Island life, Puerto Rico-style - The Charlotte Observer - Jun 29, 2008

From 1986 to 1990, I lived in a very small studio apartment on a high floor across the street from the Marriott Hotel in the Condado. At that time it was the Dupont Plaza Hotel. I watched the entire fire with the CNN News team as they filmed from my apartment.

In January 1993, I purchased a condo three times larger than my Condado condo for much less money. Today it went from being worth $62,000 in 1993 to being worth over $160,000. It is easy to sell. Every family wants to live in my wonderful area of Carolina.

My current condo is on a high floor and looks out over the Laguna San Jose Laguna. I am on the tenth floor with a fantastic view. I can see the El Junge mountain range in the distance. To my right, I can see the T. Moscoso Bridge with the beautiful Puerto Rican and American flags lining the route of the bridge and flying in the constant breeze from the lagoon. I can see off in the distance the famous tower of the University of Puerto Rico.

It is only a fifteen minute drive by car to the Condado. If I do not want to drive or need to save gas, the MBA Bus A5 takes me to within easy walking distance to the Condado or I can stay on the bus and go into Old San Juan. The A5 route gives me several areas where I can connect with other bus routes including those going to Plaza Las Americas.

Often I end up in conversations with other passengers on the A5. Puerto Ricans are fun loving and friendly. It is the greatest place to retire because of the people and the climate. I am delighted living in Puerto Rico.

It seems that I am frequently eating at Deli Cuisine in Plaza Las Americas or having a brownie sundae and delicious cafe grande at McDonald's at this mall. I sit near the entrance in McConald's and enjoy watching the people, especially the families with children, pass by. I do the same at Deli Cuisine. I make certain to sit at a table with a view of the people in the main hallway of the mall.

Puerto Rico is an "Enchanted Island."

Excuse me. There are not African Americans in Pinones.

SHIRLEY wrote:

Excuse me. There are not African Americans in Pinones.

All Puerto Ricans are American regardless of the color of their skin or where their ancestors came from. A black American living in Puerto Rico is considered by being politically correct: an African American.

Puerto Rico had too many Coridians that also arrived to the island of Puerto Rico in the early 1890's. The Coridians came from an Island South of France. All were White people. Of all the islands in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico's 80 percent of the population are of Spanish descendence. Puerto Rico is definately a melting pot, we have had Italians, Irish, Jews, and many mixture than any other countries in the Caribbean.

Floridian wrote:

Puerto Rico had too many Coridians that also arrived to the island of Puerto Rico in the early 1890's. The Coridians came from an Island South of France. All were White people. Of all the islands in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico's 80 percent of the population are of Spanish descendence. Puerto Rico is definately a melting pot, we have had Italians, Irish, Jews, and many mixture than any other countries in the Caribbean.

The majority of Puerto Rico’s “Corsicans” had arrived and were well established in the island by the 1850’s. Some of them have become well known Puertorican society - Bracetti, Antonini, Santini, Pietri, Fabbiani, Palmieri, to name a few.
Early 19th century, the ‘Cédula de Gracias’ decree ushered thousands of non-Spanish European immigrants to Puerto Rico. The Irish, French and Catholic German became the primary beneficiaries of the Crown’s offer. They all came in search of opportunity and a better life.