Puerto Rico - Fun Facts

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prexplorer Riverside, NJ	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #908 Jun 26, 2009 Jorge wrote: <quoted text> Told 'ya 'bout that country. I'ts full of surprises. Love the Dominican Rep. and its people. Jorge Aside from Santo Domingo, have you ever taken a car and driven though the countryside?
ISA Since: May 07 2,135 New York - born and raised	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #909 Jun 26, 2009 prexplorer wrote: 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! PP: I love this song......I think of grandma when I hear it.....thanks for the memories....ISA
prexplorer Riverside, NJ	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #910 Jun 26, 2009 ISA wrote: <quoted text> PP: I love this song......I think of grandma when I hear it.....thanks for the memories....ISA Anytime I hear "En Mi Viejo San Juan" I always get very nostalgic and sentimental, and like you, I think of my Grandparents, who are now deceased. I miss them greatly.
prexplorer Riverside, NJ	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #911 Jun 26, 2009 A few years ago, PBS produced a documentary entitled "Visions of Puerto Rico". It featured aerial video footage of sights all around Puerto Rico from a helicopter's vantage point. I really liked the footage they showed, although I had to take exception to the narration by Rita Moreno. Some of the facts presented for her to read by the producers were incorrect. Anyway, at the end the song "En Mi Viejo San Juan" ended the program as a cruise ship left San Juan Harbor.
prexplorer Riverside, NJ	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #912 Jun 26, 2009 Robert Confresi was a famous pirate, born in Cabo Rojo Puerto Rico in 1791. Many books were written about him as well as legends about his exploits. With his band of men he attacked Spanish ships laden with gold from South America. He also attacked American ships in the area. He had hideouts on Mona Island, as well as Vieques Island. It is said that he shared his booty with his family and friends. He was later captured and executed, before reaching the age of 30, by the Spanish authorities in 1825.
prexplorer Riverside, NJ	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #913 Jun 26, 2009 Los Banos de Coamo The "Baths of Coamo" or "Coamo Thermal Baths"), located in the town of Coamo, are Puerto Rico's only thermal springs. Used by the Tainos in the pre-Columbian era, the Baños were believed by many to have healing powers. The Baños became a popular tourist attraction among the early Spanish settlers which prompted the construction of a resort by local entrepreneurs. Coamo was the site of an important battle during the Puerto Rico Campaign of the Spanish-American War and were subject to artillery bombardments which damaged the resort. The historic Baños and resort were restored during the 20th century by the Government of Puerto Rico, becoming once more a popular tourist attraction. The Taino's who inhabited Puerto Rico before the arrival of Christopher Columbus and the Spanish conquistadors were the first people to discover the hot spring waters of Coamo. According to local legend, the first governor of Puerto Rico Juan Ponce de Leon, heard about the healing powers of the Baños from the Tainos. Believing that the baths were the Fountain of Youth which he was seeking, Ponce de Leon asked where they were located, however he misunderstood the instructions given to him and instead headed by sea towards a new land which resulted in the discovery of Florida and his death. During the mid-16th century the word spread among the Spanish settlers of the healing powers of the six sulfur-rich spring waters and as a consequence, many of the settlers began to make the regular journeys from San Juan to the mountainous region to enjoy what they believed were the benefits of said waters. In 1847, Andrés G. Luhring, an entrepreneur from Ponce, built the first structures in "Los Baños". He built a guest house (hostel) made of wood in front of the baths to house the frequent visitors. He later had the main guest house built of stone and wood. Luhring had barriers placed around the baths which provided the visitors with privacy while bathing. Luhring lacked the necessary capital to continue operations and sold his interest in the same to a native Coameño, José Usera Soriano who in 1857 built an elegant 20-room hotel out of brick, rubble masonry and wood.
Jorge San Juan, Puerto Rico	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #914 Jun 26, 2009 prexplorer wrote: <quoted text> Aside from Santo Domingo, have you ever taken a car and driven though the countryside? There's too much to do in Santo Domingo. But, next time I'll do that. Jorge
prexplorer Riverside, NJ	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #915 Jun 26, 2009 Jorge wrote: <quoted text> There's too much to do in Santo Domingo. But, next time I'll do that. Jorge I forgot, you are an urban cowboy.

Dave Lopes Fort Lauderdale, FL	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #916 Jun 26, 2009 Hay Bendito!!!
Dave Lopes Fort Lauderdale, FL	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #917 Jun 26, 2009 ISA wrote: <quoted text> PP: I love this song......I think of grandma when I hear it.....thanks for the memories....ISA Hola Isa.
Jorge San Juan, Puerto Rico	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #918 Jun 27, 2009 prexplorer wrote: <quoted text> I forgot, you are an urban cowboy. On the other hand, regarless of Sto. Domingo's wide shaded avenues (full of trees and palms); its colonial quarter (an international gem); its luxurious neighborhoods (where every house takes away your breath); (from the pictures I've seen) their countryside and natural resources are something out of this world. Can't wait to travel the republic (regardless of its poverty). When I travel, I try to look at the country thru the eyes of a national (who's in love with his/her patria). Jorge
ISA Since: May 07 2,135 New York - born and raised	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #919 Jun 27, 2009 Dave Lopes wrote: <quoted text>Hola Isa. Hi Dave: I read what you post and know you and Mari are doing well...ADG. ISA
ISA Since: May 07 2,135 New York - born and raised	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #920 Jun 27, 2009 Jorge wrote: <quoted text> On the other hand, regarless of Sto. Domingo's wide shaded avenues (full of trees and palms); its colonial quarter (an international gem); its luxurious neighborhoods (where every house takes away your breath); (from the pictures I've seen) their countryside and natural resources are something out of this world. Can't wait to travel the republic (regardless of its poverty). When I travel, I try to look at the country thru the eyes of a national (who's in love with his/her patria). Jorge Jorge: I like that way of thinking....LOOK AT THE COUNTRY THRU THE EYES OF A NATIONAL....THANKS ISA
prexplorer Riverside, NJ	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #921 Jun 27, 2009 Jorge wrote: <quoted text> On the other hand, regarless of Sto. Domingo's wide shaded avenues (full of trees and palms); its colonial quarter (an international gem); its luxurious neighborhoods (where every house takes away your breath); (from the pictures I've seen) their countryside and natural resources are something out of this world. Can't wait to travel the republic (regardless of its poverty). When I travel, I try to look at the country thru the eyes of a national (who's in love with his/her patria). Jorge I would love to see the colonial quarter of Santo Domingo. I have never been there.
Sue Glen Ellyn, IL	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #922 Jun 28, 2009 Good Afternoon All! I haven't been able to check in for a few day but wanted to stop by and say hello.Hope all of you are doing well.Gotta go now and watch the soccer game between the U.S. and Brazil.You should hear my husband if I should stand in front of the television when a game is on. LOL
prexplorer Bear, DE	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #923 Jun 28, 2009 Sue wrote: Good Afternoon All! I haven't been able to check in for a few day but wanted to stop by and say hello.Hope all of you are doing well.Gotta go now and watch the soccer game between the U.S. and Brazil.You should hear my husband if I should stand in front of the television when a game is on. LOL Hi Sue. Thanks for stopping by. There hasn't been too much activity here lately. Most folks like to get into the negativity of the other blogs.
Dave Lopes Fort Lauderdale, FL	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #924 Jun 28, 2009 Sue wrote: Good Afternoon All! I haven't been able to check in for a few day but wanted to stop by and say hello.Hope all of you are doing well.Gotta go now and watch the soccer game between the U.S. and Brazil.You should hear my husband if I should stand in front of the television when a game is on. LOL Hi there!! Enjoy your game with your husband, Sue.
prexplorer Bear, DE	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #925 Jun 28, 2009 Aibonito's Flower Festival has just begun. For those intersted in plants, flowers, landscaping or just enjoying typical & modern music without the heat of the metro area, in the mountains & with a cooler temperature, Aibonito is the place to visit. There are always typical food vendors, conferences, music, etc. Today: Trío Los Rosarios, Armonía Cultural Group, Typical singers (trovadores) & Manny Manuel, at 4:00 p.m. The festival will take place June 28 - July 5
prexplorer Bear, DE	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #926 Jun 28, 2009 I borrowed the above information from SunMoonStars on the TripAdvisor forum.
prexplorer Bear, DE	Reply » \| Report Abuse \| Judge it! \| #927 Jun 28, 2009 http://www.youtube.com/watch... Above is a short video of the Aibonito Flower Festival in 2008. Aibonito has the distinction of being one of the coolest spots in the summer and coldest spots in PR.
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