the enchanted island

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http://www.resumesanta.com/travel_guide/caribbean_travel_guide/ Puerto Rico Travel Guide - Part 8. Although 31 different African tribes have been recorded in Puerto Rico it is the Kongo from Central Africa that is considered to have had the most impact on Puerto Rican Spanish. Many of these words are used today. See Buy Plaza las Americas is currently the largest such shopping mall in the Caribbean and offers a wide array of stores eating facilities and a multi screen movie theater. Most major U.S. mainland and European mass retailers are located in the mall. The Condado section of San Juan is home to fine designer stores such as Cartier Gucci Ferragamo Mont Blanc and Dior. You might want to check out the Belz Factory Outlets and Puerto Rico Premium Outlets Barceloneta. They house stores like Polo Hilfiger Banana Republic Puma Gap PacSun etc. Most of the large cities on the island have a large regional mall with very familiar international stores. There are plenty of ATM around the commonwealth. Most are linked to the Cirrus Plus American Express and Discover networks. If youre looking for local crafts of all sorts and want to pay less than in Old San Juan while getting to know the island try going to town festivals. Artisans from around the island come to these festivals to sell their wares from typical foods candies coffee and tobacco to clothing accessories paintings and home d cor. Some of these festivals are better than others though be sure to ask for recommendations. One of the most popular yet remote festivals is the Festival de las Chinas or Orange Festival in Las Mar as. Dont forget that Puerto Rico is a large rum producing island. Hand made cigars can still be found in San Jaun Old San Juan and Puerta de Tierra. Also a wide variety of imported goods from all over the world are available. Local artesan as include wooden carvings musical instruments lace ceramics hammocks masks and basket work. Located in every busy city are gift shops with the typical tee shirts shot glasses and other gifts that say Puerto Rico to bring home to friends and family. Make sure to visit the Distileria Serralles the home of Don Q one of the oldest rums made in Puerto Rico. You would not only enjoy tours of the process of making rum but a little taste of the rum. They also have a museum and it is an enjoyable place for a warm afternoon in the Enchanted Island. Eat Puerto Rico is a drive through buffet. All you need is a car an appetite the bigger the better time and the realization that your swimsuit wont fit as well when you get to your destination. The island has the most diverse culinary offerings in the entire Caribbean. Theres something for everyone. You can enjoy the finest Puerto Rican food at most traditional town squares and also for those of you who get homesick have a steak at a place like Mortons. Cuisine Authentic Puerto Rican food comida criolla can be summed up in two words plantains and pork usually served up with rice and beans arroz y habichuelas. It is rarely if ever spicy and to many visitors surprise has very little in common with Mexican cooking. Plantains pl tanos are essentially savory bananas and the primary source of starch back in the bad old days although you will occasionally also encounter cassava yuca and other tropical tubers. Served with nearly every meal incarnations include mofongo plantains mashed fried and mashed again when filled up relleno with seafood this is probably the best known Puerto Rican dish of them all. tostones twice deep fried plantain chips best when freshly made. sopa de pl tanos mashed plantain soup. The main meat eaten on Puerto Rico is pork cerdo with chicken a close second and beef and mutton way down the list. Seafood surprisingly is only a minor part of the traditional repertoire the deep waters around Puerto Rico are poorly suited to fishing and most of the seafood served in restaurants for tourists is in fact imported. Still fresh local fish can be found in restaurants acro...