Post Six: A Day as a Tourist in Puerto Rico!

University of Puerto Rico's Anthem- Take a Look

In a day as a tourist, I decided to go to two special places in Puerto Rico: San Juan and Carolina. I did this activity with my best friend, Eliz, which is also taking the course. First, I decided to visit the pillar of the Puerto Rican’s society based in the education; University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras Campus. I went to the Zoology Museum at University of Puerto Rico- Rio Piedras Campus. We (Eliz and me) tried to simulate a tourist, so I entered with my car by the principal entry of the university and I asked to the officer if there is a parking that I could use to visit the Zoology Museum. The officer did not notice that I was a student. I was surprised because the officer gave me a special services and he told: “Hello ladies, you can park your car there near from the museum without any problem. Have a nice day!”. This was the first time that I felt like a tourist in Puerto Rico. The feeling was awesome, you feel like a very important person. In the Zoology Museum the guide was amazing and I saw a lot of wonderful species, something that I not imagined that was in the University. In the museum they conserve different species such as: Cnidarians, Porifera, Mollusca, Myriapodos, Crustaceans, Arachnids, Insects, Equinoderma, Mammalians, Fishes, and Reptiles. An interesting note is that the 85% of the species in the museum are collected in Puerto Rico. These species are conserved and it is used to do research in the University of Puerto Rico and in other universities. The species that I liked more was the “coquí”, native from Puerto Rico. I saw a “coquí” in which they labeled the skeletal system with a dye and the blood system with another dye. The specie that most impressed me was the butterfly. Then, we went to eat to in a Mexican Restaurant and we end our first tourist day with a concert in the University of Puerto Rico in which I enjoyed from the musical group called “La Secta”. This was an amazing day in which I have observed as a tourist the Puerto Rican behavior and the wonderful things that have Puerto Rico. 

As a part of the touristic activity I also visited the Embassy Suites Hotel at Isla Verde with my father, Eliz, and Eliz’s parents. We went to the Embassy Suites Hotel to a Medical Conference about the University of Medicine and Health Sciences at Saint Kitts. Also, we took advantage from the opportunity to do tourism. After the conference, we enjoyed from the Hotel environment at  “El Patio Bar”. There we first enjoyed from a delicious strawberry frappe and then we got a delightful chicken wings seasoned Puerto Rican style. At the hotel I observed the different tourists’ behavior. They looked like they really were enjoying the Puerto Rican paradise. Something that called a lot my attention was a beautiful bridal dress, which was decorating the entry of one of the conference’s room. I loved it. I really appreciated the touristic environment at the hotel, because the staff really makes you feel as a very important person and the service was excellent.

Information about UMHS at St-Kitts / Take a look

     

Then in the afternoon we went to Old San Juan and we walked over the streets observing the classic and wonderful structure of the buildings, which simulate the Spanish architecture. There were many people of different places, some of them waiting to be served in different restaurants and other walking over the streets appreciating the beautiful night in Old San Juan. Finally, to end our tourism activity Eliz, Eliz’s parents, my father and me went to eat in Lupis Restaurant Mexican and Puerto Rican cuisine. At Lupis Restaurant I ordered garlic shrimps with salad and the traditional “tostones”, which are my favorite food and my father ordered the "Puerto Rican Burrito". The food was delicious and of course it had the Puerto Rican flavor.

In the role as tourist, I had the opportunity to observe wonderful places in Puerto Rico that I never had the opportunity to appreciate. I realize the amazing things that Puerto Rico have and I discovered places that I did not know that existed in Puerto Rico. I really enjoyed this activity, because I had the opportunity to take the time to appreciate my beautiful Island. I enjoyed from the food, the environment, the Puerto Rican people and the beautiful paradise of my Island. I had the opportunity as a tourist of escape for a moment from my own reality and just relax myself. I felt confortable and happy doing tourist in Puerto Rico. I could perceive that we, “Puerto Ricans” are been blessed by God to have the beautiful Island that we have. I am very proud of the beautiful places and things that my Island has, because there are amazing.