Monthly Archives: January 2012

5 Nice Places to Visit in Puerto Rico

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There are a lot of places to visit in Puerto Rico on your trip. Most people concentrate on the main attractions on the metropolitan area of the island, here we feature 5 nice places to visit out of the way, they are worth the driving and the experience, enjoy.

Las Cuevas de Camuy National Park

This national Park features on of the largest cave systems in the world. visitors will walk into parts of the caves and explore a small part of the system. The surrounding areas feature some nature settings that make for very good views.

La Parguera, Bioluminescence Bay

Another very unique place to visit on the island. this bay has micro organisms on the water that when disturbed they “light up” and produce a beautiful display on the water. this phenomenon happens on various places around the world, but in Puerto Rico is the only place that is guaranteed for it to happen every night.

Arecibo radar observatory

In the north par of Puerto Rico you can visit the famous radio telescope, the largest of this kind of the world. Its large receptor plate it’s larger than 12 football fields, used to spot signals from planets and in the SETI research for extraterestrial life. Inside the Observatory there are science related exibitions of different subjects to watch.

Mayaguez Zoo

Mayaguez is home to the only public zoo in the island. The zoo 2 main animal selections are the African Forest and the African Savannah. Also it features a Beautiful bird sanctuary.

Ponce Art Museum

The Ponce Art Museum has the largest art collection of the Caribbean between pictures and sculptures. Its collection have many European works such as works by Velasquez, Rubens and Rodin, and others.

Should Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands become the 51st and 52nd states?

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The way I see it, they are US territories, and the inhabitants are US citizens, and we pump billions of dollars in funding to them each year as if they were states. By bringing them into statehood, we can collect taxes, make a load of money off of tourism, and add two stars to the red white and blue. In return, they would get the rights that accompany statehood, such as voting in presidential elections and representation in congress.

What do you all think?
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Puerto Rico Tattoos – A Great Way to Get Discount, Lousy Ink, Hepatitis

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Puerto Rico is a great place for spring break, corporate conferences gone wild and too many more sorts of potentially crazy getaways to name. One thing that’s fun to contemplate while blitzed on the world’s most endless supply of cheap, premium rum, is getting a tattoo. There are a perhaps a million reasons why this can be a bad idea, so let’s cover just a few of the top ones.

Puerto Rico, though Caribbean and 3rd-World in many ways, is not a place known for its deep discounts. The reason you’d get a tattoo in Puerto Rico is not because it’s cheap, but because you’re there and your judgment may be impaired. If you’ve long thought about getting a tattoo, I’m not going to say you shouldn’t, but I will say you shouldn’t do it in Puerto Rico.

So let’s stop warming up and start listing off:

1 – You will not save money, unless you’re just hell bent on getting the worst tat in the world. If what you want is cheap ink, you can find it in your own home town. The quality is likely to be equal, but the safety is likely to be better.

2 – Even if you are fluent in Spanish, or your artist is a native English speaker who grew up on the mainland, you may still end up with a tattoo that reflect a small miscommunication more than what you actually wanted.

3 – Although Puerto Rico is technically part of the United States, oversight of tattoo parlors may not be as thorough and diligent as you’d like. Government funding for the island is already stretched razor thin, and an easy place to skimp out is on sectors that haven’t had specific or well-publicized complaints. The use of sub-par equipment is more common, and the concern for safety is much less.

4 – Since the artist knows he or she will never see you again, the dedication to quality is necessarily diminished. If you need follow-up touch up work, you’re going to have to hire somebody back home to do it for you. That means you’ll end up paying more than you would have if you’d just got it at home anyhow. Your local artist knows that you are local, likely to come back if you’re happy with the artwork, and will almost universally be committed to better work.

5 – Health safety is your biggest and most serious concern. The standards that govern tattoo shops stateside is all but absent in Puerto Rico. In San Juan, you might find a perfectly stand up shop, but once you get out of the city, you’re basically in an expensive version of Jamaica, if such a place exists (and it does, it’s called Puerto Rico.) Needle safety and blood-borne pathogens are less concerning concepts in the Caribbean, and although the risks of HIV, hepatitis or other incurable illness infection are low, it won’t matter if you get infected. More common concerns include simple infection, which are very treatable, but can leave your tattoo forever scarred and otherwise ruined in ways that a cover up tattoo can not fix.

For perspective on the seriousness of the matter, I went to Fat Tony, a tattoo artist in Everett Washington who did some work on my ex. He’s an artist at the oldest running tattoo parlor in the United States, and a well regarded ink and piercing artist with a down-to-earth sensibility that makes him likable, even if it was my ex he did ink for.

“I haven’t heard bad things about Puerto Rico specifically,” says Tony. “But once you get offshore, even if you’re in Guam [which is also a United States protectorate], you have to be really careful about who you hire and what you want.” Delicate work takes an experienced hand, and portfolio pictures he shared with me show the difference that years of practice and a natural artistic ability present.

“I’ve covered up some pretty scary work on people who weren’t careful about the artist they used, and some of it would amaze you.” Some people get amateur tattoos because they’re offered a discount, or because they don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, but Tony suggests that this is not a good idea, since tattoos are essentially permanent, even with the greater health concerns aside.

“In the service we were told not to get tattoos overseas because of all the problems they can cause.” He also said that, “Even if you’re in a pretty ‘safe’ place like Puerto Rico, if you don’t know the artists reputation and can’t check it out, you just can’t be sure if he’s cutting corners on needles, ink, safety [or] whatever.”

If you’ve always wanted a tattoo and you’re in Puerto Rico, hold off on it just a week, and you can thank me the next week. Don’t even think about the regret of the image, you’ll have plenty of time for that either way, but just be careful about your health.

Fat Tony, who is also a well-known area musician, explained that, “Getting a great tattoo isn’t that hard, you just have to be smart, check out the reputation of the artist and the shop, and make sure they’re going to be there for you if you have questions.”
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Bird Watching in Puerto Rico

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Tourists come to Puerto Rico throughout the year, most often from cruise ships. While there are many things to do while on the island, birding in Puerto Rico definitely should not be missed.

Puerto Rico is a beautiful collection of islands. Most people think of Puerto Rico as one large island. In fact, there is the island of Puerto Rico and the territory of Puerto Rico. The territory, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, actually consists of one large island and several small islands, some of which are uninhabited.

Puerto Rico is ideal for birding because the temperature remains fairly constant. Bird watchers can expect temperatures in the low eighties for most of the year. The lack of seasons makes it possible to enjoy the hobby year round. Over fifty species of birds can be seen on the island, some of which are native to Puerto Rico. Birding can be done throughout the island, although some spots are more popular than others. Cabo Rojo Recreational area is in the Southwest. There is a Wildlife Refuge located there with quality bird watching trails. Visitors have the opportunity to see several endangered birds. There is a visitor’s center which can provide information and guidance. Cabo Rojo is also a great place for swimming as it has a beautiful white sand beach. There is also a lighthouse which was constructed in 1881. The view from the lighthouse, which overlooks a 200 foot drop down to the sea, is breathtaking.

For many, the Puerto Rican Amazon is one of the main attractions when going birding in Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rican Amazon is the only parrot that is native to Puerto Rico which still remains. It is extremely endangered, and is on the list of the ten most endangered species of birds in the entire world. In the wild, it is estimated that only forty-four of these birds still exist.

The Puerto Rican Amazon is a green parrot whose feathers have blue edges. Its forehead is red and its eyes are surrounded by white ovals. Its tail is a yellow-green. As with many parrots, it is impossible to distinguish the males from the females, except through DNA testing or by observing their behavior during mating. At one time, the Puerto Rican Amazon was seen in vast numbers. As the number of humans began to increase on Puerto Rico, the number of Puerto Rican Amazons began to fall quickly. In 1975, the birds reached an all time low, with only 13 left in the world. Conservation efforts began in 1968 and in 1972, attempts to breed the birds in captivity began. These efforts have been largely successful. When Hurricane Hugo struck Puerto Rico in 1989, many birds were lost, but now the population is growing and efforts to protect the birds continue.

Whether one comes to Puerto Rico to view the Puerto Rican Amazon or any one of the fifty species of birds seen here, the bird watching opportunities will surely not disappoint. People traveling to Puerto Rico on a cruise or other vacation should set aside some time to experience all that birding in Puerto Rico has to offer.

Seven Vital Reasons for Learning Spanish

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If you are in a fix to take up a learning course in the beautiful Spanish language, check out some of vital reasons for moving ahead and undertaking this unique experience.

a) Your tour to the tropical and exotic countries of United States, Argentina, Venezuela, Chile or Spain would be a redefining experience in case you know Spanish. Learning Spanish will thus be of great benefit, allowing you to get closer to the local culture and communicate with the local people.

b) Spanish residents abound in Spain, United States, Venezuela, Argentina, Chile, Equatorial Guinea, Philippines, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama, Colombia, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Figures suggest that Spanish is the fourth common spoken language in the world! So why not be familiar with this widely acclaimed second language?

c) Spanish has its roots primarily in Latin while English too uses a lot many Latin derivations. This would indeed broaden one’s English vocabulary as well as be helpful for those who are pursuing science, medicine and law.

d) Research suggests that learning more than two languages enhances mental agility and wards off such disease as the Alzheimer’s disease. Besides, bilingualism also opens up your mind, allowing you to view things in new light. Learning Spanish will instigate you to think critically critical, thereby inspiring varied perspectives.

e) There are around 350 million people whose mother tongue is Spanish. No wonder, business concerns have come across a very promising market segment! A great number of established business concerns are recruiting employees with excellent hold on the Spanish language to cater to the growing demand of Hispanic consumers.

f) Globalization has brought about the intermingling of cultures and interest. Spanish music, movies, art and culture are being appreciated worldwide but learning the language would result in better understanding of their artistic masterpieces. For instance, dubbed movies lose the essence of their original counterpart. It would be all the more better if one could watch movies like Belle ?poque (1993), The Sea Inside (2004) and All About My Mother (1999) in the Spanish language.

g) Just ponder for a while over the number of times you have been asked about your mastery in other languages while filling up an application form. This clearly suggests that learning foreign languages like Spanish holds a lot of potential to grab the job of your dreams.

Besides the above-mentioned reasons, learning Spanish is nothing short of great fun. This sweet language will certainly benefit you for the rest of your life. Spanish tutorials are offered by numerous educational institutions. One can also learn Spanish online if he or she finds it hard to pursue a full time course. Tropical countries with greater concentration of Spanish speaking residents are now replete with Spanish schools. So when on a trip to South America, one can easily learn Spanish Venezuela along with enjoying the exotic beaches and the wonderfully mild tropical climate.
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English and Foreign Language Teaching – They Speak Spanish as a First or Official Language Where?

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Spanish as a First or Official Language

Often, when I teach or speak before of group of English language teachers in Latin America, I like to ask the question, “How many countries are there which have Spanish as a FIRST or OFFICIAL language?” “You ARE all native Spanish speakers, aren’t you? I say, teasing them a bit. A few minutes then pass as I wait for the group to “sweat it out”.

By the way, how many of these countries can YOU name?

Then, mercifully, I offer a response after taking an assortment of guesses ranging from half a dozen or so to fifteen or fifty. The following countries each have Spanish either as an official or first language.

In North America

The North American continent, home to only three countries, has two of them with Spanish as a first or official language.

o United States (oh yes, it is!)

o Mexico

In Europe

In Europe, one of the world’s great melting pots, several countries claim English as a first or official language.

o Spain

o Portugal (by the way, Portuguese is in the same language family as Spanish)

In the West Indies

In the West Indies or Caribbean, formerly a virtual hotbed of colonization, several island nations have a form of spoken English.

o Cuba

o Puerto Rico

o Dominican Republic

In Central America

If you though only Spanish is spoken “south of the border”, you’d be wrong. There are three countries which use English as a first or official language. There are fifteen countries with Spanish as a first or official language. They are:

o Guatemala

o Honduras

o El Salvador

o Nicaragua

o Costa Rica

o Panama

In South America

Passing from Central America into South America as you head south from Panama, these countries have Spanish as a first or official language.

o Colombia

o Venezuela

o Ecuador

o Peru

o Bolivia

o Chile

o Argentina

o Uruguay

o Paraguay

In Africa

I know what you’re thinking. Africa? There are no Spanish-speaking countries in Africa! Oh yes there are – there’s one. Surprised? So was I. Most people are. The only officially Spanish-speaking country in Africa is (drum roll, please):

o Equatorial New Guinea

So Why Learn Spanish?

Spanish has been a widespread and useful “Lingua Franca” for centuries. It still is. So when your Spanish as a foreign language learners ask, “Why learn Spanish?” you’ll have some new ammunition with which to respond to them as a foreign language teaching professional.
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What Makes a Good Fish Fry?

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In some parts of the US, a Friday night fish fry is what’s expected of restaurants. This has to do with a Catholic influence from way back (no meat on Fridays), but there has been an unintended, but delicious result.

You see, now the restaurants compete for who has the best fish fry. The result is some amazing fish to be eaten. Cod is of course, the old standby when it comes to a fish fry, but there are better.

For example, if you’ve ever tried fried Walleye . . . you know what I’m talking about. For those who don’t like the fish taste, this is your fish. It’s got no fishy taste at all.

Many others swear by Blue Gill. Fried Blue Gill will give you small fillets, but they are firm and tasty.

However, I personally have a favorite. It’s the Northern Pike. It’s an aggressive fish. My fishermen friends tell me that you need to use a wire leader on your fishing line so that they cannot bite themselves free. They are fighters and toothy.

But, especially when caught in cold waters, these fish are meaty, firm, and full of flavor. Not all restaurants offer this fish, but take it when you get can get it. This is the king of fish.

Moving on, let’s select your drink for the perfect fish fry next. If speaking in terms of wine, white wine is what you eat with fish, but keep in mind that fried fish will overpower the average white wine. A sparkling white wine would go good with this, but in all honesty, I’d recommend taking a pass on the wine.

Beer is a better mate with fried fish. Not a dark beer, but anything from light to medium will work excellently. It’s even better if it’s a micro-brewery beer (think Milwaukee, WI).

Of course, if you’re not a beer drinker, root beer soda will work nicely too.
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Identity Theft Methods – No Fishing Allowed AKA ‘Phishing’

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Probably one of the most dangerous and effective methods of stealing someone’s personal information, also known as identity theft, is by the use of a method that probably could use a better name, or at least a better spelling.

‘Phishing’ (pronounced ‘fishing’) is called that because it is just that – fishing for information, fishing for unsuspecting people, fishing to get someone on the hook. The basic idea is that a criminal will send out emails to hundreds of people trying to get the recipient to give them personal or financial account information. On the surface, you might wonder why anyone would get an email and immediately hand over their banking information, but the emails are usually crafted in such a manner to trick the recipient into believing the message actually came from someone they trust. I get emails frequently from banks that I don’t have accounts with claiming some ‘problem’ with my account. The concept is that if the crooks send out enough emails, someone who does have an account will open it and believe it. Often the emails even have official bank or credit card logos, and a link for the user to click on.

An example might be an email, supposedly from your bank, which states ‘your account may have been compromised, please click the link and enter your account information to see if you are affected.’ The link will then take the user to a very official looking site, which has nothing to do with the bank. As soon as the user enters their information, the crooks have it. They then take that information to access the person’s real account.

One thing to keep in mind is that you can be a target for phishing even if you don’t do any shopping while you are online. All it takes is an email, carefully worded, to find its way into your inbox and look like it comes from some entity that you have an account with. Your bank, your phone company, your cable provider. Usually crooks go right after financial data but address data is valuable to them as well, so don’t think you are immune just because you don’t shop online.

So how do you protect yourself?

First, understand that banks and credit card companies are aware of the problem and do not send out emails to verify your account. Never. If you get such an email, and you want to check your account, pick up the phone and call your bank directly.

DO NOT CLICK ON ANY LINKS IN THE EMAIL. More importantly, DO NOT enter any information. Banks already have your information, and do not need you to re-enter all of the critical data. Again, if you receive such an email and are concerned, CALL the bank. A good rule of thumb with all email is that if you don’t know who sent it, don’t open it. Period.

Secondly, when you receive such an email, you can usually tell a phishing scam (beyond the obvious tip-off with language such as ‘enter your information’ by placing your cursor over the links in the email and then reading the target url in the status bar of your browser. Usually, the link on the email will say the name of the bank but the url will be pointing somewhere entirely different.

Third, if you really want to take action, you can contact the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team, located at http://www.us-cert.gov/nav/report_phishing.html. Remember, just because you know about the scams doesn’t mean the crooks won’t nail someone else. If you do report them, you might help prevent someone else from getting defrauded by phishers.