To my barely famous stars:
Just came back of an amazing vacation were my husband
and I decided to travel across Puerto Rico that's why I will divide it as:"Dandole
la vuelta part one & two":
As a very responsible fashionista I marked all the
mayor shopping centers hehehe :) Then we headed out on our trip. I didn't make
this part of the trip because we left late because of some dog rescues I had
that day BUT DON'T LEAVE IT OUT if you arrive during the day!!! If you are
arriving from SJU airport or you live in San Juan Start by going to piñones
(DURING THE DAY). Is not the kind of place you want to be lost at night but
during the day it has some beautiful places to take pictures. It's a small road
with ALOT of places to buy "Frituras"! If you eat fried food and like
salty delicious sinful food that's your place. My favorite Bacalaitos mmmmm!
Heaven, made out of fish and a lot of carbs mmmmm! In an all carbs diet that
Bacalaito will be an angel for your belly. The "Bacalaitos" are sold everywhere
there in piñones. Even Spiderman is a "Bacalaito" fan at least Tom
Beland drawing show's it clearly hehehe :) That's why Spidey is part of my
family!
A lot of taxis will recommend a restaurant called:
Soleil to tourist. The food is good but if you are REALLY HUNGRY but if you are
not just stop at the first kiosk to your left hand side as soon you get to
piñones. It is shaped as a small green house (VERY small green house). They are
very clean and nice they sell bacalaitos there for $1 to $3 dollars depends on
size.
Now prepare to taste sweetness in its BEST form! Cane
sugar juice here we call it: "GUARAPO" Look for two young guys in a
small bus they are usually not in the same place but they are well known around
there. Since the service in Soleil is great & some of them speak English
and Spanish you can ask for them there. They have been in piñones for a long time stop there for
directions to get to them. It's Delicious and it's only $3!!! Talking about
them just made me thirsty hehehe
Bacalaito: check! Guarapo: check! Now off to a start,
this is where I started my trip. We went in direction to ponce. Cameras ready, you
are going to see ALOT of mountains and great views along the way so enjoy it!
It is 2 hour ride so make sure not to leave later than 2pm & may I suggest
that you take your the bacalaito and guarapo to go.
When you arrive in Ponce close by plaza del caribe
(Girls every time I say "plaza" of something that's a mall!!! Get
your shop on) There is a small bus called: "Las 7 potencias" I hope
some day they become a restaurant. Most of well-known places in Puerto Rico
started as a bus. The perfect example is Don frappe that in part 2 you will
hear more of them. So discover were they have the BEST mofongo I have ever
tasted and a whole meal is like $6, Take it to go and eat it downtown ponce in
front of the catedral is a cool place to see old buildings and enjoy in walking
distance the historic sites!!! (There is a hotel Ramada o "Parador Melia"
if you want to stay at ponce, their prices are unpredictable but they offer
good service). It's a food overdose so make sure to stop by Kings Ice cream to
eat dessert! It's in front of the famous "Parque de bombas" my
favorite is the almond one. Irresistible!
It is 2-hour ride so make sure not to leave later than
6pm. The roads in cabo rojo don't have a lot of lights so don't leave so late.
The check in is usually at 3pm so there is no use getting there so early. Enjoy
other places just don’t get too distracted. Ponce is a very nice place to relax
and have a break from the car.
In cabo rojo I have a place that I call back pack
heaven... Parador: Combate Beach :) It's a very humble place, with a
veryyyyyyyyy attentive staff that some BIG resort would wish for! Make sure to
give them your email so they can send you an email to confirm your reservations
and a reminder of your stay and directions on how to get there. I travel a lot
and I don't remember the last time that a resort sent me such a warm and nice
email. Special thanks to Tommy who helped me with my reservations
and Franco who made sure me and my husband got there safe because I
got lost @ 11pm because of a fire in the woods but they helped me so again
THANKS! If you are used to big resorts and get psycho about every single detail
is not the place for you. Go to Parador Bahia Salinas they have some fancy
stuff but if you are like me that I loveeee to have an adventure and find diamonds
in the rough this is your place to be. This parador is currently under
development (SUGGESTION: Maybe the management should put some signs telling
people about it and sorry for the inconvenience). I got room 16; I would recommend
room from 10-13. It's the kind of small inn that for only $149 you can stay
there for 3 days and have breakfast included. They have a refrigerator (Plus
points to save money!!!) in the room so you can bring some food and wont go
bad. It's a gem because you are next to a wild life reserve. You can rent bikes
for $18 an hour and see the mangles, the beach and some rare species of birds
and animals. Wear a lot of sun block it's easy to get sun burned there but the
beach is amazing a great way to relax and unwind. This inn is a let your hair
down kind of stop so you don't have to worry to wear make up, high heels and
look California beach ready. It's a flip flops, bathing suits and let's go
place. I just wished that they stop calling themselves resort it takes the
beauty of the place out because is not a resort right now but at the rate it's
going with service and development I don't doubt that some day it will be. You can
enjoy the beach the whole day. We went sight seeing after 2pm and visited:
Cabo
Rojo Lighthouse - Rt 301 Km 11.5, (787) 851-1025
Cabo
Rojo National Wildlife Refuge - Rt 301 Km 5.1, Box 510, (787) 851-7258
Phosphorescent
Bay $6 boat ride (We went on the small boat because it was more romantic an
intimate because of the stars).
At "el parador combate beach" you can ask
directions on how to get to any of these places. Here some pictures...
This last picture has a piña colada and is a great way to end part one in cabo rojo. They sell them at Annie's place $7 they are next to the parador combate beach and are open untill late. That is it for part one... Take care and enjoy your barely famous life!
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So let's start the fun & live life to the fullest! xoxoxox
Cynthia Martinez