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Notes From A Far-Flung Correspondent

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Welcome to Notes from a Far-Flung Correspondent, which features the weekly interests and musings of Bossy’s Son, who is currently enjoying his sophomore year at Columbia University in the City of New York.

This week: Spring Break!

As some of Bossy’s Esteemed Council might remember, last year I had the truly fantastic opportunity to spend Spring Break with many of my friends from school in a beautiful, serene, luxurious Ft. Lauderdale home where absolutely no underage drinking, South Beach Miami club-hopping, late-night hot-tubbing or Irish Carbombs occurred. None whatsoever. (Hi, Ma!)

What made the whole thing so lucky was that we were able to stay at my friend’s house — and since we didn’t have to pay for a hotel or group house, there was more money available for plane tickets and copious amounts of Corona healthy food. But that house was recently sold, and so I had resigned myself looked forward to relaxing at home for this upcoming Spring Break, at the end of March.

Then she came along:

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She’s Steph, one of my first friends at Columbia and still one of my closest. She’s the motivator, the endless enthusiast, invariably cheerful and hilarious. At some point between pushing us out the door to check out downtown salsa clubs and studying biomedical neuroscience, she realized two things. The first was that our group seemed ready to go our separate ways for the blessed break in the semester. And the second was that she was having exactly none of that.

So Steph hopped online, clicked around, shopped for good prices and better locations, and eventually planned trip-of-a-lifetime-part-deux in…

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Anyone?

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Guesses?

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San Juan, Puerto Rico!

For those of you concerned about the ever-so-slight bump in my left butt pocket formerly known as my wallet, I say unto you, no te preocupes:
Son-of-Bossy worked every second of Winter Break (not to mention the job I have during the school year) in order to take advantage of just this kind of opportunity, especially considering we’re all going in on the expenses together, as a penny-pinching group.

Details to come, but possible items on the itenerary include a bioluminescent bay, day trips to Old San Juan, and lordy lordy lime-y Coronas chocolate milk galore.

Anyone ever been?

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. I have friends who just had an accidental 3 day layover in San Juan on their way home from a cruise. Long story, but they said that San Juan was great and that they would definitely go back. They said that the old downtown area was beautiful. By the way, this comes from a “chocolate milk” drinking kind of crowd, if you know what I mean.

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  3. Old San Juan is awesome. It’s beautiful and you can spend days wandering the streets, taking photos, and trying all of the restaurants. Stop by the El Convento for some chocolate milk on the second floor overlooking the atrium.

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  4. I just returned from a trip to Puerto Rico… it was a whirlwind adventure. We went to Vieques for swimming with bioluminescent plankton, which is the brightest bio bay in PR and in the world. I loved Vieques and would go back and spend more time there if I could. It’s beautiful and rustic. We went to Culebra to Flamenco Beach. We spent the night in an eco lodge in El Yunque Rainforest and then hiked for a day. Then, we went to a coffee plantation in Ponce. And then to San Juan. It’s a great place to vacation. So much to see and do! Enjoy!

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  5. No need to ‘splain how hard you work, and DARN you deserve this vaca….San Juan, always wanted to go. I need to channel Steph right now cause I love an instigator…

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  8. Seconding the rainforest suggestion. I only saw it on a lame bus tour and was still impressed. I’m sure your crew can come up with an even cheaper and cooler way to see it.

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  12. Anyone else going “Puerto Rico ees een America now!” and singing songs from “West Side Story” and pretending to be Rita Moreno? No? Just me? Hmm. I think maybe I need to schedule an appointment with my therapist, Dr. Beach.

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  13. Never been, can I come along too??? I was a bartender/waitress in college. Can make shots quicker than you can say red headed slut

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  14. Pan de Mallorca at La Bombonera in Old San Juan. When they ask if you want extra butter inside and if you want it heated up, say YES to both.

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  16. My extended family heads for a week in Culebra every few years, so I can recommend the beaches there, especially Flamenco, though Zoni is also great and would be less crowded. There is a campground at Flamenco — very cool. It’s very cheap to take the 2-hour ferry from San Juan, though taking a 7-seater plane (vieques airlines goes to all the islands) is quite a thrill. You can rent a jeep from the guy across the street from the airport, but be careful — the roads aren’t great and enthusiastic driving can create a substantial repair bill. During the week Culebra is practically deserted (though perhaps not during Spring Break week). If you go into town, the food at Dingy Dock or Mamacita’s is great.

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  17. La Fonda del Jibarito http://eljibaritopr.com/
    280 Calle Sol, Old San Juan ..you will wander around looking for this restaurant- but when you find it- move in. The food is awesome- Miss G was sick when we arrived and the owner’s mom or aunt created a traditional chicken soup mofongo- cured her while she slurped..good food from good folk…simple and authentic…

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  19. If you can take the ferry to St. Johns, which is one giant nature preserve, and where you can rent tents on the beach and eat bbq from local roadside stands, it’s heaven. Just be careful. Lots of crime all over the V.I.

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  21. I knew it was Old San Juan. We stayed at the Dorado Hyatt( a short ferry ride away). It used to be the private vacation resort of the Rockefeller family. The beaches were amazing.

    There used to be a tiny cafe/sandwich shop on the top floor of the butterfly museum. When we were there, the unemployment rate was 80%. It was weird to see SO many people just hanging around the airport.

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  22. I went to Vieques, the little island neighbor and I can say this- Do Not Miss the Bioluminescent Bay. Really. I can’t stress this enough. A-Mazing!

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  23. I went about 10 years ago as a senior in high school. SUCH an amazing trip. You MUST swim in the bioluminescent bay, hike in the rainforest until you find a waterfall to swim in, and oh, don’t forget the rum.

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  24. Toro Salao, 363/364 Calle Fortaleza, Viejo San Juan – (I even saved their card so we could go back next time)!

    Delicious tapas, but don’t order a lemonade unless you love drinking lemon juice.

    And I second (third) the bioluminescent bay, which we did not see personally, but experienced in Point Reyes, Ca. The highlight of our trip.

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  25. Lime would curdle the chocolate milk which is not at all what fun-loving college persons would want. Repeat this mantra: lime with Corona, rum with choco milk.

    looks lovely. post photos! makes me want to go there.

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  26. I have never been, but have heard only great things. That second picture makes me want to drop everything I’m doing and walk down that street.

    Also: Chocolate milk, while not good with lime, is great! for hangovers. Not that you will have one of those while you’re in Puerto Rico.

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  29. Good on Steph for making you go! You’ve earned it. And I agree with #26 Kerri Anne…I want to BE IN that second photo, wandering through that neighborhood.

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  30. I love, love, love Old San Juan. Also hiking El Yunque (the rain forest) is amazing. At the bottom (or near the bottom) is the waterfall so take/wear your bathing suit and a towel. It is too delicious not to get completely immersed. Might need a Corona for the ride back … after all hiking is thirst-inducing. Just hanging out in OSJ and walking about has a far-away feel. Hard to believe it is so close to stateside. Be sure to try some of the local food. Soooooo good.

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  31. Old San Juan is a blast! If you visit the Fort, just be warned the park across the way is an iguana pit. My friend was sunbathing there while we toured the fort and was unceremoniously pounced on. Lizards are not a girls friend.

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  33. OMG. I loved San Juan when I was there. I don’t know if it’s still around, but in old San Juan there was an amazing latin/indian fusion restaurant. So good. mmmm.

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  35. Never been to PR, Son of Bossy, but WOW, it looks awesome! And what a cutie traveling companion!

    Can Son of Bossy help me figure out why the youth of today stick their tongues out in all their photos? I notice this alot on Facebook. It used to be interesting gangsta type hand signs and now it seems to be tongues. I hate to sound old, but it is a burning question.

    Not as old as she sounds,
    Maria of Maine

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  36. One tip for Vieqes and bio luminescent bay – take Windex. It is full of Jellyfish. If you get stung, hop out and spray it on the sting. It will make quick care of it.

    And no, I’m not from the BF Greek Wedding movie.

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  37. If you have the chance to go across the island, visit the town of Rincon.
    http://www.rinconpr.com/
    http://www.rinconpr.com/restbar.htm

    Surfing paradise. I’ve found tons of north easterners living there. There is a bar on a cliff overlooking a very popular surfing site (wish I remembered the name) where we used to go and await the sunset. They served some rum and juice concoction (for a couple of bucks a glass) that went down real smooth, so smooth you didn’t realize the consequences until you attempted to stand up from the bar stool.

    But, what beautiful sunsets that we all applauded. It’s a local ritual.

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  38. Yeah, I’ve been.. but imho… it’s kinda tame and old. Just depends on what you’re looking for. They have a lot of historical stuff like big cannons and stuff but for partyin’ and just havin’ an excellent beach and shopping time – and did i mention cheap booze? – I go for Cozumel every time 🙂 when that’s the thing I’m lookin’ for 🙂 But have fun whatever and wherever you go – it’s all awesome 🙂

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  41. Only spent a few hours there for a layover but it did strike me as an awesome place to go. Even if you have no money saved up whatsoever – I say GO and HAVE FUN! That’s what being young is all about. (says the girl who had $5 in her pocket upon landing in Paris, France)

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  44. #12 — Totally. I keep hearing in my head “I think I go back to San Juan” / “I know a boat you can get on!”

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  47. PR is fun…check out El Morro while you’re there and if you can rent a car and like to surf don’t miss the little town of Rincon…

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  49. Puerto Rico blah blah blah blah

    WHATEVER

    I’m having trouble reading through my tears. Son of Bossy, NEWCOMER to the game, gets approximately 1 billion % more comments than the Well Read Hostess.

    I’m going to nurse my wounds and some lime and chocolate milk.

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  50. I have not, but I have been to Negril, Jamaica on spring break, and that’s pretty close. I had a great time and…my first and last Irish Carbomb! Must be a spring break thing. My cousin has been on a cruise that went to Puerto Rico and he loved it.

    Have fun! Can’t wait to hear about it 🙂

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  53. you are indeed Bossy’s son, enjoy every minute til school begins again…..I know I’m a spoiler, sorry about that.

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  55. Ooh ooh! I live in Puerto Rico! Pick me, pick me! I’m in the Coast Guard and moved out here last May. Let me know if you have any questions or want some recommendations!

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