Just Keep Swimmin

6/19/2011

Yesterday started off slow. I took a long walk (and found yet another bakery…there seems to be no shortage of those). I picked some starfruit – I had to climb a fence and got a few little scrapes, no big deal, I just have to remember starfruit is not worth injuring myself over, no matter how much I like it.

After lunch, I walked to the plaza, where I was to meet my friend. She was late – but it’s Puerto Rico; everyone’s a bit late, and actually she wasn’t really late, I was early. I’m always early. Anyway, I was just sitting on a park bench reading, then the downpour started. I followed some other people under the tent that happened to be set up for a concert that evening. Thank goodness! An older gentleman pulled a chair from one of the piles and offered me a seat. There I sat, with all the locals. One woman gave me a flyer about some church service happening on the 26^th. I smiled and said, “Gracia.” Here in Puerto Rico, people often drop the last letter or sound, so it’s Gracia, rather than Gracias. At least that’s what I think. I took French in high school, though, so maybe you shouldn’t listen to me.

When the downpour slowed to a drizzle, I decided to take a short walk down a side street I’d never ventured down before. I passed yet another bakery, this one seemed to specialize in flan and cupcakes. I just liked the name: “Sweet Sins.”

I met up with my friend and we went to Ponce, the second-largest city in Puerto Rico. It is a lot smaller than I expected, but when I hear city, I think NYC, so it’s really not fair. The plaza in Ponce is beautiful, with a church and the mayor’s office (of course) and a fountain with statues of lions (the “mascot” of Ponce). There’s also a red and black building that houses some historic items pertaining to the city’s firefighters, as well as a tourist info center. We wandered about the city.

We went into the produce market, only minutes before it closed. Most of the stands were actually closed, but a few vendors were still there, ready to sell. I bought some produce (we needed onions) and the man also gave me some kenepas (not sure of the spelling). This is the city’s official fruit. It is related to lychee and looks like a green kumquat. But tastes much better than a kumquat, rest assured.

We wandered some more then got ice cream. I tried the maiz, or corn, with canela (cinnamon) sprinkled on top. It was delicious! However, I had to eat it really fast so it wouldn’t melt all over my hands. (My hands still got sticky. I’m a mess with ice cream. I think if an ice cream parlor happened to be my first date with a guy that relationship wouldn’t go anywhere…) The man in the ice cream store didn’t look particularly happy and it definitely affected his work performance. He did not push the ice cream down into the cone so it just kind of sat precariously on top. Deliciously messy business.

However, I cam to learn the painful lesson that corn ice cream is perhaps not for me. Delicious, no doubt, but, let’s just say, I will eat it sparingly and leave it at that.

After ice cream, we walked back to the car to put our bags (and umbrella) away and found a ticket! So we went to the mall. I never go to the mall in my home state, the land of malls, but I end up in one in Puerto Rico. There’s some irony for you! We were lucky to see a band play some great music while we were there. Sears was hosting a fiesta for fathers.

After the mall, off to the boardwalk. There, we saw pelicans and some huge fish! The pelicans came right onto the boardwalk (the fish didn’t). A couple stores sold sardines to feed to the pelicans and fish. I’m glad my friends didn’t want to buy any. I was not about to play with sardines and tempt hungry pelicans.

From the boardwalk you can take a boat to Coffin Island. Yes, Coffin Island. Apparently it looks like a coffin. Umm, no thanks.

We stopped for pizza on the way back to Mayaguez. Honestly, I had my doubts. I mean, I’m from NJ. We have some great pizza and we’re so close to NY, also home to good pizza. However, I was very pleasantly surprised. I was also happy to see that their personal pies are smaller than those I see at home, much closer to what a personal pizza probably should be!

This morning we got an early start. We went kayaking and snorkeling in La Parquera. It was amazing. The water was blue and warm! Some families were there celebrating father’s day on their boats. One actually had a barbecue going on their little motor boat!

We passed some houses built right on top of the water. People used to have houseboats there but their government banned them because of all the pollution. So they built houses. Once these house are gone, though, they’re gone. No more building.  

I am a terrible paddler, by the way. I was in a double and when I paddled alone we got nowhere. My partner did most of the work. Sorry.

We had lunch in the town there; only the tostones were vegetarian – this is why I always travel with food.

I’m exhausted and it’s only 3:30 PM. I’ll probably turn in early.

Hope all is well.