Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico labels itslef "la isla del encanto". So let's verify. First, a good sign is that the label is in Spanish. Good point! And to my surprise, Spanish is really the dominant language there. Good for my practice. So let's translate - the island of enchantment.

Second, since Puerto Rico was the second place the Spanish "discovered" in America (in 1493), it has a charming Spanish look. The old town - well renovated - has nice colorful houses, with their traditional patio, cobblestone streets, a protective wall, a big church.

Third, while the Spanish were not the nicest of colonizers, they built a big castle - el morro - to protect San Juan. It proved useful against the Dutch and the English, but not against the Americans.

Third, the vegetation is lush and we enjoyed a good hike in El Yunque national forest, up to the cool waterfalls La Mina.

Fourth, the beaches! Waow. The water was so welcoming. One of the best beach was in Luquillo, where you can combine a relaxing swim with tasty food (for example, a pineapple stuffed with seafood and rice) and a glass of parcha - the local passion fruit drink. Talking about food, the desserts were also delicious, thanks to the Spanish influence.

Fifth, Puerto Rico has some natural wonders like the Camuy cave. Another good hike and, of course, the guide had to point at formations and argue that they looked like Jesus and angels... In the cave, we saw some bats flying around, which reminded me that bats are the only type of wild mammals who populate to the island.

Sixth, Puerto Rico is also an island of scientific enchantment. The world largest radio telescope sits in a natural hole in between small peaks at Arecibo. Like a lot of technological constructions, it is an impressive achievement, yet it looks a bit outdated or even eroded. Its moment of fame is probably its background role in the James Bond movie Goldeneye. Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MH2qnn4D0kY

Seventh and best was the discovery of bio-luminescence! Puerto Rico boasts three of the five places on Earth were you can see these little organisms (pyrodinium bahamense) create light. After paddling on a kayak through a mangrove canal, we reached a lagoon where these micro organisms live. Once it became dark, we stirred the water and there it was - light was created! Apparently, these micro organisms generate light by rotating on themselves when they sense that the water gets stirred by its approaching predator (a prawn). By doing that, the prawn becomes visible to its predator (a fish). Generating light is an inventive defense mechanism. And I must say that observing light being created by these micro organisms and then a fish swimming towards that light was a brilliant experience.