6.28.2013

As we cleared the jungle mist....

As we cleared the jungle mist, we saw the airport ahead. Then realizing ….

Thus Kevin began and ended his portion of the blog . Not a bad start, except that instead of jungle mist, we left the Fort Buchanan Army Base dewy darkness—at 4:30am. We returned our rental car (which had served us in excellent fashion) and our gps (which had served us in más o menos fashion) to the Enterprise car rental spot. From there, a van whisked us to the airport where we checked in and then found out that we had to go through the FDA check point first to have all our luggage x-rayed.

Now we find ourselves flying along the eastern edge of Florida at great rates of speed. Reflecting on our visit, Puerto Rico is special because on one hand, the country and culture is foreign, but at the same time, we still feel the comfort of “home.” Using American dollars, being able to switch between languages and not standing out when you do, not having to fill out immigration forms, seeing US postal services and familiar businesses, seeing Old Glory flying next to the Puerto Rican flag—all these give one the sense that, “Yes, I am in the US.”  However, at the same time, distances are in kilometers, gas comes by the liter, signs are in Spanish, housing reflects a more Latino style, and flora and fauna are very tropical. Just a wonderful blend.

Our last full day in Puerto Rico—yesterday—featured our return from the west coast area to San Juan and then a few hours finding some businesses we were curious about. Specifically, we wanted to visit the U.S. Veterans Administration Caribbean Medical Center –basically the Puerto Rican version of the VA Dayton Medical Center. We found it in San Juan, along the route of the elevated metro line.  Being that it serves such a large population (Caribbean region), the center is quite large.  (The VA Caribbean Healthcare System provides services to a population of 150,000 Veterans in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.)

We ate there at the canteen (cafeteria), just at their subway shop, and checked out their retail shop (which had everything—even pet food and dresses and electronic equipment—in a very small area. We found the prosthetics department, just to look at—not to visit—and that was about it. A successful discovery.

As I mentioned earlier, for the beginning and end of our journey we stayed at Caney Lodge at Fort Buchanan Army Base. We enjoyed being around the soldiers and their families—mostly Puerto Ricans. On Wednesdays (yesterday), we discovered another benefit. Caney Lodge offers to its residents a complimentary supper—a type of barbecue taco with green salad, potato salad, and fruit salad.  Sweet—literally and figuratively.

Beyond that yummy conclusion, I took a jaunt to the commissary to pick up some souvenir t-shirts for the kids, and a package of Puerto Rican coffee, just to try. 

Overall, an excellent journey and experiment in travel.  To conclude, I will review here my list of random observations on Puerto Rico—edited from the one posted mid-trip.
  • Puerto Ricans offer so much help to a newcomer.
  • Sand crabs in your bedroom and lizards zipping around.
  • Like other LA countries, the lemons are green.
  • I had gallo pinto at lunch (with my shrimp mofongo), but without Lizano sauce (native to Costa Rica), gallo pinto has less tang to it. 
  • You can drive 2/3s across the country in less than two hours.
  • Gas is about $3.40 per gallon, but except for on the army base, you purchase it in liters.
  • Hammock hooks on the porch, hurricane shutters on the windows
  • Right along with the Puerto Rican flag, flies the United States flag--even over El Morro, a castle fort built in the 1530s.
  • Flying back and forth to the mainland--no immigration forms to fill out.
  • A lot of people here drive slow in the left lane.
  • A high police presence, and they, too, are helpful--I had to ask one for directions.
  • Signs in the woods warning against rabid mongoose.
  • Speak in English, speak in Spanish--most the time, you get to pick the language.
  • I have seen more baseball stadiums than soccer fields.
  • You drive down the highway, turn the corner, and there's the ocean. 
  • On Sunday, we praised the Lord and prayed with brothers and sisters ...and it reminded us of special days in other places, but mostly it thrilled our souls this very morning (Sunday, 3/23).  We always need to be attentive to the here and now . . . . living in the past robs us of the present.

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