Puerto Rico: Isla Verde beach in San Juan, 2007

There are three beachfront areas in San Juan: Condado Beach at the western side near the bridge that connects this part of the city with Old San Juan; Ocean Park, further to the east; and Isla Verde, which is closest to the Muñoz Marín International Airport and has hotels of every shape and size. The Isla Verde beach, while not the absolute best the island has to offer, is advantageous because it is convenient to the airport and many shops and restaurants.




See my webpage on Puerto Rico at http://www.latinandcaribbeantravel.com/puertorico.html

Other websites:

Caribbean Folk Arts Network (Caribfolk) - Caribbean cultural network: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/caribfolk/

Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas (Latin American Cultural Roots) - a nonprofit organization I founded in 1991 that presents Latin American cultural shows, exhibits, and workshops: http://www.raicesculturales.org/

Raicesnews - Latin cultural events in the Philadelphia area: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/raicesnews

Mexico: Visit to Popocatepetl, 1979

About midway between Mexico City and Puebla stand the twin volcanoes Ixtaccihuatl and Popocatepetl. Both of them are visible on a clear day looking east from Mexico City. We had an unexpected opportunity to visit that area shortly into our semester in Mexico.

One of our roommates had a car and offered to take us there. We piled into the car and drove due east from the capital. We took an expressway out of the city and then pulled off at a town called Cuautla. We went a little further and stopped at the town of Amecameca. This town was one of the first small Mexican towns I had seen, with its plaza and church, and one thing I liked a lot - slices of fresh coconut for sale. We took some time to walk into the church and look around, and as we were walking out, one boy looked at the other and said in Spanish as we were walking by, "They're gringos," which for some reason made me crack up.

Further along we went up along the winding mountain road until we reached a lodge close to the summit of Popocatepetl, where there were plenty of tourists. What I liked about the area was that you could walk around and find some little piles of snow on the ground. The top of the volcano was so close that it looked like you could take a stroll there, but we saw a group of mountain climbers returning from the summit in their full gear, reminding us that the climb was not as easy as it looked. In any case the view was spectacular.

Visit my webpage on Mexico at http://www.latinandcaribbeantravel.com/mexico.html

Other websites:

Caribbean Folk Arts Network (Caribfolk) - Caribbean cultural network: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/caribfolk/

Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas (Latin American Cultural Roots) - a nonprofit organization I founded in 1991 that presents Latin American cultural shows, exhibits, and workshops: http://www.raicesculturales.org/

Raicesnews - Latin cultural events in the Philadelphia area: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/raicesnews

Colombia: Hot Springs in San Vicente near Pereira, 2007

From the city of Pereira, in the middle of coffee country in central Colombia, one can take a day trip to some hot springs in the mountains. San Vicente was one of these hot springs or "termales." This was an 1-1/2 hour drive from Pereira, where one would pick up the microbus. After leaving Pereira and going north to Santa Rosa, the bus quickly leaves the paved road and meanders deep into the countryside before stopping in an area completely enclosed by mountains, with the hot water coming down the sides of one of the mountains and channeling through several of the pools. Aside from bathing in the waters or spending some time in a sauna, there are opportunities to get massages or take nature hikes. The presence of soldiers at the site and along the road indicates that this is a remote area that requires protection for its employees and visitors.

See my webpage on Colombia at http://www.latinandcaribbeantravel.com/colombia.html

Other websites:

Caribbean Folk Arts Network (Caribfolk) - Caribbean cultural network: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/caribfolk/

Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas (Latin American Cultural Roots) - a nonprofit organization I founded in 1991 that presents Latin American cultural shows, exhibits, and workshops: http://www.raicesculturales.org/

Raicesnews - Latin cultural events in the Philadelphia area: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/raicesnews

Spain: View from Ronda

From Seville there are opportunities to take several day trips to nearby towns with interesting architecture. They are collectively known as the "white towns" because many of the buildings of these towns are whitewashed.

I had spent most of my week observing the April Fair in Seville, but as I had seen most of the activity of the fair, I had the day to explore another town. My first choice had been Arcos de la Frontera, which was the closest of these towns to Seville, but the bus schedule was better to Ronda. I wasn't disappointed: Ronda boasts plenty of fascinating architecture and some phenomenal views, as Ronda sits on two hills with the huge Tajo gorge cutting through the middle of the town. This particular view you can see by walking the fenced perimeter, where there is a wide promenade.

See my previous entry on Ronda at http://latin-caribbean-travelblog.blogspot.com/2007/08/spain-bullring-in-ronda-2006.html

Also see my webpage on Spain at http://www.latinandcaribbeantravel.com/spain.html


Other websites:

Caribbean Folk Arts Network (Caribfolk) - Caribbean cultural network: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/caribfolk/
Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas (Latin American Cultural Roots) - a nonprofit organization I founded in 1991 that presents Latin American cultural shows, exhibits, and workshops: http://www.raicesculturales.org/

Raicesnews - Latin cultural events in the Philadelphia area: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/raicesnews