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 roudly
independent in spirit but technically a territory of the USA, Puerto Rico
is where four centuries of Spanish Caribbean culture comes face to face
with the American convenience store. This leads to some strange juxtapositions
- parking lots and plazas, freeways and fountains, skyscrapers and shanties
- but they're not hard to reconcile in the context of the Caribbean's hybridized
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The capital city of San
Juan is divided into an old and a new quarter. The oldest part was founded
in 1521 and is now officially declared a National Historic Zone. It contains
many 16th and 17th century buildings, which have been fully restored and
refurbished in the original Spanish style. The modern architecture of New
San Juan has flourished in recent years and is home to some of the island's
exciting casinos. |
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| Although tourists have been
visiting San Juan for decades, few ever felt the need to get out of the
casinos, let alone the city limits. Today, travelers are venturing into
the island's mountainous interior or exploriong its undeveloped southern
and western coasts. Puerto Rico's tropical coral reefs are home to numerous
species of fish and other marine creatures. On the pure white dunes of
Isabela, you can find a treasure trove of seashells and other beach collectibles. |
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| A rugged mountain range
runs across the center of the island from east to west. The north
side is covered by dense vegetation, rain forests, karst formations, caverns,
rushing streams and rocky cliffs. The high central peaks often prevent
rain clouds from passing to the south, so the south side is often sun-toasted
terrain, home to exotic birds and tropical dry forests. Whether you are
seeking the perfect surfing wave or the perfect golf course, Puerto Rico
offers the adventure traveler plenty of ocean sports, as well as tranquil,
clear blue waters and white sandy beaches on which to just simply kick
back and relax. From several internationally recognized 18 hole golf courses
to world renowned sports fishing, the active traveler will never find a
dull moment in Puerto Rico. With miles upon miles of coastline, the island’s
beaches come in every size, color and form. Sift through the black volcanic
ashes near Punta Santiago in Maunabo, or enjoy whale watching off Rincón
coast. |
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Begun in 1540 and completed
in 1589, San Felipe del Morro was named in honor of King Phillip II. Most
of the walls in the fort today were added later. Rising 140 feet above
the sea, its 18-foot-thick wall proved a formidable defense. It fell only
once, in 1598, to a land assault by the Earl of Cumberland's forces. The
fort is a maze of tunnels, dungeons, barracks, outposts and ramps. El Morro
is studded with small, circular sentry boxes called "garitas" that are
unique to the forts of Puerto Rico and have become a national symbol. There
is no place on earth quite like a history-studded volcanic island in the
tropics, and there is no island in the tropical Caribbean quite like Puerto
Rico. |
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