Monday, December 27, 2021

How to Stay Entertained in Puerto Rico

 

Winter is rolling around, which means that it is time to start planning spring break trips. There are a ton of options for spring break trip destinations that you can choose from. Whether you are looking for beaches or mountains, relaxing resorts or explorations of nature, there are a lot of choices. But one tried and true choice for spring break is to return to Puerto Rico and experience the island. Coming back to Puerto Rico is always a great choice, and there are tons of things to do in PR. Here are three ways to stay entertained in Puerto Rico.

Enjoy the Nightlife

The nightlife in Puerto Rico is unbelievable. From lowkey bars to full out clubs, you can find the right place for your vibe every single night of the week. A must-visit nightlife attraction in Puerto Rico is La Placita de Santurce. La Placita is a farmer’s market in the daytime, and at night it transforms into Puerto Rico’s coolest outdoors club, featuring restaurants, bars, and incredible live music to help you party through the night. There are tons of other options to explore as well, make sure to take some of it in during your stay.

Do Ocean Activities

The island of Puerto Rico offers some of the most incredible ocean beaches that the world has to offer. Everything from swimming, boating, kayaking, snorkeling, and scuba diving are possible and incredible in Puerto Rico. You absolutely must try scuba diving in Puerto Rico, it is a great place for first timers to give it a shot. You do need to know how to swim well to go scuba diving, so make sure that you have taken swimming lessons before suiting up.

Experience Nature

Puerto Rico has some of the most incredible natural landscapes that you can find anywhere in the world, you absolutely must explore some of the natural beauty that PR has to offer. A great place to check out is El Yunque Rainforest, which is the only tropical rainforest that is protected via the US National Forest System. If you prefer some more glowing natural attractions, then head to the bioluminescent bay at Laguna Grande. About an hour outside of San Juan, you can paddle in a clear bottom kayak across the Laguna Grande and see the bioluminescent plankton that glow when disturbed.

There is so much to explore in Puerto Rico. If you are thinking about taking a trip back to Puerto Rico, this is your signal that the time is right. Make sure to check out these three activities to stay entertained during your stay in Puerto Rico.

Of course, another excellent way to spend time in PR is eating delicious, traditional food! Check out this article on unique Puertorican cuisine!

Thursday, December 23, 2021

Isabela Puerto Rico

 jobos beach isabela puerto rico

The beach town of Isabela Puerto Rico has become a premiere tourist destination on the island for the wide variety of attractions available for many different types of travelers. The area encompasses a wide variety of terrains, including coastal flats, forests, mountains, rivers, lakes, cliffs, and caves, making it an ideal place for any type of adventure. Also known as the "Garden of the Northwest" for the kaleidoscope of wild tropical flowers that grow in the region, the area is considered one of the most beautiful places on the island.

Founded on May 21, 1819, the town was named to honor Queen Isabel of Spain. The area celebrates a unique indigenous culture and traditions that have been passed down through generations. Their pride in their history can be seen in a large statue of Taíno chief Mabodamaca carved into the mountainside, placed there to showcase the courage and spirit of the people. Legend says Mabodomaca leaped to his death rather than be captured during the Indigenous Rebellion of 1511.

The entertainment hub of Isabela is the town plaza, which contains a beautiful park with a large bandshell, pools, and fountains. The plaza is where the region’s famous Gastronomic Festival is held, along with other popular festivals throughout the year. Each June, the town holds its patron saint festival, the Fiestas Patronales de San Antonio de Padua, featuring parades, rides, games, live entertainment, artisans, and local foods. Other notable festivals include a Textile Festival and a Weave Festival in May and a Muscle Cars Auto Show and an International Tango Festival in August.

Isabela Puerto Rico is well-known for year-round surfing for those at all levels of surfing experience. The world-class surfing conditions has led to the town hosting some Rip Curl Pro competitions and two World Cup Surfing Championships. Middles Beach, where powerful currents and offshore wave breaks combine for ideal surfing conditions, is home to a very popular annual surfing competition.

Isabela's beaches are also accommodating to swimmers and snorkelers. One of the most popular beaches is Jobos beach, with swimming, snorkeling, and surfing areas along with restaurants and bars for relaxing with the locals. Shacks beach is favored for snorkeling, surfing, and diving, while Montones beach is good for families due to a shallow pool for swimming safely.

Visitors to Isabela will also want to visit the Guajataca State Forest, a pristine nature reserve containing 156 types of trees and 45 species of birds. With 25 miles of trails to explore, an observation tower, and a beautiful natural cave filled with limestone rock formations, this forest offers a wide range of adventures. The forest system allows camping and provides parking, fresh water, and bathrooms.

The state forest also contains Guajataca Lake, which is great for kayak and paddleboard activities, and the Guajataca Tunnel. The tunnel was used by the railroad in the early 1900s to transport sugar crops between Isabela and the town of Quebradillas. Today, the tunnel is a beautiful historic path leading to some of the best beach scenery on the island.

The accommodations available in Isabela range from rustic to luxurious. Some of the most popular are the beachfront cabins of Villas del Mar Hau on Montones beach. There is also the Villa Montaña Beach Resort, which offers one- to three-bedroom villas with private patio terraces and jacuzzis. For the height of luxury, a stay in Royal Isabela’s cliff-side private villas with their private pools will provide an experience that will never be forgotten.

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Sites of Interest

Isabela -Discover the perfect beachside getaway Discover Puerto Rico
The Best of Isabela, Puerto Rico – Tourism 2021 - Puerto Rico Travel Guide
Isabela - Welcome to Puerto Rico

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

How to Plan Your Next Winter Getaway to Puerto Rico

 

The beautiful, colorful, cultural island of Puerto Rico is the perfect destination vacation, especially during the Winter months. Warm sand and sun is the ideal spot for a getaway from otherwise cold and snowy weather! Here are a few things to think about as you plan your next getaway to Puerto Rico.

Identify Some Location Attractions

First thing’s first: create an itinerary! Look into the many tourist attractions that make Puerto Rico such an attractive location. This is an island where adventure and relaxation are both easily accessible— the thrill-seekers can try ziplining, surfing, snorkeling, cultural events, and exploring the colorful streets of this island’s coastal towns. Those who just need a beautiful and warm place to relax and take in some rays can spend their hours at any of the island's gorgeous beaches, or trying out the many amenities in Puerto Rico’s resorts. Better yet, find a balance of both and take advantage of all these things the island offers!

Make Your Arrangements

Make the necessary accommodations for your stay! Start with your lodging—Puerto Rico has plenty of hospitality options, including hotels, resorts, and air bnb’s for any price range, all of which offer various benefits and amenities. Pick a place that offers what you need, where you need it! Once you have your lodging reserved, figure out how you will get around! While the public transportation and ride shares or private transportation platforms can get you from place to place, it may be easiest to invest in a rental car. This ensures that you will always have access to wherever you want to go, on your time tables, with the added benefit of your freedom of exploration! Young adults should keep in mind the age requirements on rentals. Under 25 drivers need to pay an extra surcharge for a rental car. This fee may still be worth that freedom and flexibility that comes with your own ride during your trip!

Pack Right

Make sure you’re prepared with the right clothes and supplies for your trip! Do some background research on the projected weather during your stay, and look into what the activities you intend to participate in suggest for clothing. Don’t forget the basics of any international trip: sunscreen and basic medications, comfortable shoes, and a way to protect your possessions from being stolen or damaged (like a money belt.) Being prepared will help the trip go smoothly, comfortably, and stress-free!

Puerto Rico may be your favorite vacation spot for years to come, if you are prepared with a great itinerary, great accommodations, and the right clothes and supplies for an easy trip!

Read this next: Tips For Getting Cheap Last Minute Holiday Deals

Monday, December 20, 2021

Explore New York City

 Statue of Liberty

One of the most fascinating cities in the United States to explore is New York City. The city is famous for having some of the most unique attractions in the country and there are new experiences available around every corner. Because there are so many places to explore, many visitors choose to use a travel app or a city travel guide to figure out where to go and what to see. Here are a few things you won’t want to miss when you explore New York City.

Statue Of Liberty – This gift from France is one of the top attractions in the country, hosting 3.2 million visitors annually. Its home on Liberty Island is a short boat trip across the water. Nearby Ellis Island holds an Immigration Museum in a historic immigration station complex that was the first stop for thousands of immigrants entering the U.S.

Central Park – Central Park is a great place to experience nature in the heart of the city. Stretching 2.5 miles long and a half-mile wide, the park offers numerous ways to explore, including walking paths, bike paths, and carriage rides. The park also offers a multitude of free and low-cost attractions, making it a good choice for spending a day.

Rockefeller Center – This spectacular 70-story Art Deco skyscraper offers several incredible experiences. The Observation Deck located at the top of the building has amazing views of Manhattan from its indoor and outdoor viewing spaces. In the winter, an outdoor skating rink offers wholesome fun for families and couples and a massive decorated Christmas tree appears outside of the building after Thanksgiving.

High Line – This raised urban walking trail is a former rail line that has been turned into a public park planted with a variety of native plants and trees. This unique park can be accessed at various points along the route and other areas are lined with glass railings to provide exceptional views of the city from a whole new perspective.

Metropolitan Museum of Art - Hosting more than two million works of art in its permanent collection, this is one of the most celebrated museums in the nation. The museum is divided into three sites, each holding incredible exhibitions of some of the most famous works in the world. Its most popular exhibits include its Ancient Egyptian collection and its classical Greek and Roman art.

New York Public Library - Featured in numerous movies and TV shows, the main branch of the library is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks with its famous stone lions guarding the entrance. It is also one of the largest libraries in the world, with its Main Reading Room spanning the length of two city blocks. The library holds special collections of English and American literature and has an extensive assortment of maps and rare books.

Carnegie Hall – This concert hall, built in 1891, reportedly has some of the best acoustics in the world. Guided tours offer a look behind the performances and highlight some of the many artists who have been featured there.

Broadway Theaters - Attending a Broadway performance is one thing nearly every visitor to New York City wants to do. There are a large number of venues in the Theater District hosting popular Broadway shows showcasing exceptional talent. Tickets sell out quickly so purchase tickets to the shows you want to see well in advance.

Monday, November 22, 2021

Puerto Rico Veterans Form Their Own American Legion Post

 

Vazquez Post # 939, a Latino-focused veteran association, was recently launched in Chicago for Puerto Rico veterans. Formed by Marcos Torres, the group was named in honor of Jason Vazquez, a 25-year-old Puerto Rican soldier killed in Afghanistan in 2008. Torres wants the group to enhance representation and inclusivity, inform the non-veteran community of Puerto Rican culture, and champion the history of Latino soldiers through events, resources, and community partnerships.

Lack of representation

As he was growing up in Humboldt Park, Chicago, Torres noticed a lack of representation surrounding Puerto Rican veterans and the vital role they played in the US military. “How sad is it that we almost act like they are not part of the Latino community?” said Torres. “We do a poor job of representing our veterans.” In 2009-2010, Torres served as an honor guard and funeral soldier, and was stationed in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Chicago. “I wanted something that represented the community we are from and to show youth that veterans looked like them, talked like them, ate the same food as them,” Torres said. “It’s important.”

Launch party on National Borinqueneers Day

Torres launched Vazquez Post # 939 on April 13, National Borinqueneers Day, a national holiday honoring the Borinqueneers, Puerto Rican soldiers who fought in the Korean War, WW1, and WW2. The regiment’ experienced persistent discrimination and unfair treatment for expressing their Latino culture while in the military; their contribution to US history has only recently been nationally recognized. At the launch party, Chicago veterans along with their family and friends gathered to honor Vazquez, as well as celebrate the new post and National Borinqueneers Day.

Support for veterans

Leaving the military and transitioning to civilian life can be challenging for veterans, so it’s important they take advantage of all support programs available. For example, securing affordable housing is often a priority for veterans. Fortunately, VA loans are mortgages available to help veterans purchase homes with a 0% down payment, Hero Loan explains. Partially backed or guaranteed by the Department of Veteran Affairs, VA loans also require no Private Mortgage Insurance, have limited closing costs, and no prepayment penalty if the buyer pays off the loan early. Additionally, support groups also play a key role in helping veterans re-enter society after leaving the military or recover from issues like substance abuse, PTSD, and trauma. Ultimately, Torres wants his post to provide support to local veterans who are struggling.

So far, the Vazquez Post has around five officers and 40 members who meet once a week in  Ravenswood, Chicago. Torres hopes more Latino veterans join the group, so they can collectively “change the face of the American Legion and show that different kinds of soldiers exist — not just white men or white action figures seen at the store or in the media”. People think Latinos “don’t fit the stereotypical description of a soldier,” Torres said. “We are G.I. Joe. There are many different G.I. Joes.”

Monday, November 15, 2021

Puerto Rico Tourist Destinations

 Borinquen Beach

Puerto Rico is a place which has at least something for everyone. The highly adventurous spirited individuals can be there for as many reasons as the calm ones could be. In the Punta Borinquen region of Puerto Rico you will see the world's best maintained golf course. Even the most accomplished golfers might get a thrill there while playing golf on the two different types of golf courses. The golf course set named as river course acts as a challenge for all the players no matter how expert they are in the game. The winding fairways in the area will make it a challenge for the experts too, to give a shot there.

Another beautiful and intellectually important place is Bayamón. It is a perfect blend of education and enjoyment. There is a very famous science museum cum park cum zoo situated in the tens of acres area right in the mid of the city. Children love to visit this place, as it caters to all their needs of watching huge animals to the latest science experiments, all at one place. This museum is generally open on public holidays, thus it is a good option to visit there whenever you are around during the vacations.

Some of the very gracious residences built during the pre independence era of the country have still been protected by the government. The magnificent structures like Casa Museo Joaquin in Barranquitas can be visited by anyone who is interested but for a nominal entry fee only. It is said to be an example of great architecture as it was built on the highest peak of the Barranquitas on a cliff. It is one of the items in the rare collection of Pierce Arrow structures.

For all those art and beauty lovers out there Puerto Rico has the Cabo Rojo artisans' gallery. Here you will find some of the rarest art collections in paintings and structures. Ceramics by the local artists will make you puzzled out and confused about the thing, that if it has been really created by a skillful craftsmen or is it a producer of some machines or so. The artistic soul of the state will make you stick to such art galleries more and more every time you visit them.

Puerto Rico provides something very special for the bird lovers too

Tourists from all over the globe can come here and praise the beauty of such artistic pieces of work whenever they like to. Puerto Rico provides something very special for the bird lovers too. A place called as the Salinas salt flats is said to be the bird paradise of the world. Around forty thousand birds visit this place every year. The scene when all the birds come here during migration period is a view of great importance. It feels amazing to see so many live beautiful Ariel creatures at one place at a moment.

Everyone must have heard about Carolina, as you might have heard about California, a fun place and hub of creativity in United States. Similarly Carolina is said to be the fun capital of Puerto Rico. For the race lovers, the Caribbean raceway park situated in Carolina will be the main attraction. Whatever your interest could be, you will find Puerto Rico as an amazing place to visit year after year. A visit to Puerto Rico will prove to be an experience which you will remember till the end of your life.

If you want to know more about the puerto rico tourist destinations, please check out the best site http://www.40vacations.com

Friday, November 12, 2021

Aguada Puerto Rico

 Aguada Puerto Rico

The western coastal valley region of Puerto Rico is home to the charming seaside city of Aguada. Officially founded in 1526, it has great historical significance as port for ships traveling from South America to Spain. Many rivers, including the Río Cañas, Río Culebra, Río Culebrinas, Río Grande, Río Guayabo, and Río Ingenio flow through its territory into the Mona Passage to the Atlantic Ocean.

The city has seen nearly continuous population increases since its founding. Some of this has been attributed to the desertions of crew members and soldiers from foreign merchant ships traveling to other colonies. It is said that the hospitality of the locals and the plentiful food available prompted many to hide until the ships traveled on, with as many as thousand people coming from a single fleet.

It is also believed that Christopher Columbus landed in the area in 1493 during his second voyage to the Americas. In a picturesque plaza called La Cruz de Colón, a monument in the shape of a white cross marks the place where it is believed Columbus disembarked onto Puerto Rican soil for the first time. The town is also the home of the San Francisco de Asis Church, widely considered one of the loveliest religious edifices built in Puerto Rico.

Aguada is well-known for the many celebratory festivals held here throughout the year. One of the most popular is the October patron saint festival in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. This festival sees locals and visitors enjoying amusement rides, games, parades, live entertainment and delicious regional foods. Other popular festivals include the January Three Kings Festival dedicated to children, the June Beach Festival, and the May Festival de Cabras de Raza, which features competitions and exhibitions of different goat breeds.

The most notable touristic attractions of the city are its beaches, of which there are ten in the area. The most popular beaches are Pico de Piedra Beach and Playa Espinar, but all of them have distinct features that make them attractive to adventurous travelers. The road to Pico de Piedra beach, the PR-115 road, has dozens of different restaurants and food trailers serving traditional Puerto Rican cuisine and cold drinks right on the oceanfront.

Other notable attractions include Central Coloso, one of the oldest sugar cane processing plants in Puerto Rico, and the Museo de Aguada, a museum housed in a former railroad station building that has an interesting array of early Puerto Rican relics on display. Visitors can also experience the Espinar Hermitage Ruins, the ruins of an old church structure enclosed within a new church building.

For another unique experience, visitors can see Puerto Rico's first Earthships, hurricane-resistant buildings sustainably constructed out of natural and recycled materials. The New Mexico-based nonprofit Biotecture Planet Earth runs the site, called Villabonuco, as an education and community center. Other notable structures in the area include the Puente de Coloso bridge, an 85-ft-long bridge over the Culebrinas River built in 1928, and a Mayan-style pyramid located off of the PR-411 road that will eventually serve as a mausoleum for its builder and his wife.

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

“Cocobana” & “La Joya”: Puerto Rico’s best murals and street art

 calle fortaleza old san juan puerto ricoPuerto Rico is a Latin American country that has plenty to offer visitors and citizens, as it has a number of appealing scenic locations as well as featuring some of the world’s most incredible natural beauty.

However, it could be argued that there is nothing better than the street art scene and the murals that have since popped up all across the island in various places. Of course, there is no doubt that the art scene within Puerto Rico has managed to grow in the way that it has because of the continued increase in art festivals, with iconic festivals such as “Santurce es Ley” and “Murales para Pensar” being incredibly popular.

The street art that is available to experience can easily be found when exploring the streets of Puerto Rico, with a number of local artists having created a number of pieces that have been created through the experiences that the island provides them with. There are a host of brilliant pieces that can be found when searching the country, with some of the best highlighted below!

“Cocobana” by Lucindo Fidalgo

Graffiti art is something that many will have different opinions on, however there is no doubt that it is an art form that can be extremely appealing to the eyes.

Lucindo Fidalgo is a street artist that likes to combine spray paint, pop culture references and walls that are considered boring to create a piece of art that is unique and is considered to be rather appealing; perhaps a little like Alec Monopoly art as he combines pop culture within each of his pieces.

Fidalgo’s “Copacabana” can be found at Calle Loiza, with the piece showcasing a huge amount of bright colours that have been splashed across a restaurant’s walls that help to provide visitors with a sense of the tropical vibes that Puerto Rico has to offer.

“La Joya” by Bik Ismo

Bik Ismo is an artist that has been famed around the world for his use of shining metallics, which has helped him to become recognised around the world as one of the top 25 muralists. His “La Joya” piece that was created in collaboration with Spanish artist Belin, is a prime example of his stellar work.

The artwork can be found at El Boricua in Rio Piedras and features a Cubist-inspired portrait of a woman who is holding a chrome-plated skull.

“Sangre y Resistencia” by Vecino Cintron

An eye-catching mural that has been created with expressive reds, blacks and yellows can be found at Paseo Amor in Ponce. Known as “Sangre y Resistencia”, which translates in English to “Blood and Resistance”, is a creation that has been made by Javi “Vecino” Cintron.

The mural has been dedicated to “Los heroes del 25 de Enero”, a group of firefighters who were jailed for disobeying orders after fighting one of the most historic fires that had happened in the town.

Cintron continues to heavily focus his art on recreating moments from history, whilst incorporating his own unique art style with each mural that he creates.

“Renacer” by Dama Lola

Known as Dama Lola, Damaris Cruz is known for having a number of murals that are located all around the town of Dorado. She decides to create each of her pieces with the use of a number of mixed art forms, with photography, painting and decoupage being utilised.

Lola’s artwork makes use of abandoned old houses to help recreate a number of picturesque moments that Puerto Rico’s rural life has to offer, whilst she also hosts workshops that students can participate in if they wish to learn more about muralism and get involved with it in the future.

“Sembrado de Esperanzas” by Bob Snow

Roberto Hernandez, who is better known as Bob Snow, uses elements of everyday life and a side of cynicism when creating his artwork; each of which come with bright, eye-catching colours and sharp details, thus making his murals capture the attention of those that see them whilst also being provocative.

His “Sembrado de Esperanzas” piece, translated in English as “Seeded in hope”, is a mural that features a boy taping a tree back together as Snow looks to send a message about the importance of the environment.

Monday, November 8, 2021

Puerto Ricans: Non-U.S. Persons With A Lower Tax Exemption

 by Estate Planning Attorney Nydia Menendez

Our great forefather, Benjamin Franklin warned that “in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” One good example is the Estate Tax.

The Estate Tax is levied on the value of a person’s worldwide assets at the time of death. Currently the Estate Tax has a $10 million exemption; adjusted for inflation the exemption is $11.7 million in 2021 (which is set to be reduced to $5 million by 2026, if not sooner). But, as is the case with all tax exemptions, exemptions have exceptions. A good illustration of this is the application of Estate Taxes to Puerto Ricans.

As most people know, Puerto Rico is an unincorporated U.S. Territory located in the Caribbean Sea. People born in Puerto Rico are United States citizens; they carry U.S. passports, the same as anyone born in the U.S. mainland. However, when we look at Puerto Ricans from an Estate Tax standpoint, citizenship hardly matters.

For example, if a person born in Puerto Rico resides in the United States, the application of the Estate Tax is the same as for any other U.S. citizen. This means a Puerto Rican born in Puerto Rico will enjoy the benefit of the Estate Tax exemption as any other American citizens - $10 Million, together with adjustments for inflation.

This is in stark contrast, however, to what happens when the person is residing in Puerto Rico and the only reason why they have their U.S. citizenship is because they were born in Puerto Rico. In this case, they are considered and taxed as non-resident aliens. Meaning that the Estate Tax will only be levied on the assets they own within the United States (“U.S. situs” assets), such as real estate.  But, just like non-U.S. citizens, they will have a considerably lower Estate Tax exclusion, only $60,000.

In other words, for persons born in Puerto Rico, to enjoy the enhanced Estate Tax exemption, they must also reside in the U.S. mainland.

Let’s look at the following scenario: Ana was born and raised in Puerto Rico; therefore, she is a U.S. citizen. She has lived in San Juan, Puerto Rico for 45 years of her life; she even owns a restaurant there. She decides to invest and buy a property in Orlando, Florida, valued at $1 million. She also has assets in Puerto Rico and in two other countries around the globe worth $6 million total. If Ana passes away under these circumstances, she will owe federal Estate Taxes on $940,000 - the value of her property in Orlando, minus her $60,000 exclusion.

However, if Ana had relocated to Florida, and died as a Florida resident (instead of a Puerto Rico resident), she would owe federal Estate Tax on $7 Million, the value of all her property worldwide. But she would have an exclusion of $11.7 million (as of 2021). Therefore, she will not owe any Estate Tax.

Hence, for Puerto Ricans the Estate Tax impact will depend on whether they are residents in the United States or in Puerto Rico. If they are residing in the United States, for purposes of Estate Tax they will be treated just like any other U.S. citizen. But, if their residence is in Puerto Rico, their U.S. citizenship will not shield them from being taxed like a non-U.S. person.

How Can You Get Started with Your Estate Plan?

If you want to learn more about how to plan for your future to make sure you remain in control of your decisions while leaving a lasting legacy for your family, then we invite you to call our office at (954) 963-7220 to speak with a member of the Menéndez Law Firm. You may also want to watch the video series on our YouTube channel where we talk about Estate Planning in detail. Or if you would like to join us for the next live Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning webinar on Zoom you can register at no charge on our website www.menendezlawfirm.com


Nydia MenedezNydia Menéndez
Estate Planning Attorney
Menéndez Law Firm
2699 Stirling Road, Suite B200
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
Tel.: (954) 963-7220
Fax:  (954) 963-7232
nydia@menendezlawfirm.com
menedez law firm

Friday, November 5, 2021

Eco-Friendly Meetings

 This article first appeared on DiscoverPuertoRico.com

Now more than ever, Discover Puerto Rico and its partners are committed to providing sustainable solutions that work for meeting professionals and the planet, too. Here are some smart ideas to help you lessen your meeting’s environmental footprint and benefit the local communities.

El Distrito

Aerial view Puerto Rico's Convention District.

Book a Green Venue

The lush rainforest isn’t the only thing that’s green: hotels and meeting venues around Puerto Rico are leading the industry in earth-friendly practices.

Beyond being the most technologically advanced meeting venue in the Caribbean, the Puerto Rico Convention Center has recently unveiled a 20,000-panel solar energy array that is one of the largest green initiatives of its kind on the island.

Adjacent to PRCC, the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino is the first hotel in Puerto Rico (and the first Sheraton in the world) to achieve LEED-certification. This milestone is hopefully the first of many in the Convention Center District, which aims to become completely LEED-certified. Many hotels and paradores are employing sustainable practices such as recycling and sourcing local, natural goods.

Local food vendors at an event.

Local Puerto Rican food vendors sharing their cuisine with event attendees.

Eat Local

When planning your food menus, you can lower your carbon footprint by working with caterers to source food and drinks locally. This also helps feed Puerto Rico’s growing agritourism sector, and provides attendees with an authentic taste of the island. Some of these projects like Frutos del Guacabo in Manatí and Jeanmarie Chocolat located in AguadaHacienda Tres Ángeles in Adjuntas - as well as many others, offer farm-to-table experiences and the freshest produce you will find on the island.

An employee operates coffee production machinery at Hacienda Munoz.

Tour of coffee production at Hacienda Muñoz.

Eco-Offsites

Sustainable, community-based tourism is a growing trend in Puerto Rico. Plan a group trip to breathtaking places like Río Abajo State Forest and Humacao Nature Reserve, or organize a tasting tour at one of our many coffee plantations.

Minimize Waste

The materials produced for meetings can result in huge amounts of unwanted waste, but there are some simple ways to reduce. When planning welcome bags, opt for locally made and biodegradable goods rather than plastics or single-use items that will end up in a landfill. You can also contact Discover Puerto Rico to learn about local recycling programs.

Carbon Offsets

Believe it or not, a carbon-neutral event is possible with the use of carbon offsets. Your organization can purchase these offsets, which counteract your group’s carbon emissions by reducing greenhouse gases in other areas. Discover Puerto Rico can put you in contact with providers for more information.

Thursday, November 4, 2021

San Juan Puerto Rico: Cocktails Dinner and Dessert

 Cocktails in Puerto Rico

Welcome to San Juan Puerto Rico

A vacation is not a vacation unless you have treated your taste buds to some delectable cuisine and refreshing drinks. Welcome to San Juan Puerto Rico where cocktails dinner and dessert are taken seriously. Where you could be in for an experience that is intensely gratifying and mouth-watering what with the range of cuisine on offer being as authentic an assortment of food as you would have ever come across. There more than enough reasons why you would want to be out there in San Juan Puerto Rico experiencing cocktails dinner and dessert that are as good as they get.

The culinary experiences that are the most gratifying in terms of their authenticity and their traditional flavours being active combinations of recipes and ingredients derived from Taíno Spanish and African cultures. Mofongo is made of fried green plantain and a range of stuffing and filling ranging from chicken to seafood mixes is as traditional as cuisine in Puerto Rico can get. A vacation is not a vacation unless you have treated your taste buds to some delectable cuisine and refreshing drinks.

You could find the South Fortaleza street in San Juan that proves to be a culmination of all things edible reflecting the best of world cuisine ranging from Asian to Latin American including the Parrot Club an authentic seafood galleria the genuinely Spanish Toro Salao' and Dragonfly a fusion of Asian and Puerto Rican cuisine. The culinary experiences that are the most gratifying in terms of their authenticity and their traditional flavours being active combinations of recipes and ingredients derived from Taíno Spanish and African cultures.

Puerto Rican Coffee

No culinary journey would be complete without a rich cup of freshly ground coffee. San Juan Puerto Rico has cocktails dinner and dessert that gets steamy with real good coffee with the century old coffee producing family of Hacienda San Pedro excelling in coffee production and with the Ruta del Café tour that takes you through the coffee destinations of Maricao Yauco Lares and Jayuya among others. You could find the South Fortaleza street in San Juan that proves to be a culmination of all things edible reflecting the best of world cuisine ranging from Asian to Latin American including the Parrot Club an authentic seafood galleria the genuinely Spanish Toro Salao' and Dragonfly a fusion of Asian and Puerto Rican cuisine.

You could sum up the entire experience of San Juan Puerto Rico with a stint at the four top-selling rum distilleries that reaffirm the tradition of rum production that has been in the making for over four centuries. You would not cherish much else after you have got a taste of Puerto Rico registered in your cells. No culinary journey would be complete without a rich cup of freshly ground coffee.

If you want to go best Puerto Rico restaurants? Just check out the various See San Juan Puerto Rico packages, Hotels and flights on our website. And travel to Puerto Rico to enjoy most memorable vacations of your life.

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

Booking with eBooking.com

 Visiting destinations in the United States is very different from visiting destinations in any other country in the world. The vast area of the nation holds hundreds of major cities, each with numerous attractions and lodging accommodations for every type of traveler. Figuring out where to go and what to do can be a daunting task, but travel websites like eBooking.com can make the planning easier. Here are some of the ways that booking with eBooking can help you with your trip.

booking hotels on line

Finding The Right Accommodations

In every major city in the U.S., there are a wide variety of accommodations available for travelers, including large and small hotels, motels, bed and breakfast lodgings, private homes, and cabins. The amenities at these properties can include everything from business centers and workout rooms to in-room whirlpool tubs and concierge services.

To find the most suitable accommodations for you and anyone who will be traveling with you, go online to eBooking.com and look over the list of lodgings available in the area you wish to travel to. The hotel description will include a list of the amenities available on the property and photographs of the hotel’s major features and rooms.

Getting The Best Prices

Reviewing hotels and other accommodations before deciding where to stay can save you a lot of money on your trip. The wide variety of lodgings available come in a range of price points and the price can change based on when you are planning to visit. If you are traveling with a large group, it may be more cost effective to book a large home instead of paying for multiple hotel rooms.

The best price for your trip will depend on the location, length of stay, time of stay, and number of visitors. You should include all of this information in your online search to get the most accurate prices for the properties displayed.

Finding Nearby Attractions

One of the best things about traveling in the U.S. is the numerous unique attractions that can be found across the nation. However, it is important to remember that even though an attraction may be listed as being in a certain city, it may be a long way from the accommodations you have chosen. If you are not interested in spending a lot of time in transit from place to place, you should choose accommodations that are near to the attractions you are planning on visiting.

By looking at the listings online, you can see what attractions are highlighted for that particular property and the approximate distance you would have to travel to get there. There are also maps that show which direction to go to get to the attraction, making planning multiple stops much easier when you review listings at eBooking.com

Finding Unique Experiences

While the U.S. is all one country, different regions can have very different appearances and experiences. For example, the southwestern states, where Las Vegas is located, has deserts, hot dry weather, and a food scene heavily influenced by cultures south of the border. Southeastern cities, like New Orleans and Orlando, have much wetter weather, many natural forested areas filled with wildlife, and a food culture that changes dramatically from place to place.

Each city has its own festivals and may celebrate different holidays in their own unique ways. Some of the most popular unique experiences are celebrating the Mardi Gras festival in New Orleans, watching the New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square in New York City, or seeing some of the world class shows available year round in Las Vegas. Accommodations in these areas go quickly as major events approach, so be sure to get your booking in early with eBooking.com.

Tuesday, November 2, 2021

Puerto Rican Players In The MLB

 [caption id="attachment_13232" align="alignnone" width="624"] Photo via: Wikimedia Commons[/caption]

The island of Puerto Rico, located in the Caribbean, has the fourth-most active players from Latin American jurisdiction in the MLB. The incorporated U.S. territory is part of a chain of islands that have seen over 200 players involved in the major leagues since 1942.

Players who were either born or naturalized in Puerto Rico were initially allowed to sign with MLB outfits as free agents and were typically handed minor-league contracts ahead of their debut in the majors. In 1989, however, the league decided to include the nation on its list of jurisdictions within the U.S., making it mandatory for first-year players to have their names included in the draft so they could get a contract. That saw a reduction of eligible players as it limited the number selected by teams and eventually led to the island’s secretary of Recreation and Sports asking the league to assist in setting up specialized schools so that more players could be produced.

The proposal was not approved by the league but there are currently a number of active Puerto Ricans in the MLB right now and this list names some of the most popular. 

Yadier Molina

A catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, Molina has spent his entire 18-year-career with the team, having come into the league way back in 2004. The nine-time Rawlings Golden Glove winner, also a winner of six Fielding Bible Awards, is widely considered to be one of the greatest defensive catchers of all time.

The Puerto Rican veteran ranks second all-time among catchers with 130 Defensive Runs Saved and is first among active catchers with 845 assists, 40.21 percent of runners caught stealing, and 55 pickoffs. He has made over 2,000 runs as a hitter, as well as 150 home and 900 runs batted in RBIs while batting over 300 in five campaigns.

Molina, who’s won the World Series on two occasions, has played for St. Louis in 12 playoff outings and four National League pennant winners. He has played for his country in four World Baseball Classic and has two silver medals to show for it.

The 10-time All-Star can also boast four platinum Glove Awards and a Silver Slugger Award. He has been selected to the All-WBC Tournament team and was a member of the 2018 All-Star Series in Japan.

Jose De Leon

Jose De Leon is a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox currently assigned to the Worcester Red Sox. The 29-year-old was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013 after completing three years at Southern University, where he played college baseball. The Dodgers, now vying for another World Series win but not the leading favorite per the MLB lines, had him debut for the Arizona League Dodgers before he was promoted to the Ogden Raptors.

His contract was bought by the Dodgers and he was promoted to the Majors in 2016 after bouncing around a number of Minor League teams and would make his debut as the starting pitcher for the team on September 4 of that year, playing the San Diego Padres and allowing four runs in six innings en route to a win. His nine strikeouts - without walks - were the second-most by a Dodgers pitcher in a debut. He was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2017 and was again traded to the Cincinnati Reds two years later. The Reds released De Leon in July this year and he agreed to a Minor League deal with the Red Sox in August.

Jose Berrios 

The Toronto Blue Jays pitcher came into pro baseball via the Minnesota Twins, who drafted him in the first round in 2012. He came in as the 32nd pick of the draft and made his professional debut for the Gulf Coast Twins that year before getting promoted to the Elizabethton Twins of the Rookie-level Appalachian League in August.

[caption id="attachment_13234" align="alignnone" width="624"]Puerto Rican Ball Players in the MLB Photo via: Flickr.com[/caption]

Berrios made his way to the majors in April of 2016 and was called up on multiple occasions during the season. He was traded to Toronto in exchange for Austin Martin and Simeon Woods Richardson in July of this year, having made it to the All-Star Game both in 2018 and 2019.

Martin Maldonado

The Houston Astros catcher has been around since 2011, having played for the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Angels, Kansas City Royals and Chicago Cubs in the MLB. Maldonado debuted for the Brewers 10 years ago but was selected in the 27th round of the 2004 draft.

The player was awarded both a Colden Glove and Fielding Bible award in 2017. Known for his throwing arm, he foiled 19 of 48 base-stealing attempts this season, which was good enough for the fourth-best caught-stealing percentage in the MLB.

Monday, November 1, 2021

What You Need to Know Before Retiring in Puerto Rico

 Your retirement should be one of the very best times in your life, and it should offer you the freedom that you don’t have access to when you are harnessed with a full time day job. Many people look for retirement in a place where they can experience temperate climates and beautiful views. Puerto Rico can be an ideal place to spend your retirement but before you can make it happen there are a few things you really need to know. 

Why You Should Retire to Puerto Rico 

Puerto Rico is a beautiful place that holds a lot of charm for people who are looking to retire and spend their golden years enjoying beauty and fun. One benefit is that there are many different locales for retirement in Puerto Rico, so you can find a place that totally suits your goals for retirement. Some people are most interested in incredible beaches while others are drawn to the city life that Puerto Rico can offer you. 

No matter what you are looking for in your retirement, Puerto Rico can offer it with a relatively low cost of living. That means that your retirement money will stretch farther and help you to get even more out of the best years of your life. 

The Cost of Living 

Back to the cost of living, it is important that you are able to retire in a place where your money will be enough to keep you happy and healthy. Puerto Rico offers just that and may be exactly what you are looking for. The cost of living is significantly lower in Puerto Rico than it is in the United States proper. That means that choosing to live there can help you to get what you need and make sure that you are well taken care of in your retirement. Even just doing things like going out to eat will be more affordable in Puerto Rico and that’s a fact you should take advantage of. 

The Housing Market 

The housing market is also in a great position in Puerto Rico. Taking care of your home expenses when you first move can give you more room to spend your money as you continue living and enjoying life in Puerto Rico. With prices as low as they are you can get a wonderful house for a very small percentage of your retirement budget. That means that the rest of your money can go towards making your retired life as great as it can possibly be. 

Create Your Dream Retirement Home 

Since you are likely to get a great deal on your new home in Puerto Rico, you have a unique opportunity to invest into making that home the best it can be. Remodeling and updating your home will help it to become more efficient and welcoming. You can add all kinds of things from upgrading your kitchen to installing a new deck in your backyard. There are many ways to improve your lifestyle with all the features you can add to a deck. And the better your home becomes the more enjoyment and relaxation you will be able to get from it. 

Great Weather 

Most people are looking to retire in a place that has temperate weather all year long. That makes Puerto Rico an ideal retirement spot and it will ensure that you are comfortable all throughout the year. If you like a tropical climate and the kinds of activities that makes possible, living in Puerto Rico during retirement can be a dream come true. Whether you like to go on adventures or just hang out at the beach, the weather in Puerto Rico is generally ideal and will make every day a little more fun and exciting. Research the weather before moving so you can make sure that you have the things you need to flourish in the climate. 

Ease of Moving 

Most of the time if you are moving out of the country, it can be a huge hassle to deal with immigration and other elements of moving abroad. But since Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, moving there couldn’t be easier for US citizens. You won’t need a visa or even to go through customs when you land in Puerto Rico. Instead, you can make yourself right at home and start enjoying your life in your new locale. The ease of moving to Puerto Rico is one of the most important elements to keep in account. 

The Culture 

There is something really beautiful about the culture in Puerto Rico. From the language to the art, there is so much for you to appreciate and learn about throughout your retirement. It is important that you are respectful of that culture and value it, especially if you want to retire in such a beautiful country. As soon as you relocate to Puerto Rico, you should take advantage of the opportunity to get to know the people and the culture and start enjoying that beautiful space. As you become more familiar with the culture, you will learn to love the place even more

Ease of Travel 

One of the best things about living in Puerto Rico is that it puts you in a great position to travel affordably to much of the world. Tickets tend to run cheap in Puerto Rico which makes it an excellent port for your retirement travels. And when you finish traveling you will have a beautiful place to return home to. If you move to Puerto Rico for retirement you should make sure to travel around the whole island and use it as a base to complete your travels around the world. 

Puerto Rico is an amazing place, and it can add a little bit of magic to your retirement. Before making the decision and the move, make sure you have what you need to really make your retirement a success. And then you can enjoy sandy beaches and wonderful culture for years into the future.

Read this next: The Best Puerto Rican Recipes that You Should Try

Friday, October 29, 2021

The Top Benefits of Algae Oil

 

The beauty industry is facing a renaissance in sustainability. More and more companies are seeking ways and ingredients that are self-sustaining, natural, and most importantly healthy to use on our bodies. For too long brands have released products with little to oversight or care put into how their manufacturing, distribution and formulas affect the environment and those that use them. The best beauty products pay special attention to the environment it came from, the consumer using it and delivering its intended effect. One of the ingredients that has gained a lot of attention for skin and hair care products is algae oil. This hydrating oil is extracted from micro algae and has a ton of great benefits and nutrients that make it an amazing ingredient for hydrating skin and hair products. Let’s take a look at a few of the benefits of using algae oil and why it’s such an amazing product and ingredient. 

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

These fatty acids are extremely important for our diet and health, and unfortunately americans are lacking in the amount of omega-3 fats in our system. Traditionally, these fats are found in fish. People with high intakes of fish will likely be getting a fair amount of omega-3 in their system, but vegetarians and vegans need different ways to ingest these fats. Algae oil is a great solution for this as it is a high source of omega-3. The two types of omega-3’s that are most prevalent in microalgae are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

In addition to these fatty acids it contains for ingestion, the omega-3 fats in acids are also fantastic for moisturizing skin and hair without getting greasy or oily. 

Sustainable and Cruelty Free

Algae oil’s sustainable properties are one of the things that make it such an attractive ingredient. Algae can be easily grown and farmed making it an ideal vegetarian solution to extract valuable nutrients that are usually found in fish oils. It’s ability to be sustainably farmed without harming animals makes it an ideal solution for any products that traditionally use fish oils for fatty acids. The beauty and health industry has long used animal testing for their products, but using things like algae oil take the need for animal testing out of the equation. 

Anti-Aging and Heart Health

Omega-3 and algae oil have been known to have anti-aging properties including diminishing wrinkles and lines on the skin. Algae oil is not only hydrating, but can help with skin issues such as eczema and psoriasis and promotes the overall health and youth of your skin. The properties in algae oil have been shown to actually affect the enzymes in the skin that break down the elasticity of our skin. 

Algae and omega-3 supplements are also proven to reduce blood pressure and support heart health. Omega-3’s reduce levels of triglyceride in the blood, and it has been observed with multiple forms of marine sources. 

Depression

Certain studies have shown that people diagnosed with depression have significantly lower levels of EPA and DHA in their blood. Supplements containing EPA and DHA helped participants greatly reduce their symptoms. While omega-3’s are a promising natural solution for depression and other mental health disorders, research is still being done on how these compounds interact with our brains to effect depressive diseases.

Higher Concentration of DHA

Compared to fish oils, algae is more advantageous for its concentration of amino acids. Extracting these compounds from fish present a number of problems from cruelty to the safety of ingestion. Fish can contain many harmful chemicals from pollution, and a great deal of the concentration of DHA and EPA in fish comes from the food they eat: algae and plant life. This means that it’s possible to achieve higher levels of specific components when farming algae for it’s fatty acids.

Algae Oil is the next wave of supplement health for a number of different purposes. The properties of algae oil make it a great moisturizer for hair products, skin products and dietary supplements. Plus, it is a sustainable approach to sourcing valuable nutrients while reducing the harmful environmental effects of farming cold water fish for the same nutrients. Both algae and seaweed have been heavily researched in the last decade for their potential in food production, health products, and even fuel. This shows us that there are many powerful options available to us in sustainable forms on the planet that provide an alternative to animal testing and harmful environmental practices.

Thursday, October 28, 2021

Puerto Rico Real Estate - An Investment With a Future

 Puerto Rico Real Estate

Few locations in the Caribbean rival Puerto Rico for beauty and fewer still rival it for investment potential. As a territory of the United States, it has almost been recognized as one of those states several times in the last couple of decades. Political optimists predict that, in our lifetimes, the US will add Puerto Rico as its fifty-first state. With statehood, real estate values in this small island country will skyrocket. Wise investors are busily scanning Puerto Rico real estate listings today with an eye for what tomorrow might bring.

Of course, there are lots more reasons to buy land, a home or a hotel in this tropical paradise. Rich with history, natural beauty and a vibrant if colorful lifestyle, it is a natural draw for tourists, retirees and those who can afford the luxury of spending weeks or months in one of the many this rentals that range from small apartments to beachfront mansions. Many who visit, however, do not bother to leave. With prices for homes and property still in the "reasonable" range by investment standards, there are plenty of people and companies eager to seal the deal on some investment-quality Puerto Rico.

Unlike some of the smaller island countries of the Caribbean, It can offer you a city or country view. It has great beaches, towering cliffs and waterfalls and a thriving tourist-driven economy. Of course, tourism is not the only draw for persons interested in investing in it offerings.

Industry is also thriving here, where shipping lanes to the US, South and Central America all intersect. This makes this one place where investors interested in industrial, business and residential properties can stand to make a financial killing. The Puerto Rico real estate market is a draw for almost every sort of real estate investor, and perhaps for a few of us who are simply charmed by the beauty of the place and the warm, tropical winds.

Whatever your reason, I'd suggest you spend a couple of weeks in Puerto Rico and familiarize yourself with the different regions. There are plenty of realtors that offer international rentals and you can use the time for sightseeing and as well as view targeted areas for potential investment purposes.

With its tropical overtones and subtle Americanized social infrastructure, this country is possibly the most underrated investment opportunity in this region of the world. That does not mean, however, that real estate in Puerto Rico is not selling or that it has bottomed out on pricing. While there are good deals to be had, there is no glut of properties desperate to be mopped up by investors. Even with the current US housing crisis, the Puerto Rican market is holding its own and resell of properties here usually nets the investor a tidy return on his initial investment.

So for warm winds, a range of geographic beauty and a variety of properties with varied potentials, think it and consider it an investment with a bright future.

International Real Estate Listings.com is the worldwide leader in Puerto Rico real estate for sale, Puerto Rico real estate exchanges, and Puerto Rico rentals. Puerto Rico real estate owners, agents, developers are encouraged to create an account, upload an unlimited number of listings, write as much creative property details, include a You Tube property video, and it will be activated as a basic listing for 6 months, free.

Friday, October 15, 2021

How to Make the Most of Your Time in Puerto Rico

 

Whether it’s your first time in Puerto Rico or you’re a frequent visitor, you’ll always find wonders and excitement to discover. The unique blend of cultures making up Puerto Rico is expressed in the food, music, and lifestyle of both cities and countryside. Add to that 300 miles of coastline and beautiful nature preserves, and each visit offers a time to remember.

Immerse Yourself in the Local Culture

The best way to know Puerto Rico is to immerse yourself in the local culture. The capital of San Juan has historical sites such as the famous Castillo San Felipe del Morro, but it also abounds in restaurants where you can sample dishes inspired by Taino, Spanish, and African cultures. Nightclubs offer music ranging from big-name performers to folk and Caribbean music.

Travel away from the large cities to the smaller towns and experience a completely different world. Follow La Ruta del Lechón (Pork Highway) near Guatave and try pork cooked in every way imaginable. Or, see the cobblestone roads and historic sites of San German, the second-oldest town in Puerto Rico.

Create a Travel Plan

With so much to see and do, you’ll want to make the most of your time by creating a travel plan. Using a trip planner can allow you to coordinate your sightseeing, create itineraries, and plan routes.

To select which sights to see, look for online travel review websites such as Trustpilot. Review sites help you find information on local restaurants and attractions on your trip. Reviews are written by people who have actually visited the place or sampled the food. You can also explore hotels, cultural tour companies, and travel agencies.

Take Time to Enjoy Nature

Puerto Rico has a wide range of natural features for fun, sport, and relaxation. Numerous beaches offer swimming, water sports, and relaxation in the sun. The northwest coast is world famous for surfing.

Further inland are several freshwater swimming holes, many with waterfalls. You can also hike nature trails in El Yunque rainforest or Bosque del Pueblo. Cave tours, snorkeling, kayaking, and fishing are other options for nature-lovers. 

Whatever you choose to do, Puerto Rico is a destination you can visit many times and still not experience it all. With planning, you can make the most of your time and budget while enjoying the best the island has to offer.

Read this next: Exploration and Nature in Puerto Rico

Thursday, October 14, 2021

Puerto Ricans Fume as Outages Threaten Health Work and School

 [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="800"] A wooden Puerto Rican flag is displayed on the dock of the Condado lagoon, where multiple selective blackouts have been recorded in the past days, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021. Power outages across the island have surged in recent weeks, with some lasting up to several days. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)[/caption]

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Not a single hurricane has hit Puerto Rico this year, but hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. territory feel like they’re living in the aftermath of a major storm: Students do homework by the light of dying cellphones, people who depend on insulin or respiratory therapies struggle to find power sources and the elderly are fleeing sweltering homes amid record high temperatures.

Power outages across the island have surged in recent weeks, with some lasting several days. Officials have blamed everything from seaweed to mechanical failures as the government calls the situation a “crass failure” that urgently needs to be fixed.

The daily outages are snarling traffic, frying costly appliances, forcing doctors to cancel appointments, causing restaurants, shopping malls and schools to temporarily close and even prompting one university to suspend classes and another to declare a moratorium on exams.

“This is hell,” said Iris Santiago, a 48-year-old with chronic health conditions who often joins her elderly neighbors outside when their apartment building goes dark and the humid heat soars into the 90s Fahrenheit.

“Like any Puerto Rican, I live in a constant state of anxiety because the power goes out every day,” she said. “Not everyone has family they can run to and go into a home with a generator.”

Santiago recently endured three days without power and had to throw out the eggs, chicken and milk that spoiled in her refrigerator. She said power surges also caused hundreds of dollars of damage to her air conditioner and refrigerator.

Puerto Rico’s Electric Power Authority, which is responsible for the generation of electricity, and Luma, a private company that handles transmission and distribution of power, have blamed mechanical failures at various plants involving components such as boilers and condensers. In one recent incident, seaweed clogged filters and a narrow pipe.

Luma also has implemented selective blackouts in recent weeks that have affected a majority of its 1.5 million clients, saying demand is exceeding supply.

Luma took over transmission and distribution in June. Puerto Rico’s governor said the company had pledged to reduce power interruptions by 30% and the length of outages by 40%.

The island’s Electric Power Authority has long struggled with mismanagement, corruption and, more recently, bankruptcy.

In September 2016, a fire at a power plant sparked an island-wide blackout. A year later, Hurricane Maria hit as a Category 4 storm, shredding the aging power grid and leaving some customers up to a year without power.

Emergency repairs were done, but reconstruction work to strengthen the grid has yet to start.

“We’re on the verge of a collapse,” said Juan Alicea, a former executive director of the authority.

He said three main factors are to blame: Officials halted maintenance of generation units under the erroneous belief they would soon be replaced. Scores of experienced employees have retired. And investment to replace aging infrastructure has dwindled.

Puerto Rico’s power generation units are on average 45 years old, twice those of the U.S. mainland,.

Luma has said it expects to spend $3.85 billion to revamp the transmission and distribution system and company CEO Wayne Stensby said Luma has made significant progress in stabilizing it. He noted that crews have restarted four substations, some of which had been out of operation since Hurricane Maria.

Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi blamed the outages on management failures at the Electric Power Authority and called the repeated failures “untenable.”

Pierluisi himself has faced calls to resign — hundreds gathered to protest near the governor’s mansion on Friday — and many are demanding that the government cancel Luma’s contract.

The president of the power authority’s governing board resigned last week and a new executive director, Josué Colón, was appointed, promising to visit all generation units to pinpoint the problem.

"I

 recognize the critical condition that they’re in,” he said. “We’re not going to stop until the problem is corrected.”

Some people have taken to banging pots at night in frustration in addition to organizing protests.

Among those planning to join is Carmen Cabrer, a 53-year-old asthmatic and diabetic. She has been unable to use her nebulizer and recently had to throw out insulin for lack of refrigeration. The heat forces her to open her windows and breathe in pollution that aggravates her asthma. She cooks and washes clothes at irregular hours, fearing the power will go out again.

“This has turned into abuse,” she said of the outages. “I’m constantly tense.”

The outages are especially aggravating because power bills have been rising and the pandemic has forced many people to work or study from home.

Barbra Maysonet, a 30-year-old call center operator who works from home, said she sometimes loses an entire shift and doesn’t get paid for lack of power. She’s hesitant to work at the office because she doesn’t want to expose her mother and grandmother to COVID-19.

“It really puts a dent in my paycheck,” she said. “I have to rethink things. ... I’m going to have to risk my health just to be able to pay the rest of the bills.”

Like other Puerto Ricans, Maysonet has modified her diet, turning to canned goods, snacks and crackers that won’t spoil in a power outage.

“Just when I’m about to cook something, the power goes out. Then it’s, ‘I guess I’m having another bowl of cereal,’” she said.

Those who can afford it buy generators or invest in solar panels, but budgets are tight for many on an island mired in a deep economic crisis and a government that is effectively bankrupt.

Even attempts to rely on alternate sources of energy often are frustrated.

Manuel Casellas, an attorney who recently served as president of his 84-unit condominium complex, said the owners agreed to buy a generator more than a year ago at a cost of $100,000. However, they first need a power company official to connect the generator to the grid. He has made four appointments, and said officials canceled them all at the last minute without explanation.

“This has created great annoyance,” he said. “This is a building with many elderly people.”

Casellas himself has at times been unable to work at home or the office because of power outages at both. If he can’t meet with clients, he doesn’t get paid. Like others, he is considering leaving Puerto Rico.

“Every time the power goes out here it pushes your post-traumatic stress button,” he said, referring to the harrowing experiences many went through after Hurricane Maria, with an estimated 2,975 people dying in the aftermath. “You can’t live without electricity.”

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

People of Puerto Rico

 people of puerto rico 6

Even though Puerto Ricans don’t have a defined race, they are proud of their identity.

Boricuas are the result of a multicultural tradition that began more than 500 years ago when the Spaniards arrived on the Island, inhabited at the time by the Taínos — an indigenous group with a significant presence throughout the Caribbean.

African influences were added to the melting pot years later when Spaniards brought slaves to the Island to work sugar and coffee plantations.

The fusion of those three races leads to the modern-day Puerto Ricans — good people who welcome visitors as part of their extended family. Puerto Ricans tend to be friendly and cheerful people who move their hands a lot when they talk and express their emotions with intensity and passion.

When you pass by locals walking through the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan, they will greet you with a buenos días (good morning), even if they do not know you. And if they sit near you in a restaurant while you taste a mallorca (popular local pastry) and a coffee, they will say buen provecho (enjoy your meal), just for the sake of courtesy.

Puerto Rico has a population of around 3.6 million people, and more than five million additional boricuas are residing in the mainland United States. The official languages on the Island are Spanish and English, and most of the population identifies as Christian. Puerto Rican society is educated with a literacy level that exceeds 93%. It is also inclusive, with same-sex marriage laws and other statutes that protect common-law marriages' rights.

people of puerto rico 5

Famous Puerto Ricans

It is said that there are Puerto Ricans all over the world, and in part, it is because many have excelled in various disciplines such as film, music, and sports, elevating the reputation of the Island of Enchantment globally. For example, movie stars such as Rita Moreno, Raúl Juliá, Benicio del Toro, and Luis Guzmán are from Puerto Rico. Likewise, music icons such as Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez, and Daddy Yankee have Puerto Rican heritage.

In sports, Puerto Rico has giants such as baseball players Roberto Clemente, Iván Rodríguez, Roberto Alomar, Alex Cora, and Yadier Molina; boxers Félix "Tito" Trinidad, Héctor "Macho" Camacho, and Miguel Cotto; tennis player and Olympic gold medalist Mónica Puig; hurdler Javier Culson; and many others. In science, NASA geologist and astronaut Joseph M. Acaba, who has traveled to the International Space Station, was born to Puerto Rican parents.

The Island also has representation in other fields. Of Puerto Rican descent, Sonia Sotomayor was the first Latina to become a Supreme Court Justice. Dr. Antonia Coello became the first Puerto Rican and Hispanic person to be appointed as Surgeon General of the United States.

CHECK THIS FACTS ABOUT PUERTO RICO

This Post is Courtesy of Discover Puerto Rico

Tuesday, October 12, 2021

A Comprehensive Guide to Golf in Puerto Rico

 island and ocean under a cloudy ski on a golf course

Photo by Caleb Oquendo from Pexels

The Caribbean is more than just Instagram eye candy and delicious, authentic meals. It’s also home to an abundance of golf-centric experiences graced with upscale resorts, nearby white sands, and other activities that belong to your itinerary.

If you’re already eyeing Puerto Rico as a year-round holiday destination, here are a few things you need to know about planning a golf vacation.

Why Go Golfing in Puerto Rico?

On and below the surface, Puerto Rico is an ideal destination for avid golfers—it’s scenic, rife with course options, and beautiful weather. If you’re on the fence about booking a stay in Puerto Rico, here are a few reasons why you should. 

Breathtaking Views

Many Puerto Rican courses are situated on oceans, hills, and mountains. As a result, the country’s varied terrain features and awe-inspiring backdrops have become a magnet for tourists and champions alike. Nowhere else will you witness spectacular rainforest settings and seaside cliffs while teeing off than in Puerto Rico.

Delicious Meals

There is nothing quite like retiring from your four-hour game than with an exceptional meal. In Puerto Rico, after-par meals include deep-fried mofongo and spit-roasted pork. However, if you prefer something a little more familiar, you can explore the seemingly endless depths of Afro-Caribbean food—you’re bound to find something that suits your fancy. 

Abundant in Culture

What makes a sterling golf employee is an equally agreeable attitude—you’re not going to find warmer welcomes anywhere than Puerto Rico. The country is peppered with genuinely gracious and hospitable locals, ready to share their customs and unique attractions. 

Top Tourist Courses

Convinced that Puerto Rico is a must-see on your international golf tour? Then, don’t forget to include these top courses on your list. 

Wyndham Grand Rio Mar & Golf Beach Resort

Home to two excellent courses considered Puerto Rico’s best, the Wyndham provides guests with the pleasure of playing on the beach. If you prefer something jungle-laden and with rolling hills, opt for the River Course instead of the Ocean Course.  

Dorado Beach

The two challenging courses at Dorado Beach will give seasoned golfers a run for their money. Its dramatic setting is laden with ponds, lakes, and deep bunkers. They are also part of a hyper-luxurious resort whose amenities will make your stay worth every penny. 

Royal Isabela

This secluded and dramatic clifftop course plays links-style but will satisfy any golfer who enjoys a scenic backdrop. However, remember that this over 7,600-yard, par 73 course is not for the faint of heart, especially when it comes to deep gorges, jungle-like brush, and windy conditions. You’ll be spending long hours on this course, so don’t forget to pack the essentials

The St. Regis Golf Club

Set across the El Yunque National Forest, you won’t experience being as close to wildlife when you golf as you will here. The course itself snakes through lakes and ponds, culminating in a sunkissed two-mile beach. 

Hotels & Resorts

You’ll be pleased to know that most of Puerto Rico’s five-star courses are part of the country’s most sought-after resorts. If you’re looking for places to stay while you tee off daily, consider booking these renowed accommodations. 

Caribe Hilton

When you hear the word “Hilton,” you’re likely to associate it with luxury—in this case, you wouldn’t be wrong. This classic, San Juan located resort is open, well-equipped, and ideal for golfers who want ot try their hand—and club—at multiple courses over a quick week trip. 

Rooms begin at $141 a night.

El Conquistador Resort

This Waldorf Astoria resort has been claiming its spot atop top 100 lists for years—and for a good reason. It is upscale, family-friendly, and right next to the Coqui Water Park, among many other golf courses. 

Rooms begin at $156 a night.

The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort

If you’re already been eyeing the Regis as a must-see golf destination, you’ll be happy to know it is also part of the country’s first Five-Diamond resort. This relaxed tropical setting has everything you could possibly need on a spectacular holiday—a challenging, picture-perfect course, round-the-clock service, and a spa. 

Rooms begin at $639 a night.

The Bottom Line

If you’ve been wondering whether packing your gear for an international golf trip to Puerto Rico is worth it, we hope this guide has provided you with an enlightening answer. To make the most of your trip, be sure to peep these must-know tips before traveling to this beautiful, cultured destination. 

About the Author

Jordan is a seasoned traveler and golf enthusiast. Through Golf Influence, he provides budding golfers with tips on how to improve their game, where to explore the best courses, and what gear is worth their business.

Monday, October 11, 2021

What To Look For In A Tax Resolution Firm?

 Tax Resolution Firm

No one like to receive letters from the IRS. The enforcement efforts ramp up at the IRS, the number of letters and communications landing in mailboxes is continuing to increase and one of them could land in your mailbox if the IRS says that you have a tax liability.

If you do receive a letter from them, it is important to move fast, especially if you cannot afford to pay what they says you owe. You may be tempted to ignore the situation or do nothing, but every day you wait will just make an already bad situation that much worse.

The good news is that you may not have to pay what the IRS says you owe them! There are a number of programs designed to give taxpayers relief, in many cases allowing them to settle their tax debts for a lot less of what they owe. But before you can enjoy that financial relief, you need to find the right partner, and here are some key things to look for.

The Right Tax Relief and IRS Negotiation Experience.

When you hire a tax relief firm, you will be hiring a team of experts, and it is important that the person who works on your case will be up to the task. It is important to look for specific areas of expertise, including former IRS agents, CPA’s, attorneys and others who can help you negotiate with the IRS on your behalf.

The best tax relief agencies are not necessarily big firms; some of the best are small operators with extensive experience dealing with this type of problem. But no matter what the size of the firm, the tax resolution expertise of the person working on your case is what matters the most.

Compassion and Understanding

Dealing with the IRS is not just a financial problem; it is an emotional one as well. Getting a notice from the IRS is bound to be an upsetting and unsettling experience, and working with a compassionate and caring tax resolution firm can help a lot to your situation.

You should not, of course, sacrifice expertise and capability for compassion, but there is no reason you cannot have the best of both worlds. Look for someone who cares about you and your situation as you interview tax relief firms and choose the one you feel best about working with.

Recent IRS Negotiation Success Stories

The IRS is a huge agency, and the tax code is endlessly complex. That enormous complexity and ever-growing structure means that past experience may no longer be relevant, so look for recent experience with the IRS in the form of testimonials and case studies.

Chances are if they have good “wins” under their belt, they know what they’re doing and they can get you a favorable outcome. Working with these experts can give you peace of mind and make it easier for you to resolve your tax situation.

Getting a letter from the IRS can be a scary experience, but it does not have to be the end of the world. You do not have to go bankrupt or suffer financial devastation in order to settle the debt you owe. Now that you know how to find a great tax relief partner, you no longer have to live in fear of your next trip to the mailbox.

Reach out to our tax resolution firm and we’ll schedule a free, no-obligation confidential consultation to explain your options in full to permanently resolve your tax problem. www.wesolveyourirsdebt.com.

Ramon Ortega CPA

Office in Weston, FL
1555 Bonaventure Blvd., Suite 1028
Weston, FL 33326
Weston 954-465-9315
Orlando 407-478-9262
rortega@ramonortegacpa.com

Ramon Ortega CPA