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language San Juan
3 Reviews Make sure you know a least a minimum amount of Spanish. A lot of the locals do not speak English. Some good phrases to know are: Donde esta el bano? -- Where is the bathroom? Cerveza por favor. --...
See All 24 Local Customs in San Juan
3 kings is like a second Christmas in PR. It is known as the day that the three wise men arrived to see the baby Jesus. In Arecibo, people dress up like Kings and drive around in jeeps with fire truck horns tossing candy to children. You can hear them for miles, so don't worry you'll be able to get to the road in time to see them! **I was in Arecibo when I saw this, I am not sure if all the towns do this.**
New Year's Eve is like 10yrs of 4th of July in the US all at once! Everyone fires off fireworks at midnight. It is a really cool experience. The fireworks are big. loud, and beautiful. Everyone around the cities are outside and having a great time. ***Please look for my video of all of the several firework displays!**
The Carnaval is in Ponce, a city in Puerto Rico. The Carnaval is like the Rio de Janeiro carnaval. I have not attended one in Puerto Rico because I was there last June. The carnaval is held during the lent season, the carnaval being with religious beliefs (Catholicism). This Carnaval has Catholicism history and the people dress up in costumes. They whack and target the "innocents" or kids to get rid of bad spirits. Also, they target beautiful women...
Every house I went, I noticed that they have a collection of the Three Kings. So, I also bought one for myself and brought it back home. This has a religious meaning but what I know is the Three Kings brought gifts to the newborn Jesus Christ when he was born in the manger. The celebration of the Three Kings is celebrated in the Catholic Calendar every January 6.
I think every adult Puerto Rican knows how to play the domino. Everywhere I go, I see a lot of people playing the domino. Even in the beach, I see those domino tables. Some bring those collapsible ones and just lay them on the sand and play the domino.When we visited the home of one of the hacienderos in Puerto Rico, he has three domino tables on the deck of his house. My daughter and our friends starting learning how to play the domino and our host was very kind to teach them!
One thing about Puerto Rico I thought was kind of cool is that you will catch members of the opposite sex looking at you fairly frequently, and often with a smile. Although this can happen anywhere, what I found charming and fresh about it was that there wasn't the furtive looking away like someone has been caught doing something wrong, or fear that it could be misinterpreted as an invitation. Puerto Rico's more open and relaxed atmosphere makes it more acceptable to enjoy a moment of genuine admiration and curiosity. They don't leer, and they don't stare, nothing in the slightest rude about it, more like generally soaking up the scenery, and it can happen anywhere, not just at the beach. While you wait at red lights, while you shop for milk, while you eat your dinner... I never adopted the custom, but if I lived on the island I think I would!
Puerto Rico is a Commonwealth of the US, so English is its official language, but Spanish has also been declared an official language in recent years due to the rise of progressive nationalism, and it happens to be widely spoken. I have traveled all over the island of PR, and have observed that in most parts people speak English, but as you travel farther away from the cities (e.g., San Juan, Ponce, etc.), Spanish is mostly preferred and used in everyday communication. As Puerto Ricans are quite gracious, they'll try to be patient with you, but will not guarantee that they'll cater to your English-speaking ways all of the time. It has to be a two-way street. Show that you're trying to learn Spanish as much as you can because that sure will guarantee more respect and acceptance. Good Luck & Enjoy Beautiful Puerto Rico!
Many folks, both local and tourist, do not obey "standard" traffic laws, sometimes going through red lights, no use of turn signals and generally driving erratically due to road conditions or general traffic. A noticeable cultural difference coming from driving in Minnesota, is that cars making turns often do not yield to on-coming traffic. What would be considered "cutting some one off" or "pulling out in front of a vehicle" is a standard way of merging into traffic in PR. You get used to it quickly as everyone drives that way, but it can be a bit of a shock when first pulling off the car rental lot.
The local fruits and vegatables in Puerto Rico are varied. Going to the local market you will probably find what we call "vianda" this is a group of vegatables like "malanga" "yuca" "guineos", "yautia" "yame" "pana". These vegatables can be used in a soup called "Sancocho" or are boiled and eaten with "bacalao". Some of the fruits will include "cenepas", "chinas" "tamarindo" "guayabas" "mango" and of course "coco".The market will probably have fresh "gandules" and "oja de guineos" for making "pasteles".I usually pick up some fresh gandules and the vianda and guayabas if they are in season...they are my favorite fruit!!
You will find stands as large as this one or small carts all over Puerto Rico, whether on the roadside or in town selling the delicious "piragua" (shaved ice). There is a variety of local flavors including "tamarindo" "guava" "coco" "lechosa" "limon" and of course the usual flavors, of orange, cherry, strawberry, watermelon, etc.
Hotel Baños de Coamo Puerto Rico
1 Review and 27 Opinions This has been a spa resort where guests can enjoy the therapeutic effects of the therman waters...
Hotel El Convento San Juan
5 Reviews and 809 Opinions The staff was great...the rooms were great...the only place you would want to stay in Old San Juan!
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Q: Looking for info on the various Carnavals and if its ok for kids? If so, which city? My wife and 2 sons (6 and 8) are traveling...
A: The Carnaval is in Ponce, a city in Puerto Rico. The Carnaval is like the Rio de Janeiro carnaval. I have not attended one in Puerto Rico because I was there last June....
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