Haley and me posing in one of the huts at the Tibes Ceremonial Grounds in Ponce. I think we will all remember that day and our friend, Sal Mas, dearly.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
By Chelsea Young
My time on this island has felt like a whirlwind, going from activity to activity, place to place and discovering a new culture day by day. To fully experience something new, great attention and energy is required. Beginning class at eight o’clock in the morning and finishing the day’s activities late at night is tiresome, and it parallels the feelings travel writers often experience; the feeling of giving up a normal routine in an effort to challenge your mind and body. This feeling is most likely what travel writers of the past, like Thomas Nugent, felt during their explorations.
For the first time in my life I am being exposed to a culture other than my own, while forging new relationships and experiencing new things. The days activities included going to the Hacienda Buena Vista Coffee Plantation, visiting the Tibes Ceremonial Grounds and leaving Ponce and Hotel Melina and arriving in San Germán at the Universidad Interamerican de Puerto Rico. The coffee plantation provided examples of how coffee was made and also gave insight into the preservation of the environment. I expected the plantation to look more like a plantation, but instead it looked like a forest, with waterfalls and canopy trees. Along the way to San Germán, our driver, José, took us to a roadside stand where we bought freshly sliced pineapples. This was a picturesque moment because it was so indicative of a tropical place. José pointed out interesting sights while we drove and stopped at the top of a hill overlooking the ocean for us to take pictures.
I continue to be amazed at the vibrant aqua-colored water and the lush flora that are so characteristic of the island. Yet, each day I learn that Puerto Rico is more than just beaches and tropics. It is a culture filled with a rich history and people who are proud to share their heritage with others.
1 comment:
Chelsea, I bet Thomas Nugent would be proud of well you are using your travel experiences. Who needs a "Grad Tour" when you have Puerto Rico (smile)? Chelsea reminds us that a plantation is not always what you imagine it to be, and that something as simple as a pineapple can bring unexpected, sweet joy.
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