movies and also Contact, with Jodie Foster. Nearby, are the Caves of Camuy - underground caverns, but somehow wide open and a good part of it naturally lit; I plan to visit them again on my next trip there at the end of this month (July, 2007), but I remember an informative, guided boat ride through some of the caverns. Mayaguez also has a Colonial Latin American legacy. On the opposite coast, in Humacao, there is a huge resort developed by the people who also developed Hilton Head. In the town itself, is the core of the santos industry - wood-carved religious figures with an unmistakable African heritage. Fajardo, in my memory, used to be a sleepy fishing village. That began changing in the late 80s, with the El Conquistador - I now go to the area to SCUBA dive. There are still a lot of small cove beaches - some of which charge a modest fee ($2-3) for parking - but are also clean and quiet and wonderful places to swim. But what you missed, and it is virtually across the highway from the Rain Forest,. is Luquillo Beach - a large expanse of natural cove beach that is as placid as a huge, wide-open swimming pool. When most gringos visit the island, from Dec-March, it is relatively quiet because the Puerto Ricans feel the ocean is too cold to swim in during the winter. For the rest of the year, it is a bit too crowded for my taste on the weekends, with many stands selling food - but otherwise glorious. It has now become a Beach w/o Barriers for access to those with disabilities. I understand that the Rockefeller family tried to buy Luquillo for its own purposes during the 70s - but the outcry stopped that. But it is an exquisite beach, with lots of clean sand and gorgeous water. Pinones, just behind the Isla Verde Marin international airport, and heading in the direction of Fajardo, there are wonderful, largely outdoor restaurants on Route 187 serving some of the freshest seafood you will ever eat. It is a strip along a curvy road that runs for about 2 miles - pick one that looks crowded, any one (although I'm beginning to ID some of my favorites), and join the fun & enjoy the food. Many serve fried food - but anything can be broiled or baked if you ask. There is usually at least one person around who speaks English. The interior of the island is very lush farmland, where they produce some of the most glorious-tasting coffee in the world (& could grow enough food to be the breadbasket of the entire Caribbean). For years, that coffee grew wild and fell & rotted on the ground - but then (around 2000) the Puerto Ricans began to emulate Jamaica, with its Blue Mtn coffee, and have turned PR coffee in to the gourmet brand it richly deserves to be. You can buy it & all the hotels serve it - BUT you MUST specifically ask for Puerto Rican coffee, otherwise, as a gringo, you will be served so-called American coffee, which is likely Colombian. PR coffee is not acidic and has a nutty taste - and is absolutely delicious (& you're "talking" to a coffee nut who will only serve Illy (from Trieste, Italy - where I visited the plant) or Puerto Rican coffee in her home). There was a period, in the early '80s, where we could not go anywhere outside of San Juan without a driver who carried a gun in the car. The Puerto Rican Government realized it had better clean up its act - & did so. Now I drive everywhere, often alone, even at night (female, 58). San Juan has a Tourist Police force that cruises - quite frequently - the heavily-touristed areas of San Juan, including Old San Juan, Isla Verde and the Condado. Although many police in Puerto Rico do NOT speak English (they often come from the interior and poor farm towns), there is at least one officer in a Tourist Police car who does. Ocean Park, the community between the Condado and the international airport, is where many wealthy Puerto Ricans live. Next time, take Ashford to the Kasalta Bakery for breakfast (Ashford turns into McLeary)- 1966 Avenida McLeary; hours from 6 am to 10 pm, with good reason!! It's less than 10 minutes from the Marriott. In the Condado, you missed the wonderful Museum of Art and the equally provocative Museum of Modern Art. I walk the 5 or 6 blocks from my apt. to there. What you failed to state is that even in the height of the summer, the island is cooled by ocean breezes, which is why you were more comfortable with your terrace door open and no AC. I can't remember when I last turned on the 2 AC units I have in my apt. I just slide open the terrace door - sometimes, I turn on the ceiling fans. Nothing else is needed. But before you go again, pls check the gopuertorico website - or just Google Puerto Rico tourism. All through the island, all year, there are amazing folk festivals in the various towns and cities. The music and food are a delight - and memorable. & everyone has fun!! I've probably missed places to tell you about - but you can e-mail & ask questions. In many ways, for many reasons, Puerto Rico is an undiscovered gem!! Happy traveling!! Cassondra J - NYC



• I came across your site, and read the page about your mom. I was very moved, and it looks like you’ve been a very good son. Warm regards, Bob Thomas -



• I am traveling to Delray Beach in about 2 weeks, was surfing the net looking for information about the area. I have not been able to find a more informative sight than yours. Thank you for the information that you have provide. Happy traveling! Denny W - Pittsburgh Pa





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