Puerto Rico - Fun Facts

The former Pan American Village site in Carolina will be transformed into Plaza Internacional, a multiuse development, including a hotel and casino operation and a 650,000-square-foot mall, which includes the two coveted department stores, originally to be ready by 2010.

Despite rumors that development plans for the $430 million Plaza Internacional shopping center had slowed because of the economic crisis, mall developer Taubman Centers Inc. confirmed the upscale department store Nordstrom Inc. will open its first store in Puerto Rico as originally planned.

Officials at Taubman said it has received signed letters of intent from both Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Mandarin Oriental, a five-star resort will be built on the Palmas del Mar property in Humacao.

The venue will consist of a 142-room luxury hotel; an 18,000-square-foot Signature Mandarin Oriental Spa; 44 Mandarin-branded Condo Residences and 25 branded Estate Homes. The approximate investment of the multiphase project is $400 million. The cost of the hotel (and Spa, of course) plus the Condo Residences will be around $230 million.

The five-star venue will be constructed on a breathtaking 40-acre site on Punta Guayanés in Palmas with spectacular views of Vieques, Culebra and, on a clear day, even St. Thomas, USVI.

A 250 million investment in Trump International development in Río Grande will include 427-room hotel plus condo-hotel.

A second five-star hotel, the first JW Marriott Hotel & Resort at Coco Beach, will break ground in Río Grande near the Trump International Residences & Golf Resort Puerto Rico. According to Arturo Francisco Díaz, executive vice president of Empresas Díaz, the 427-room hotel will consist of a $250 million investment in the hotel and a condo-hotel, which will be developed in several phases.

Empresas Díaz is the owner & partner, along with the Donald Trump organization, of the Río Grande area known as Coco Beach, which features an 18-hole golf club that is already in operation and a residential-tourism development under construction that will include homes, villas, apartments and the new JW Marriott Hotel & Resort.

Trump International will follow a green master plan, to become one of the most sustainable projects of its kind in the world.

The JW brand is one of Marriott’s most elegant and luxurious brands. The Río Grande property will feature 11 restaurants and deluxe comfort and personal service for business and leisure travelers.

A new five-star St. Regis hotel in Río Grande marks the start of more upscale resort development in Puerto Rico.

Bahía Beach Resort complex puts Puerto Rico on the world’s five-star hotel and residential map
Green resort vying for prestigious Silver Audubon International Signature Sanctuary certification; the 139-unit St. Regis hotel is scheduled to open in 2010.

Nestled in a luscious seaside tropical forest enclave, tourism and hospitality complex Bahía Beach Resort & Golf Club in Río Grande soon will become a favorite destination for the world’s most demanding tourists.

An initial $360 million investment helped fund the development of six mixed-use projects including Puerto Rico’s first five-star hotel, the St. Regis Resort Bahía Beach, the world-class Trent Jones Jr. Golf Course and several residential complexes, some which are already up and running. Once complete, industry experts estimate the total investment in the project could exceed $500 million.

While the St. Regis hotel is expected to open November 2010, developers of the ambitious multiphase project estimate completion of the entire resort area at five years and say its completion will help generate more than 3,000 new, direct and indirect jobs.

The Bahía Beach Resort complex sits on a 483-acre expanse of land just 16 miles from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport. A two-mile stretch of sandy beach and 70 acres of interconnected lakes are protected by the region’s immaculately conserved green areas, which include more than 3,500 transplanted trees. Contrary to other large-scale developments, Bahía Beach Resort’s master plan was conceived around the area’s natural setting. The result of that design vision is the conservation of 65% of the property’s green areas.

Puerto Rico: A golf paradise

Golf has always been glorious in Puerto Rico. More than a score of professionally designed courses can be found throughout the island, and Puerto Rico’s almost perfect tropical weather makes it possible to play year round.

Puerto Rico is truly a golfer’s paradise, offering 23 golf courses (and six more under way), 17 of which are championship-level courses designed by some of the top names in the industry, including Greg Norman, Gary Player, Robert Trent Jones Sr., Tom and George Fazio, Rees Jones and Arthur Hills. And vacationers and golf pros agree Puerto Rico has some of the finest golf courses in the Caribbean and Latin America.

In fact, as evidence of Puerto Rico’s allure as a golf destination, Empresas Díaz Inc. and the Trump Organization recently announced a $600 million investment to develop the luxurious Trump International Golf Club, a club expected to place Puerto Rico firmly on the international golf map.

Hotel and megayacht marina set for Old San Juan

A ninety-yacht marina and 220-room hotel and retail space will be part of a $110 million to $120 million project for piers 7, 8 and 9.

The hotel, retail space and its 90-plus slips will be in the area between Capitolio Plaza and Pier 10 and is expected to be operational by sometime in 2011 or 2012.

The megayacht facility will have the capability to handle 75-footers with ease and a few yachts between 100 feet and 300 feet.

Happy fathers day everyone.

Happy Father's Day! This one is another that touches the heart and soul.

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

Puerto Rico in the 1940's:

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

More video from the 1940's to 1950's era:

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

Marc Anthony in concert at Madison Square Garden singing the famous Rafael Hernandez song, Preciosa:

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

Prexp:

Honest opinion:

Do you think that all that investment of American business is a sign of the island being independent some day?

Jorge

Perhaps one of Puerto Rico's greatest and beloved music composers is Rafael Hernandez (October 24, 1892 – December 11, 1965):

In 1937, Hernández wrote one of his greatest works, "Lamento borincano". That same year, he also wrote what is considered by many to be his masterpiece, "Preciosa". In 1947, Hernández returned to Puerto Rico and became the director of the Puerto Rican Symphony Orquestra. He was also a musical advisor to the government-owned WIPR Radio.

Hernandez's talent went beyond composing only patriotic music. He also composed Christmas music, Danzas, Zarzuelas, Guarachas, Lullabies, Boleros, Waltzes and etcetera. Many people in the Dominican Republic consider his composition "Linda quisqueya" their second national anthem.

Hernández's works' include "Ahora seremos felices" (Now We Will Be Happy), "Campanitas de cristal" (Crystal Bells), "Capullito de Alhelí", "Culpable" (Guilty),"El Cumbanchero" (also known as "Rockfort Rock" or "Comanchero" (sic) to reggae aficionados), "Ese soy yo" (That's Me), "Perfume de Gardenias", "Silencio", and "Tú no comprendes" (You Don't Understand), among 3,000 others. His music became an important part of the Puerto Rican Culture.

Jorge wrote:

Prexp:
Honest opinion:
Do you think that all that investment of American business is a sign of the island being independent some day?
Jorge

I truthfully do not know. A lot of the money to finance these projects is coming from the PR government and Puerto Rican investors.

Noel Estrada (June 4, 1918 – 1979) was the composer of "En mi Viejo San Juan", one of the most famous Boleros in Puerto Rico.

Estrada was born in the town of Isabela, Puerto Rico where he received his primary education. During the Great Depression, many Puerto Ricans either emigrated to the United States (mainly to the northeastern coast area) or joined the armed forces, with the hope of improving their economic situation. At the outbreak of World War II, Estrada joined and served in the Army. Being away from his homeland for the first time in his life would in the future serve him as inspiration when composing his world renowned Bolero "En mi viejo San Juan".

Estrada became a government employee after being honorably discharged from the Army. He was a protocol official for the State Department. It was during the 1940s and 1950s that he felt his true calling for composing and that he wrote and interpreted his songs in Puerto Rico and in the U.S.

Among the many songs which he wrote were the following: "El Romance del Cafetal" (Romance of the coffee field); "Verde Navidad" (Green Christmas); "El Amor del Jíbaro" (The poor farmers Love); "Pobre Amor" (Poor Love); "Pedacito de Borinquen" (A piece of Puerto Rico); "Amor del Alma" ( Love of the Soul); "Lo Nuestro Termino" (Our love is Finished); etcetera. However, it was with "En mi Viejo San Juan" (In my old San Juan) that Estrada would become famous and gain international acclaim.

"En mi Viejo San Juan" is considered a second national anthem by many Puerto Ricans, especially the Puerto Ricans who live far away from Puerto Rico. The City of San Juan adopted the song as its official city anthem. "En mi Viejo San Juan" is considered a classic and has been performed by many artists including, Javier Solis, Vikki Carr, Marco Antonio Muñiz, Rafael Cortijo, Ismael Rivera, Pedro Rivera Toledo, Celia Cruz, and Rocío Dúrcal.

English
translation

En mi Viejo San Juan

In my Old San Juan,

many dreams I forged
in my childhood nights
My first illusion,
and my troubles of love
are memories of the soul
One afternoon I departed for a foreign nation,
that's how destiny would have it
But my heart remained at the seas,

in my Old San Juan.

Adiós... adiós, adiós

Goodbye (goodbye, goodbye)

My dear Borinquen*
Land of my love
Goodbye (goodbye, goodbye)
My Goddess of the Sea
My Queen of the palm grove
I'm leaving But someday I'll return
To search for what I want
To dream once again

In my Old San Juan.


But time passed me by,
and destiny fooled
my terrible nostalgia.
And I could not return
to the San Juan that I loved
little piece of my land.
My hair turned white,
my life has left,
death is calling me.
I do not want to die far away from you,

Puerto Rico of my soul!

prexplorer wrote:

<quoted text>
I truthfully do not know. A lot of the money to finance these projects is coming from the PR government and Puerto Rican investors.

Are you sure? Or are these investors receiving exemptions (on behalf of us, island Puerto Ricans) to invest their money?

Trump, Bill Gates, and the other companies you mentioned are not Puerto Rican.

Jorge wrote:

<quoted text>
Are you sure? Or are these investors receiving exemptions (on behalf of us, island Puerto Ricans) to invest their money?
Trump, Bill Gates, and the other companies you mentioned are not Puerto Rican.

Si. I am too lazy to look up the articles. I will if you absolutely have to read it for yourself. I am still waiting for the Puerto Rican movie titles you said you were going to get for me.

prexplorer wrote:

<quoted text>
Si. I am too lazy to look up the articles. I will if you absolutely have to read it for yourself. I am still waiting for the Puerto Rican movie titles you said you were going to get for me.

I will, man, I will. You gotta trust on your fellowmen. Have I ever let you down?

Jorge wrote:

<quoted text>
I will, man, I will. You gotta trust on your fellowmen. Have I ever let you down?

Ok, solamente estaba "cheqiando".

Question: Are Puerto Ricans driving any of the hybrid vehicles out on the market these days like the Toyota Prius or the Honda Insight? I know how they love Toyotas.