Car-rumba
We’ve all experienced the terrible grid-lock resulting from the number of cars on roads today. In the U.S. alone, we have more than 250 million registered personal vehicles, or 797 cars per 1000 people. Of course, one expects to see cars everywhere in such a comparatively well-off region. One might be surprised to learn that, […]
Why all of this horsing around?
One phenomenon that has brought us considerable joy is the sight of numerous horsemen riding throughout Rincon, Anasco, and surrounding communities. These aren’t your everyday horses, however. Puerto Rico is home to the paso fino horse breed. Originally imported from Spain, these horses have a smooth, natural four-beat, lateral ambling gate. Locals can be seen riding and […]
Where have all the Iguanas gone . . .?
One of the cool things about wintering in Puerto Rico is the occasional interaction with an iguana. Unfortunately, such experiences are occurring infrequently these days. Iguanas are native to Central and South America, but arrived on this island as pets, during the 1970s. Released into the wild, there are 4 million of the ugly, green […]
Is that my face or yours?
For anyone who has traveled, or received international travelers as visitors, you’ve learned empirically about the phenomenon social scientists call ‘personal space’. North Americans–and especially those of us from New England–demand a large buffer zone. Should anyone walk within 3 to 4 feet of hallowed ground, the response is instantaneous. The hairs on the backs […]
Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones, But Words Can Make Me Look Ridiculous
As I write this, I’m sitting in beautiful Puerto Rico, an island which offers many pleasures, as well as a language that confuses the heck out of me. I could ask myself why I selected a wintering place where I don’t speak the language. My ignorance of Spanish has produced many an interesting moment. On one occasion, […]
If you let your story come to you, prepare to be alone
Most people loved Superman when we were kids, but my favorite character was Lois Lane. As she always told Perry White and Jimmy Olson, “I’ll go anywhere for a story.” Lois was my kind of person. Years ago, I found myself in some isolated communities in Alaska, all for the purpose of digging up information […]
A walk on the mild side
Each of us who writes for a vocation or an avocation has found a way to trigger ideas. Every morning, I have been taking a long walk along one of the many beaches that lines the shores of the Mona Passage. As I walk, I look for sea glass and skipping stones (holdovers from my […]
Bless you
There is a delightful tradition here in Puerto Rico. In this culture, the young actually respect their elderly citizens. One manifestation of this is the bendicion. A few days ago, I was enjoying lunch at a local bar/restaurant, with my very good friend, Mike. Like me, Mike has joined the Medicare set. Half way through our […]
Avoiding Miss Daisy
One of the few disconcerting things about living several months on a Caribbean island is driving a car here. One faces the first driving-related issue long before arriving in Paradise. My wife is a very talented shopper; yet, it didn’t take long to determine even her skills were tasked by tropical car rental agencies. Are […]
I have a lov-e-ly bunch of coconuts
For those of you who love a good pina colada, coconut milk or water, the truth about harvesting coconuts is rather fascinating. Thought to have originated in Melanesia, the trees bear 30-75 fruit a year. On most tropical islands hosting tourism, resorts and hotels with active bars are the principal customers. Immature coconuts are most […]