You are so refined: the sugar industry in Puerto Rico’s Porta del Sol
Turn the clock back sixty years, and the tourism activity that characterizes the west coast of Puerto Rico did not exist. The area was dominated by the sugar industry. During the 1950s, the cane fields, refineries, and railroads all closed, as sugar production shifted elsewhere. Fortunately, for those of us who appreciate viewing historic landscapes, […]
How I started writing murder mysteries Part 2 of 3
Several participants in this blog have asked how I became a mystery writer. In response, I now offer the second of a 3 part post (three Fridays only):With the success of Judson’s Island, I determined that it was time for a foray into commercial mystery writing. It occurred to me that the best course of […]
The plot thickens
One of the more interesting cultural artifacts to be observed in Puerto Rico is the island’s cemeteries. Generally secreted behind high adobe and cinderblock walls, these burial places are outstanding. One need not go to the Cemetery Maria Magdalena de Pazzis in Old San Juan to be enthralled. Nearly every town of any size has a […]
When a park is much more than a park
Recently, I drove my daughter to the large public park in Rincon. While she stretched to run, I was viewing some of the craziest exercise equipment I’d ever set eyes upon. What passes as universal equipment is actually a series of yellow, welded steel pipes. Of approximately a dozen stations, only one of these offers […]
How I started writing murder mysteries Part 1 of 3
Several participants in this blog have asked how I became a mystery writer. In response, I now offer the following 3 part post (three Fridays only):During the early 90s, my college was having one of several fiscal problems that plague all institutions of higher learning. I was teaching a capstone course titled, Tourism Planning. In […]
What’s out of place here . . . is it us?
One of my early experiences with things being out of place occurred during a visit to Houston TX. Somehow, Houston evolved into a city of a million-plus without enacting effective zoning measures. When one visits Houston, expect to see industry next door to expensive houses, with working class apartments not far away. Ever since my […]
Hungry? Keep on Truckin’
Urbanites in the States think they’ve discovered the latest thing when they grab lunch at one of the many Food Trucks. These purveyors of sustenance probably date back to the chuck wagons that plied the American West during the nineteenth century. Urban versions made the scene following World War II, and were popularized by television […]
When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping(?!)
A recent New York Times article discussed the fiscal plight in which Puerto Rico finds itself. The island’s GDP per capita is a low $27,678, compared to the US figure of $51,749. Futurists project even more dire circumstances. Having spent a substantial amount of time on this island during the last ten years, I just don’t […]
So, you think you want to get high?
One of the loneliest jobs anywhere is that of la guardia de la vigilancia. In an effort to thwart car jackings, robberies, and petty thefts, the authorities have positioned vigilancia towers in mall parking lots. Sentinels are posted in free-standing towers or in pods attached to roof tops. These would seem to offer opportunities for easy money, […]
Spreading the word in Puerto Rico . . . Paul Revere could take lessons
If you live in a small town–away from the bright lights and mass media of the cities–you’ve probably asked yourself this question: How in the world do I let people know about___? I can’t count the number of times I’ve wanted to let folks know about an important meeting, a book signing, a yard sale, […]