When in Doubt....
Words to live by!
The Locks of the Erie Canal
There is something about setting a series of tasks for yourself, especially if there is a time limit to complete them. It sets in your mind. After an initial burst of energy it becomes zen, a focus that blocks out other things. In this case I gave myself 33 tasks and 72 hours. Some were longer than others. Some were more interesting. I set out to photographs every lock on the Erie Canal. This year is the bicentennial of the beginning of construction on the original Erie Canal. Finished in 1825, the Erie Canal opened the west to the direct transport of goods. Prior to that everything had to be taken by cart over land. The canal spurred the settlement of western New York and Pennsylvania by taking a trip of up to 45 days and shortening it to about 9. It provided a faster and cheaper way for farmers to send grain to the cities along the coast and for industries in those cities to send manufactured goods to new settlers. It also allowed industry to develop along the rivers ...
Seeing your photo of the beach at Isla Verde brings back happy memories....laughter, peace and joy of being in Puerto Rico with my friends and adopted family.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many things to do, unfortunately I missed going to Museo de las Americas. Your great description of it makes me even more disappointed!! But...it has given me resolve to go back as soon as I can and remedy the situation. Now I'll go back and look at the rest of your pics, smile and exhale..Ahhh.
I too love Puerto Rico, especially Old San Juan. It's an ancient and ever-changing city. Someone, a true jerk, said that she lived in PR for years and didn't like it because it had no culture of its own. After I kept myself from calling her the asshole I really thought she was, I went on to explain that if you stay in the Condado and the shopping malls the whole time instead of going out and meeting the people in their own environment, you will never find the native culture. It's true, US stores and businesses predominate. In fact, they are steadily running local store owners out of business. But that doesn't mean there isn't a long and vibrant local culture. You just have to know where to look. Ask your waiter, server or maid. (Just about everyone speaks English, especially in the metro area). Take a chance and go beyond what the tourism bureau recommends. Explore, poke around and ask someone who lives there where to get authentic lechon, where can you find a craft fair, where are there restored plantations you can visit, how can you find old roads to find small towns and native festivals. Just beware the mountains that divide north from south. If you are like me, those mountain curvy roads will give you a heart attack. But if heights don't bother you, go for it! The views are spectacular.
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