Thursday February 4: Caves and Seashore of Puerto Rico

Inside the outbound terminal

The airport in the Dominican Republic is very different than any US airport we've ever been in. Very open with minimal walls - and a thatched roof!!

Since every flight leaving (Steve pointed this out) is an International flight, we arrived earlier than needed but it never hurts to be early.

The organization of in/out is quite good. Some waiting in line for customs (and the collection of $10 per person entering) but otherwise a very easy entry in and out of the country.

Main terminal building with it's thatched roof

Having bid goodbye to the Dominican Republic, it was a short 35 minute flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico and wasn't long before we spotted San Juan.




It was easy to spot the fort guarding the entrance to the port as well as the large cruise ship in port.

It wasn't long after we were settled into our next airbnb that we tried the local favorite food: the mofondo - mashed plantains (similar to bananas but always cooked before eating) stuffed and/or covered with pork, crab or shrimp.





And of course Steve needed to find a grocery store! This is a huge squash of some sort. Good thing I was with him as we really had no way to cook anything this large! Our place had a well equipped kitchen but no ...... really? No .....

So we ended up with chicken and tater tots - I LOVE those things :-)

It was a pleasant night. Prime time TV didn't start until 9 pm. Who stays up that late???




Plus we were going to up early to drive an hour and a half to the Camuy River Cave park. We had been there quite a number of years ago with friends from Cleveland and knew it was worth seeing again.

Entrance to the cave.

It was a tram ride down (and back) to the entrance of the cave. Nice way to get around as it was quite steep - with lots of switchbacks.


The entrance looks like a giant mouth as we approach.

Exit of the cave

After a 35 minute or so walk through the cave, the exit looks again like a giant mouth.


Weirdest thing was on the way back there was a section that was incredibly warmer than the rest of the cave. It was the body heat from all of the bats that live just below the walkway we were crossing! Don't remember how many bats live in this cave.

For more info about the cave, click here.

On the way back to San Juan we followed the coast to see what there was.

Found a lighthouse - can't remember the name of it :-(



Best though was the beach we found around the corner from the point here.

And of course Steve just HAD to climb on the rocks! Insane waves being squished between the large rocks. Unbelievably he only got a little wet from this wave!!

Best find of the day? A Radio Shack that had a charger that will charge our camera battery!!

Tomorrow: from the coast to the rainforest of El Yunque ..... and the next place we stay: Casa Cubuy.