We arrived back at DIA in Denver at about 8:00pm to cold weather. We were just starting to get used to the time difference, so it felt like it was 11pm to us (Puerto Rican time) -the weather difference was easy to get used to! 🙂 The flight was uneventful, but as we went from Puerto Rico to Miami and then Miami to Denver we saw a definite shift in people, and we knew we were back in plain, sterile, straight (roads) and fairly uneventful Colorado.
We were trying to describe the difference of Puerto Rico and Colorado to people. It’s kind of like being in a dream world and then waking up in boring reality (or Greality -Greeley- in our case). Another way to describe it is going to Toon Town (PR) in Roger Rabbit and back to the regular world, or going back to the black and white part in the Wizard of Oz after seeing the Emerald City (Colorado is very drab right now with virtually no color and Puerto Rico is just covered in color and life). It is an awesome difference where there is something new and unknown around every corner, but I suppose it is also nice to have a boring routine to go back to as well- like warm water in the sinks and showers, and where time actually means something concrete and not vague.
Our last few days in Puerto Rico we met up with Nick and Miri again after trying to see another movie that the theatre accidentally forgot to start (again time is something very vague there). We also met with Dios Dado and he took us to Lago Dos Bocas near Utuado and we took the free boat ride across the lake.
Orocovis town center plaza
He then drove us to Orocovis where we had Longostino (sp?) for lunch. It was real criollo Puerto Rican food, and very good. Orocovis is the dead center of the island.
Now that we are back, it is bittersweet. We were just starting to get the swing of that lifestyle and now we have to readjust. We still have a lot of pictures and stories that we’ll post in the coming days though. We left on pretty good terms with Awilda, all things considered, and we still may buy it. In Puerto Rico, you never know anything for certain.
At the beach in Puerto Rico
Very astute observations about place and people. As we are living in two places emotionally and physically (SB and here) these same thoughts cross my mind. We hang out with ex-pats (people from California and other liberal places) a lot here and have less home sickness. They are all into skiing, hiking, food and parties like us, and fun to be with. I believe in blooming where you are planted, but there are limits, like you mentioned time and sanitation cultural differences. Your pictures of Puerto Rico are stunning. Sounded like a fantastic experience!
Maybe Longostino is langostino, the spanish word for lobster? Since that town is in central PR, maybe they have local fresh water lobster (crawfish in the US)? Just an idea.
Welcome back. Glad you had a great time.
I can’t believe you don’t see the beauty here in Colorado!!! Just because something is not bright purple with orange doesn’t mean its not beautiful. I think they say this at the council meetings, but is true….”If you belittle what you have it becomes less. If you appreciate what you have it becomes more.”
Did you guys get me and dawsons b-day gifts?
you guys should come over to grandpas house and see grandmas v-day stuff. and did you remember to tell grandma happy b-day?
Annie- I totally understand the feeling of being in two places at once mentally! I don’t think the longostino was lobster, they were like little sausages of chicken and pork.
TNK- We see beauty in Colorado, it’s just TOTALLY different. It’s not that one is better or worse, just completely different from what we are used to. There are some things about Puerto Rico that are crazy and chaotic so it’s nice to have order here in Colorado, but then again Puerto Rico has some things that just absolutely gorgeous and incredible. I think actually traveling helps you to appreciate the things you have more. I LOVED my shower this morning for instance. Britton didn’t have to help me wash my hair- lol. I love the straight roads and the pretty mountains in the distance. Traveling also helps you to see the differences. I also love that Puerto Rico has food and plants growing year round and it is warm with beautiful beaches. I like Spanish and English. It’s not that one is better or worse. Like I said in the post it is hard to describe. It is just different.
Summer- It was good to see you guys today and pick up Schnoodle. We hope you and Dawson like the gifts we brought back from PR.
Might you be thinking longaniza? That is a type of sausage.
Langostino has always been confusing to me. In some places in PR, what is served is a very jumbo shrimp, or prawns; in other places you might get a type of small lobster. Lobster would be langosta. Fran
Fran (and Annie),
I think you are right. I went and looked for the little calendar they gave us when we were there and it is longaniza. It says: Rest. La Sombra Longanizas Dona Maria. Maybe I saw a sign for langostino somewhere else? Who knows. Whatever it was called, it was pretty good, but now I want to try langostino! 🙂
Hi guys,
I’m Ivan and I live in Rincon, PR, if you’re not familiar with the the location, it can be found online.
I have been here for going on three years and try and have Langostino at least once a week.
T he neighbor boys walk all th way down the hills to the Sandy Beach area and commence to catching them.
He charges me a buck a piece but I pay him more being a Gringo. He expects it.
You are so right about how green and colorful it is here. It’s awesome. I love it here.
The average American living here simply came on vacation and never returned!
It’s pretty cool.
I enjoyed finding youu guy’s site.
Be safe
Ivan (~;
Hey again guys,
I just wanted to tell you about a couple living, building and, birthing here in Rincon.
ca2pr.com
Late,
Ivan