Adventures Beyond the Beaten Path in Puerto Rico with Milly

My heart is full after a whole week in Puerto Rico's enchanting town of Aibonito. It was a week filled with serendipity, local culture, and a deeper connection with my dear friend Milly. Together, we explored the lesser-known mountain towns of the Island of Enchantment. 

From the chinchoreo bar-hopping culture to the majestic backdrop of Milly's deck, experience our awe as we reveal the local habits and heartwarming tales that make Puerto Rico a treasure in the Caribbean.

Imagine sipping a mojito with mint so fresh, or enjoying a super cold beer while you enjoy small roadside bars with vistas out of a fairy tale. Millie and I take you through our adventures on narrow, winding roads, comparing driving experiences and laughing at the unexpected. We reveal the cozy nooks of Puerto Rico’s bar scene, from establishments steeped in nostalgia to those with waterfalls as their backdrop. The island's Airbnbs offer luxuries and views that rival any five-star resort, and we can't wait to share the hidden spots for those who find joy in a quieter, more scenic surroundings.

If you want to see some of the places we mentioned in this episode check out video 1 and video 2 about Aibonito on my YouTube channel.

Awaken your BEST LIFE  and join me, your host and island friend, Riselle at my island home St. Maarten for 5 amazing days of luxury, fun, wellness and  personal growth.

The Island Awakening Luxury Retreat is a retreat like no other and a unique way for you to dedicate some time to yourself in the company of like-minded people. Don't hesitate because space is limited. Visit the website to secure your spot.

Top Villas has the best selection of luxury villas in the best spots in the Caribbean. Visit Top Villas now to start planning your dream Island Getaway. 

Transcript

Speaker 1: 1:59

Welcome to Paradise Perspectives, a podcast about Caribbean travel from the locals perspective. Get ready for some authentic Caribbean travel tips, recommendations and more from the people who live where you vacation Straight from Paradise. I'm your host and island friend, rizal the Traveling Island Girl. Oh my, do I have an episode for you today? So last week I was visiting my friend Millie and her family in the center of Puerto Rico. Now, if you've been following me for a while, or if you follow me on social media, or if you are a subscriber of my newsletter, you know by now that, uh, I kind of like this, this. You know this.

Speaker 1: 2:44

This trip to puerto rico did not go exactly as planned, especially towards the end when I got stuck and, uh, that was because I missed my flight. I know it was such a terrible mistake, especially for such a traveler as myself, so, like, I still can't believe that that happened, and that is actually also the reason why there was no episode last week. So I do I must apologize for that, but you are here now and I am so grateful that you made the time to listen to Paradise Perspectives, especially when there are so many other podcasts out there and also travel podcasts, but you chose to listen to this one instead. So thank you so much for being here. I am so, so grateful to you and, since we are on the topic, if you are on Apple podcast, if that is your podcast platform of choice, I want to ask you for a huge favor Please go ahead and leave us a review and let me know what you think of this show. Friend Millie in this episode and we have decided to do it on the last day, or that is, before I missed my flight, actually and we did it on her deck, with rolling mountains in the backdrop and beautiful view all the way. In the distance that was the ocean. It was such a mesmerizing, beautiful, magical moment and I am so glad that I got it on tape. Now, unfortunately, because we were outside, there are all sorts of background noises, like the wind and some banging and bumping and you know birds and other things that happen when you are outside in nature. So please forgive the background noises, but this episode was just so juicy and it was such a lovely chat that I just had to post this episode and I hope you really like it as well, and I'm sure you will, because it's such a great convo. So, without much further ado.

Speaker 1: 5:00

Here it is, millie and I having a conversation on her deck in beautiful Ay Bonito. Take a listen. Yes, cheers. So I am so excited to have this episode today because I am on location in Puerto Rico, to be specific, I'm in a little town called Ay Bonito, which is high up in the mountains, in the middle of the island, and, if you haven't been following me for a while, this is one of my absolute favorite places in the Caribbean to be.

Speaker 1: 5:35

And today I am just so honored that I get to have my friend Millie with me today. So I have been here for a week and this is my last day. I'm so sad I don't even want to think about leaving tomorrow, but I just thought it would be such perfect you know timing for us to have this conversation today, because we've had a whole week of, you know, getting to see all about the area and hanging out with you and your beautiful family. So it is just perfect to end it with this podcast episode and so happy that you, our listening friend, could be here with us. So if you are not here, I'm gonna, of course, you're listening. If you're listening to this on a podcast are not here. I'm gonna. Of course you're listening.

Speaker 1: 6:22

If you're listening to this on a podcast, I am gonna try to describe the background for you, because this is insane. We are high up in the mountains, behind us are the rolling hills of Puerto Rico. The sun finally came out today, because it's been a little rainy this morning, and it's just perfect. You can hear the birds, you can hear you know the, the, the leaves of the trees, it's just such a perfect location. My guest today is Millie. Now, millie is a long-time friend. The last time we saw each other was five years ago, I think.

Speaker 2: 6:56

I think so. And then?

Speaker 1: 6:58

yeah, time flies like so crazy and just fast forward to five years later and here we are, both of us wearing glasses.

Speaker 1: 7:06

Yes, oh yeah and reading glasses like definitely not, uh, as young as we were back then, but, uh, still young at heart. Who cares? So I'm gonna let you introduce yourself like a little background story on millie and I, how we met. Yes, forever, but I always stayed in San Juan. So this was, it was a treat, and, by the sense, I got here from the first minute I think we met. We were like Insta friends, that's it. I was instantly, instant connection, and her family, of course, is also now friends of mine. So I'm so, so happy with this friendship and, again, grateful that you invited me back.

Speaker 2: 7:59

So thank you for that. No, thank you for coming, grateful that you invited me back. So thank you for that. No, thank you for coming, but I remember when I I kind of invited Rizel because, um, first, sorry for many English using case, and this is, this will be like my very first podcast with Rizel so it's organic right yes, okay yes, so I remember, because I was following you in social media and then I saw that you were like someone, someone, someone, and I got so like no, you're not, it's not jealous.

Speaker 2: 8:30

It was like, but why someone?

Speaker 1: 8:33

someone is beautiful yes, I like the old someone. I love you, me too but it was a.

Speaker 2: 8:39

The center of the island is just the most amazing part of the island and everyone is someone all the time. So I like kind of like write her and invite her, like do you want to see the center of the island? Um, and because I love this center, I'm not from the center originally. I was born in the south of the island, um, but my family is from the center of the island and I was always in love with the center of the island and that's where I write it result and then she said yes, and I was so excited.

Speaker 1: 9:08

Okay, cool, now she will see what the real puerto rico is, and boy have I seen the real puerto rico, and it is just amazing. It is so different from san juan as well. It is very, very different from San Juan. So what Millie didn't know at a time when she invited me was, of course, that I had already made. I was already making plans because I was on a retreat I invited. You know, I was hosting a retreat in Puerto Rico and I had some people travel with me, but I had already planned that for the day that the ladies would have left, that I would have then find some sort of way of discovering the rest of the island. Little did I know that Millie had this idea. So by the time when she the universe might be doing the connection.

Speaker 1: 9:53

I'm telling you, the universe was definitely just planning this whole thing behind our backs. So when she reached out, I was, I was like hell, yes, I want to see the center of Puerto Rico. So fast forward to today. We are fast friends and having the time of our lives, you know, discovering and rediscovering this area. So let's talk a little bit first about yourself. Now, unfortunately for our listener friend, our listening friend, you no longer have to airbnb no yeah, I know that I need to go.

Speaker 2: 12:08

Well, you want the story like it's a long story, uh well, let's give us, give us the bullet, the bullet points okay, well, my dad got when I was doing airbnb.

Speaker 2: 12:19

My dad got sick with less of less, those pilosis that's like the pee of the rat and uh, it's like it shot down his body. So I put, I brought my dad home and put it like in the only like private kind of room and area of the house that he could be comfortable and take it care of. That was the place that I did the Airbnb and I did take care of him like four months, uh, and during that four months it was so difficult like to do I stopped. I stopped the Airbnb because of that. It was in March. We had him since December until March something I don't remember and uh like he recovered little by little. He was even skinny and and today, like 2024, he is still. Like I have never recovered his muscles again.

Speaker 1: 13:09

But then the pandemic hit, like so everything was shut down and since that moment, uh like I don't have the Airbnb open so let's talk a little bit about Ay Bonito, because I think the name alone, like, if you speak a little bit of Spanish, you know that Ay Bonito is actually like this is how I remember the town's name always it's Ay Que Bonito. You know like how, how beautiful, like Bonito is beautiful, so it's just such a suiting name for soothing name for this little town. So tell me a little bit about Ay Bonito, like what can people expect when they come up here?

Speaker 2: 13:46

Well, I would tell about Ay Bonito and about why I love so much Ay Bonito.

Speaker 2: 13:52

Because I'm not from here, I was not born here. Ay Bonito means Ay Que Lindo, ay Que Bonito, but Ay Bonito is known for the town of the flowers. We even do a flower festival, like in summer. I think it's the end of June this year and it's like Ay Bonito has a lot of flowers, but also the weather, the temperature, the streams of water, the temperature, the streams of water. So when I was, I was born in Ponce, the south of the island. You can even see from here and it's not, let's say, it's hotter a little bit hotter.

Speaker 2: 14:39

So and it's not that green like Ay Bonito. Well, Ponce has really high areas and my family is from Hay Bonito, so every weekend we draw, or every two weeks, my dad will drive us up to the mountains to see the family. But as soon as I jump in the car in Ponce and dad was driving up and there are some crazy hills there, I can vouch for that.

Speaker 2: 15:01

Yeah, you can get used to it. Also, the guests will love the hills. Sometimes they will do videos of the hills because they say, oh my God, oh yeah, those hills are like video games hills, but they're safe. They're safe, you can drive them. And so we would go up the hills and I was like looking through the window, I was amazed looking at the green, looking at birds, looking at the flowers, looking at the streams of water and looking at small houses, big houses, and it was so beautiful.

Speaker 1: 15:39

You drive from like under the tree. It's like almost like a canopy of trees. There are certain parts on the drive up here that are completely covered by trees and then you know, on the other side of the road, all of a sudden it's like this cliff, with this magnificent view. It's just, it's a stunning drive Like. Even if you just come up here for the day, it will be an experience of a lifetime Absolutely. Well, we did it for the day. It will be an experience of a lifetime Absolutely.

Speaker 2: 16:02

Well, we did it for a day Remember.

Speaker 1: 16:03

Yes, that was.

Speaker 2: 16:04

And then coming down Back, then it was for the day, and when we arrived to El Bonito, I started to put the windows out to feel the air. Because, it was colder. So I was like oh, we're getting to El. I was like oh, we're getting to a bonito and we're getting to a bonito and when we like literally, are right to a bonito. You will see my brothers and I just put the windows down and we were like putting everyone else your head down, yeah because the different in temperature.

Speaker 2: 16:35

It was like crazy, yeah, and sometimes I think like this is 2,600 feet where we are right now, yeah, and ponsa and guamo are, like I don't know, 100 or something like that and you come from guamo, yeah, all the way to in like 14 minutes.

Speaker 2: 16:51

Yeah, so you are from 100 feet all the way to 2016, like in 14 minutes. Yeah, so you can feel the difference. You're really hot. And then you, you're up in 40 minutes and you're like, oh, my god, this is so cool. And then we just fell in love. And then we went to our family and the first thing we do is like try to look for the fresitas.

Speaker 2: 17:10

It was like small, small little berries that grow in the wild they look more like um, strawberry, no, raspberries like raspberry, they're small raspberries, and then we'll look for that, or bananas and oranges and everything that wasn't around and start running and jumping like crazy kids Because we were, you feel, like free. We were in the mountains. After that, when I was a kid, and then, now that I'm older, I'm not older.

Speaker 1: 17:42

I grew up. You're not old. I have more experience. Yes, let's put it that way.

Speaker 2: 17:47

So I moved to Ay Bonito. I went to study in the university in Calle.

Speaker 1: 17:50

That is also the center of the island, because I wanted to be in the mountains, right.

Speaker 2: 17:56

So I went to Calle and then from Calle I met my husband. I went to Calle and then from Calle I met my husband, and then we came to Ay Bonito and we started living in Ay Bonito and I just, I just love it. There's no way.

Speaker 1: 18:07

I'm sorry, ponce, I love Ponce, I love the rest of the island, but I'm so sorry there's no way I get that after being here, for, you know, after visiting now, I think it's the third time that I've been up here and I can tell that I think since then I haven't been back really to stay for more than one, two nights in San Juan. You know, like no, no, I mean like I have to say, like no hate towards San Juan at all. I mean I still have an amazing time whenever I'm in San Juan. But if I am in Puerto Rico, I cannot leave until I visit the mountains again, because the mountains are so, so special and I think, especially how you're recounting the story of what your childhood here, that was exactly how I felt, you know, the first time driving up here and this time again it's like a kid, like I want. I was screaming in the car by myself, driving up here, because I'm driving and all of a sudden the temperature starts to drop and because it's rainy season right now, right, is it?

Speaker 2: 19:08

rainy season. It's supposed to be in May May. Sorry May, but it started earlier this year. Yeah, you have seen like this week has been like crazy. Now we're sweating because we're like happy Like the sun is out, so we went under the sun.

Speaker 1: 19:22

We're under the sun, but it's not hot like it's like it is okay and uh, but it's definitely not hot like it is in san juan. That's for sure.

Speaker 2: 19:30

And then around us you can see like cloud, clouds.

Speaker 1: 19:33

Oh yeah, there are dark clouds around us, so they're gonna come in. We're gonna get a little bit of shower again soon, but as I was driving up this time there was all of a sudden I found myself in this mist. Uh-huh, and it was just. It rolled in as I was driving up and it was just the most magnificent thing that I've ever witnessed. Now, mind you, the mountains are high enough, but don't go thinking that there is snow up here. That's not, we're not high enough for that. But it is definitely much higher than most of the rest of the caribbean. I mean, the only one that is higher, that has higher mountains than you, is the dr. The dominican republic, correct?

Speaker 1: 20:14

that I know about yeah, yes, yeah, yes, they're higher than you guys, but a little bit of snow, like then something.

Speaker 2: 20:20

The temperature went down when they're 20 somethings in the dr, but for me that I'm from the south, uh, like, like temperature, I just love it like it is not, it doesn't get in winter, it doesn't get like under the 50s well, one time, but that was many years ago, I think it was like 2000, 2005 yeah it got only 45, but after that it will be like we'll go to 58, um the most.

Speaker 2: 20:51

It's really rare that it goes under 58, but then it stays. Let me see how to explain it. It during the when the winter leaves, and during the days like in the 60s.

Speaker 2: 21:02

But then when the winter leaves, like right now, that it will be coming to get into summer it gets in the 80s here, in the 80s here, but then at night it will go down to the 60s and it kind of we have the same weather like at night, like, like at night it's chill, like chili, if you say chili yeah it's chili, but um and it's not hot. I remember in bonsai we didn't have ac and I used to have a glass of water in the side of my bed to pour the water because it was so hot.

Speaker 2: 21:33

And then here it is just perfect you can open the windows you don't need ac up here, you really do not.

Speaker 1: 21:41

It's, it's um. It does get a little chilly at night, and depending on the time of year, I guess it becomes chillier than than usual as well. The winter months will definitely be a tad chillier, but it never goes really to 50 degrees, does it I?

Speaker 2: 21:57

mean usually at night oh no, when the during the summer, no no in the winter the kind of winter is like will be like maybe december, january and february those are the colder months. Yes, and now you will get the 50s. You can see it like you get the fifth, but it's not bad, no not at all.

Speaker 1: 22:14

You can be outside yeah, going short, I think the first time I was here was february and it was. It was, while it was quite hot in san Juan, up here was quite chilly. So definitely one thing if you are coming up in the mountains of Puerto Rico, bring a jacket. That is something that I learned the hard way, so definitely bring a jacket. All right, so let's go to the town of Ibonito itself, because where we are right now we're a little outside, more like with the campesinos or the farmers. Right, we're more in farmland where we are right now.

Speaker 1: 22:47

But the town itself has its charm. It's a charming little town. It's got like this mural that I absolutely adore of the flag of Puerto Rico, which is so beautiful, which you a lot, and I think that's one of the things that I love about Puerto Rico is how everybody here is so in love with their Island. You know it's like um, there's love, there's appreciation for the, for the island. Wherever you go in Puerto Rico, you're going to see like somebody is has the flag somewhere in their house. You know it's, it's yeah, you guys are very what do you call that? You're like um, proud, yes, you're very proud people of your land. It's just, it's amazing to see that. So what can you tell us about the center of the town, yes, of Ibonito?

Speaker 2: 23:36

Ibonito is like a small old San Juan. It is when you go. It is so beautiful because then you have, don't take me wrong, like old San Juan is gorgeous like this big, but then we do.

Speaker 2: 23:48

They had Spanish here, so the buildings are kind of the same of the old San Juan. The architecture is the same and then the business, uh, around. The owners have done such a great job in making it way more beautiful, like they do murals, they put they even right now there is they have. They're like um, what is it fixing the roof of the buildings that?

Speaker 2: 24:12

they're in the center and they're putting chairs in the roof yeah, umbrellas yes, I've seen some rooftops coming up now, yeah, and it's just gorgeous, and also because they're so friendly like everyone in town is so friendly um it makes it more it makes it very um it's.

Speaker 1: 24:32

It's almost like you feel like you are part of the community when you're up here it. There's that community feel and everybody, everybody is so, so friendly. Yes, um, so you feel right at home. Wherever you go into, and especially if you are a visitor, people from Ibonito, and actually from the mountains in total, are happy to help and they're ready to help you with whatever questions you have and things like that. And now it's starting to rain, so I think we're going to have to bring this out inside. What do you think?

Speaker 2: 25:03

I don't think it's going to rain that much, but I don't know if your computer is going to.

Speaker 1: 25:07

Let's see if our microphone and things are not going to short circuit on us ¿Qué dice la bandera?

Speaker 2: 25:14

things are not going to short circuit on us, but no, okay, yeah well yeah, people are friendlier in the center of the island yes, everyone everyone in puerto rico is friendly.

Speaker 1: 25:23

Yes, no, no absolutely everybody in puerto rico is. But there is something special about when you're in the, in the middle of the island and like there's. I mean they take the people in the mountains, kind of like, take the friendliness up a notch you know, yes, and it's, it's just it's such a it's such a welcoming feeling when you're here.

Speaker 2: 25:41

It definitely is I. I think we need to protect your computer all right.

Speaker 1: 25:47

So continuing on, because we had to move location because, of course, it started raining just as we were discussing the weather and what it's like in Ibonito center.

Speaker 2: 25:59

So we're continuing that conversation about the town of Ibonito itself it's, it makes you feel do you want just to be there and just enjoy? And what we do, that we like, we like is like we go to a bar, for example, in this, like in the in the town, in the middle of the time, and then we move from one bar to another bar and to another bar. Because you wanted to, you want to be inclined with all of them, because they're so, they have this, their charm each one of them so you want to move from from bar to bar to bar.

Speaker 2: 26:34

There's also parts outside the town, like when I say about town, you know aybonito completely but then the center of the town town.

Speaker 2: 26:42

It's where the spanish will build their church, and then around the church they will build the houses always like yes, and there's always like a plaza or a square yes, the plaza so you will always have the house of the mayor, like in the center of the town, then in front of the mayor, the mayor, the mayor's office, they will have the plaza, the plaza is like a park but now they have strip.

Speaker 2: 27:12

It's more a place where you go and sit and relax and chat with people and then around that they're like the houses, like they have this spanish style, really nice, nice, and also the businesses, and then you can walk from from bar to bar, from business to business in the center of the town. But then if you have a car, like you have your car you can go outside, like the center of the town, and then visit other bars and other restaurants. We have a lot, yeah, a lot, a lot, okay.

Speaker 1: 27:46

So this is where I need to step in for just a second and just tell you about the best thing about visiting Puerto Rico, which is and this is why we're heading into it it is exactly. It's the Chinchoreo. Now, the Chinchoreo basically what it is, it's a bar hopping thing, so you hop from bar to bar, but here in the mountains it it is. It's on another level because you go from. Just imagine every single one of these bars that we stopped at and we did a chinchoreo yesterday and every single bar that we stopped at was in a unique, beautiful place with an amazing view like you cannot even imagine. You'll be on the top of a hill overlooking Puerto Rico and then having a cold, and let me tell you, the beers are cold. I call it as cold as your ex's heart.

Speaker 2: 28:44

That's how cold it gets. That's cool.

Speaker 1: 28:48

And then one of them is even one of these bars is on a cliff on one end, and on the other end is a waterfall. I kid you not, this is just. It's one of those places that you'll be driving through the hills. You're going, you zip line, well yeah, but I mean, when you're doing the chinchoreo and the hills, you don't only stay in one town, you go from like little town to little town to little town. So we went from we started in ibonito then we went to orocovis.

Speaker 1: 29:19

Yes, we went to ajuya. So there's, we stopped in ajuya and then made our way back um to ibonito. But you can actually go all around these little towns, all around in the mountains, and then hop from bar to bar. But it's just. It is just stunning views, great people, amazing atmosphere, good food and ice, cold beer and, of course, you can opt for a mojito if that's what you like. And what I like about the mojitos here is that when they're making the mojito, they actually have the plant. The mint plant is actually hanging in the bar. So you know you're getting like fresh mint. Yeah, you can see the pods it's amazing Of mint.

Speaker 2: 30:05

Of mint. Yeah, just hanging in the bar Dierba buena.

Speaker 1: 30:09

Oh my gosh, that's what you call it, dierba buena.

Speaker 2: 30:12

Because then there's the mint. That is a small leaf. Yeah, and then the Yerba Buena. That is like bigger. It's like this yes, yes so they have their pots.

Speaker 1: 30:20

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 30:20

Because they just hang their pots and they put a little water.

Speaker 1: 30:23

Yeah, and then they have Yerba Buena all the time and they have Yerba Buena supermarket and buy mint, like what we have to do in San Martin. Here it just grows in the bar if they take care of it. But I thought that was so, so unique. So if you happen to get yourself, find yourself up in the hills and mountains of Puerto Rico, definitely do a chinchoreo and do a chinchoreo in the mountains. I mean, chinchoreo is something that exists all over the island, but it is so much more special in the mountains because of the, the type of bars. These are like little shacks to bigger bars, to you know, with the view, it's just amazing. If you want to see what we're actually talking about, I did do a video when I was here six years ago so you you can go on my YouTube channel. I'm going to leave a link to it, of course, in the show notes so you can find it.

Speaker 1: 31:17

That was a great Chinchoreo, I think. We left at around 10 in the morning and we didn't come back to the house until 10 that night. It was phenomenal. So, before we start just talking a little bit more about the mountains, what would you tell somebody to expect when they get here, other than, of course, you know, make sure that you come up with, you know, a coat or a jacket. Yeah, not a coat, a jacket.

Speaker 2: 31:46

Well, don't be afraid of the driving the roads. I don't know for what, like who is listening? It's just a bit dependent on where you are. In my experience, what my guests will tell me is that the roads are like they're narrower than what you'll find in the US and some parts of Europe Don't be afraid of them. Just drive slowly and carefully. Do not drive like you're in a video game.

Speaker 1: 32:16

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 32:17

It's not cool, no, and just drive normal and then don't be afraid of them. Once you get up and then you get used to the corpse, you will feel more like just like I don't know, just relax, resell.

Speaker 1: 32:35

I was super and I was super nervous. I was super nervous the first time. The first time I was super, super nervous and I was, I think. For me I was more nervous about the highway, because in saint martin we don't have highways, so the highways scare me. But saint martin is hilly, so I'm, I was good with the hills, but I can imagine anybody else that is not um used to driving in more narrow roads. And when I say narrow, they're not like super narrow that two cars can't fit. It's just, you know, it's curvy, you're going up sometimes. My ear even popped a little bit you know going up because of the altitude, but it's, it's a stunning drive.

Speaker 1: 33:10

Just you know when you're driving up here. Taking taking the scenery is what I would advise to people. Also good to know, for from a visiting uh visitor's point of view is uh, the maps work so yes, yeah, now they work.

Speaker 2: 33:28

Yes, I remember six years ago a lot of people come in here because we have like the land and we have a road, so people would drive here, wanted to drive like ¿Cómo es Por el medio de la casa?

Speaker 1: 33:40

Yeah, they want to get. It's almost like the map showed them a way to get to what's it called the town down here, tukuamo, down there Exactly. Tukuamo.

Speaker 2: 33:48

And then, when they want to go to Tukuamou, they're thinking the map shows them right, straight through millie's house yeah, and it was crazy, we even see that and we're laughing because they were trying to, and then we're far away from the literary that where they're supposed to be. Yeah, but uh, but now it's it was super accurate.

Speaker 1: 34:07

It's super accurate. No, it's. There's no way you can get lost. No, no no way.

Speaker 2: 34:11

So drive slowly, drive confident. But then if you can like lost, no, no, no, no, no, no way. So drive slowly, drive confident. But then if you can like get out for example, if you're in San Juan and you're right to San Juan and you want to come to the center of the island even for one day, to try to get out from San Juan early, just to be in the center of the island at 9 am, so from San Juan, here is one hour and like 19 minutes, 20 minutes. So you get out of someone. You drive slowly, you drive, it's everything. It's it.

Speaker 2: 34:40

It's not bad, it is perfect and then, so for you to have time to stop in every place that you're gonna see, you know, maybe not every, because then you're not gonna finish you know seeing everything but whenever you see like a beautiful bar or beautiful restaurant, just stop at it so you can appreciate even more what is inside. They have like uh murales and they have pictures, even the decoration yes, it's crazy, I'm not like good decoration no but then what people do like the business doing their business.

Speaker 1: 35:12

They're like oh yes, they go all out like gallina escondida for example, like that's a good one is a great one and it's one of my favorites. It's called the hidden chicken. The name is just amazing. But what I love about that particular bar is that it's an it's, it's a.

Speaker 1: 35:28

It's almost like you step into a museum, a grandma's house, a grandma's house with all sorts of like, yeah, and it's got like all of these old stuff in there and, oh my gosh, the what they're in panadias what they have done since the beginning is like they.

Speaker 2: 35:46

They collect like old stuff like I don't know telephone yeah, radios, radios, radios pictures, yeah, that when you go, even outside, outside, they go bicycle. And then even, como se llaman las frases, the quotes, the quotes.

Speaker 1: 36:05

yeah, they have like signs with like really cool quotes and words and stuff and it's just. It's just, it's a great little place that's one of your, it's definitely one of my favorite places to stop, and it's always a must when we do a like. Always, let's put like the hidden chicken is a must oh el balconcito is great, they're my great. They're not their margaritas, their mojitos are amazing.

Speaker 2: 36:35

Yes, I don't remember every name.

Speaker 1: 36:37

No, but definitely the one that we ended up at last night was or it was two nights ago, the one in oh yeah because it's gorgeous, but then you need to visit the older towns. That's what I tell you get out early and Risa.

Speaker 2: 36:53

I can tell you get out early so you will have time to stop in a couple of bars in each town. Because, Orocobe has the bar that is in La Cascada de Doña Juana.

Speaker 1: 37:07

Yeah, the waterfall yes.

Speaker 2: 37:09

So that bar also is really cute. And then you have the waterfall, you can take pictures, you can take videos of really cute. And then you have the waterfall, you can take pictures, you can take videos of the waterfall. And then you continue to Jalluja. You can see, and then in the center of the town of Jalluja, like kind of the same, as I went into, in the center they have this really cute.

Speaker 1: 37:26

It's super cool.

Speaker 2: 37:28

And before that, agusado, the restaurant. Oh yes, they want to put their wedding dresses on.

Speaker 1: 37:33

yes, the little grandma dresses are hanging on like a line outside and it's just, and it's not that there's a grandma living there, it's just part of the decor and it's also kind of like a reference on how people used to live in the area before. They used to hang up their clothing outside, which they still do, but back in the day windows, yeah, but they they used to also, of course, wash their clothes in the river and you know there are a few waterfalls. I know that when you talk about puerto rico, a lot of people are thinking el yunque. You know the park, the national park. You're in the junkie here. You're driving through, you'll be.

Speaker 1: 38:09

It's like you're driving through el yunque so like like I know Absolutely, and it's just, there are several waterfalls and there are several rivers and it's just beautiful. So if you are a nature lover, like myself, then you definitely need to find yourself and well, like us, like Millie and I, then you definitely need to head out to the center of the island, up, up, up up in the mountains. That is guaranteed a good time.

Speaker 2: 38:38

Proyecto Upiana is the one.

Speaker 1: 38:39

Proyecto Upiana.

Speaker 1: 38:41

Yes, I have such a difficult time with it. But what I love about it is that it actually took a building that was destroyed by the hurricane and they kind of made it work with just adding a couple of stuff to it and you're sitting in the four walls, within the four walls, but with no roof, and I thought that was so unique and so wonderful and it was such an amazing experience. The staff was just, oh my God, so, so nice, so nice. And then we had El Viento, which was another great experience.

Speaker 2: 39:12

Yes, but that one is here, like near here, and I say yes.

Speaker 1: 39:17

Yes, very close to Ay Bonito.

Speaker 2: 39:22

I don't know, From Ay Bonito. I think it will be like 15 minutes 15 minutes.

Speaker 1: 39:27

Yeah, it's not far. It's very nearby and it's the latest that just opened here, and Vientos has been an amazing experience they have.

Speaker 2: 39:37

Airbnbs. They're gorgeous, they have a pool, they have pools.

Speaker 1: 39:41

They have several pools.

Speaker 2: 39:43

Every room has a pool, a heated pool, and then they have the restaurant and a bar there. So if you're staying there at night. You can chill out because you can drink at the bar and also you have your breakfast and then you have your lunch and your dinner at that Airbnb. I think you need to type like go and google it yeah, check out vientos. Vientos, which means, which means winds yeah, yeah, it is beautiful and the place is beautiful, it's absolutely gorgeous.

Speaker 1: 40:11

Shout out to I'm trying to remember the owner's name and the yeah, joelle. And what was the bartender? Gustavo. So shout out to gustavo and jayle they had.

Speaker 2: 40:21

Now is the bartender. Oh, he's amazing and the margaritas were great, super margaritas were really good and if you're into whiskey, like my husband. Husband, he loves the old-fashioned.

Speaker 1: 40:33

And their old-fashioned was great.

Speaker 2: 40:34

Yes.

Speaker 1: 40:35

Well, so was the one at Jalluja as well. So really if you are, listen the chinchoreo. You might be listening now and you are not a drinker. Even if you are not a drinker, believe me, you will still enjoy a chinchoreo, yes, Just because it is so darn beautiful.

Speaker 2: 40:51

It's just a beautiful drive period, so yeah, they can ask for a mojito without alcohol.

Speaker 1: 40:58

Yeah, exactly you can ask for anything. You can ask for a mojito with no alcohol, yes, yeah, so I mean, there are mocktails and the bartenders are well equipped to handle anything that you ask for. But let's talk a little bit about where to stay. If you come up here, like, there are, of course, different little Airbnbs that you can find. Now, unfortunately, you no longer offer yours, but there are other places that people can stay, so you have a hotel. Here in Ibonito, there's Ibonito Hotel in town.

Speaker 2: 41:30

There is Ibonito Apartments. I think they're all on Airbnb. I haven't gone into Airbnb to check, but there are a few Airbnbs in Ibonito. There's an Ibonito Hotel. There is an apartment that I think is an Ibonito Apartments, but I think there are on Airbnb. There's also Tio Pepe Restaurant is a guest house Like Tio, like Uncle. Also. Tio Pepe restaurant is a guest house like Tio, like Uncle. Tio Pepe restaurant in Ay Bonito. They have a guest house and they're really close to the 723, like 723 which is the main road that cuts through right.

Speaker 2: 42:11

Oh yeah, the panoramic road it will tell you to Orocovis, barranquita Naranjito. Hayuya if you want to go to Hayuya, even in Naranjito.

Speaker 1: 42:22

Naranjito had a special, really really cool place that we went to as well five years ago Asador de San. Miguel, oh my gosh, that was amazing.

Speaker 2: 42:29

We don't have a lot. Yeah, we don't have a lot. The time yeah, true, so if you come to the center and you can stay like a whole week, that would be fantastic.

Speaker 1: 42:38

Yeah, I would suggest a week actually, because there is a lot to do, especially if you're a nature lover. There are trails, yes. There are waterfalls to chase yes.

Speaker 1: 42:55

There is also the place that we went yesterday was amazing, which was right where we had lunch, means in english, the written rock, and it's a rock that has, uh, drawings and things from the, which were the original indians back in the day before the arrival of the Spanish. So it is something really, really special to see. It's this big boulder in the middle of the river that has all of these carvings and stuff in it, which is so, so special. So that's something else that you can do while you're here. Listen, there is something to do for each and every single day that you're here. If you're staying for a week, I would definitely suggest you come for four days or longer, just because there's so much, and make sure that those four days fall in the weekend so that you can get to enjoy at least one chinchoreo, whether you're an alcohol drinker or not also I don't know if they're still like.

Speaker 2: 43:50

I've seen bosses like school boss. Yes, they have. I think they do still do offer them.

Speaker 1: 43:56

Yeah, they have chinchoreo tours as well and I think, from what I remember from last time that I was here there, I and I did some research before and I did find a couple of chinchoreo tours that start in san juan, that come up up in the hills and then bring you back to San Juan. So even if you're just if you're, if you're planning on staying in San Juan, but you just want to like kind of test drive what, um, this area is like, then you can come just for the day with any of these tours as well. So there's there's tons, tons, tons to do here. Um, don't expect the beach because you're up in the hills, you can see the beach from here.

Speaker 2: 44:35

You can see the ocean You're not going to get in it.

Speaker 1: 44:37

Yeah, but it's going to be like a two-hour drive to get to the beach from here, which I don't mind at all. No, that's what I like you don't miss it. I mean, you can take a swim in the river, which is so refreshing.

Speaker 2: 44:49

Can I be honest with something?

Speaker 1: 44:50

Can I be honest with?

Speaker 2: 44:51

something. Yes, please. I love my island and I love the beach.

Speaker 1: 44:54

Yes, you do. I love the beach. I think you were mentioning Rincón is your favorite area to go for the beach. Yeah, Rincón is my favorite area.

Speaker 2: 45:02

It's not for the beach. Actually, the best beach here in Puerto Rico inside the main island are in Guanica and Cabo Rojo.

Speaker 1: 45:09

Those are beautiful. Okay, so Guanica and Cabo Roica, and which we still have to go. We haven't been there yet.

Speaker 2: 45:15

I haven't been there yet, yeah but yeah, what I love about Rincon is kind of like the hippie vibe.

Speaker 1: 45:22

Yeah, yeah, it's, it's, it has a very it's a very bohemian kind of town. Definitely there's a lot of surfers, there's a lot of like really quirky little restaurants and dining places. Um, it's, it's definitely it has a vibe on its own of its own yeah, I love the beach there as well.

Speaker 2: 45:39

Yeah, but like kind of there I mean, but, um, I can, I will be in rincon for two days. We'll be in rincon for two days, three days the most, because then we get so hot then we're like no, let's go back, let's go back. Okay, I'm okay with the beach like and I say for like my beach okay yeah, the beach.

Speaker 1: 45:59

I know it's not bitch, it's beach. I love your accent. I have to laugh every time when you say beach no, it's fine, it's good. Yes, well, yeah, youelly said the darndest thing the other day. She was telling me something about and I thought I swore she was calling me a witch. No, I know what she was saying. Is I wish yeah.

Speaker 2: 46:26

Because then you can whatever. Whatever, a witch, a witch, and I said not a witch.

Speaker 1: 46:31

I'm not a witch?

Speaker 2: 46:32

Yeah, but I don't know how to pronounce it, it's okay.

Speaker 1: 46:36

I mean, like there's a lot of Spanish words that I definitely don't get correct. So you know, don't worry about that at all. So you know, before we close off this episode, I wanted to ask, exactly, as a true boricua, which means a hardcore Puerto Rican, yes what would be some of the things that you would tell a visitor not to do?

Speaker 2: 47:02

Oh my.

Speaker 1: 47:02

God. Okay, now we're getting into the real stuff. All right, listener, pay attention.

Speaker 2: 47:10

Here we go If it's raining. This is even not raining. If it's raining, don't go to the rivers. It's a no, no, no, no.

Speaker 1: 47:23

That's the first one. Then Actually, before you continue the rivers, why she's saying don't go to the river? Is it's actually dangerous. I will explain later.

Speaker 2: 47:34

But if it's raining, no rivers, several rivers, okay, If you don't know the area, like try to not go to the rivers alone and then before getting in that water, try to be. If the water is like rough in the river, just don't go in the river. And if you're jumping from rock to rock, just be careful. Like last year we had two tourists that died in the same river. They were alone both of them, and then they died, like they died in the river. Rivers here are I, I think everywhere. They're dangerous because when it rains they're more dangerous Because, for example, we are here and this is perfect.

Speaker 2: 48:15

It's beautiful, we are in a river and we are like we look safe. But then it's raining up in that mountain and then from that mountain here, like it gets in half an hour maybe, or a little bit more or a little bit less. It gets in half an hour maybe, or a little bit more or a little bit less. Then you have a ton of water like huge, like water, coming down, and then it will. It will not give you time to just get out of the river and then water will put you to the rocks and you will hit the rock and that's it.

Speaker 1: 48:47

So I'm gonna make it dangerous.

Speaker 2: 48:49

You don't go okay, if it's a super, super, super, super sunny day that is not raining in any part of the island, go to the river. Try to see if there's local in the water locals, if there's locals in the water.

Speaker 1: 49:01

You get in the water if there's no locals in the water, don't get in the water.

Speaker 2: 49:05

Okay and uh for me that's important and stop, do not jump for any rivers. Don't try to jump through the water because you don't know what is at the bottom and the bottom.

Speaker 1: 49:16

Even though the water is kind of clear and you sometimes you know you could see the bottom, but others, others want, especially when the river is a little rough you cannot see the bottom. So do not jump head first without checking the depth of the water. Where you are, there are always rocks in the rivers, currents, and the current exactly there's currents in the, in the ocean, but there's current in the river, exactly.

Speaker 2: 49:40

There's a river that you see, that is beautiful, like a pool, like a pool, and then you get inside it and then you get closer to a rock and then you are there and then you feel something, it. And then you get closer to a rock and then you are there and then you feel something is like pulling you like pulling you inside under the rock, so just be careful, like we're not.

Speaker 1: 49:58

We're not saying I mean like it's, it's dangerous on certain occasions so yeah, me too, and I I've been into a few of them when I was here.

Speaker 1: 50:07

So there are. There are moments that you need to see. Of course, if you are going to the more isolated rivers or not rivers, but the churcas, the waterfalls then definitely pay attention. Do not just jump in without checking what it's like, what the water is like, how deep it is. There are some of the waterfalls that you can take beautiful pictures, but please do not go on the some of the waterfalls that you can take beautiful pictures, but please do not go on the top of the waterfalls and jump down and do anything silly like that other also like Millie mentioned ask a local because that those tourists that die.

Speaker 2: 50:43

Yeah, they went to the worst river exactly dangerous one, yeah, by themselves.

Speaker 1: 50:49

Yeah, don't go anywhere, actually, by yourself. It's it's just, it's it's something that everybody should do, especially when you're going alone in nature. It's not that it's dangerous because someone might attack you not at all. It's super safe when it comes to that but it is just that you never know. If you slip and fall, hit your head, you will be alone. Nobody knows where you. So just always go with somebody, and if you can find a local to go with, even better.

Speaker 1: 51:16

Yes, so they know the area yeah exactly, or at least ask if you know, if you want to visit like I think you were talking about the one San Cristobal.

Speaker 2: 51:24

I can use the San Cristobal. Yeah, I think para la naturaleza, para la naturaleza.

Speaker 1: 51:29

Yeah, para la naturaleza, for the nature is the translation. I think they're still doing tours. Yeah.

Speaker 2: 51:36

From someone? I think yeah.

Speaker 1: 51:38

So just try to do it with a tour, if not. Just make sure that you keep safe and that at least somebody knows where you're going, if you dare go at it alone. Just so people know where you'll be, if you are not, my kids yeah, my kids, kids love jumping in the river.

Speaker 2: 51:57

I would love yes but we know like if it's raining. See the river. Yeah, if there's like a dangerous river, that there's a couple no, they're not going there. If it, it's, for example, you know the areas.

Speaker 1: 52:11

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 52:11

So ask, you can ask, like, if it's okay, if this river is okay, or this the other one, like, for example, you go Toronegro, the Toronegro Forest.

Speaker 1: 52:20

Oh, Toronegro is gorgeous they have like a small.

Speaker 2: 52:23

Yeah, it has a really beautiful river. But they're like como uh, the little natural pools at the bottom of the waterfalls are really safe like you just go and you spend the whole day there, if you want um, but just ask okay, before adventuring in a non-safe place.

Speaker 1: 52:44

Yeah, by yourself yeah, the best thing that you can do is seriously ask a local about the situation on that particular day before you go in. Yeah, and the locals know better than anything. Also, the beaches. You always have to be careful at the beaches. Do not go out swimming far out. There are currents under the water that can sweep you out to the out all the way out, or in to the water. They can pull you into deeper areas. So absolutely something, and that goes for every single Caribbean island.

Speaker 2: 53:17

Really, we respect here when they put the flags, they put flags. They put red flag, orange flag, green flag. That is telling you that the weather is okay to go inside the ocean. Because, there are, like the rivers, there are some parts of the island where in the Caribbean, like the south, is safer because the water is more calm.

Speaker 1: 53:40

And when you say in the south, which parts are you talking about? Cabo?

Speaker 2: 53:44

Rojo no Guánica. Sí, sí por lo menos Sí Guánica Buquerón, cabsabes, pueblo Rojo sería Playa Sucia la jungla.

Speaker 1: 54:01

Definitely not. You're not. You're definitely not talking about the ones in San Juan, like. Those are the beaches that actually get a little unsafe. Loquillo is kind of like rural safe like the northern part of the country they're unsafe.

Speaker 2: 54:16

But San Juan is okay, but we go like we like going to the north beaches. Okay, Like in summer, In winter they get r and we respect that. They even will put the red flag If the red flag is up we're not going Because that means that there's a lot of courage and we respect that we have. Well, the south is the best Also, but Ricon also is remember that's a surf area, exactly so.

Speaker 1: 54:50

That tells you enough already. So you're going to be expecting really huge waves.

Speaker 2: 54:55

So you need to be careful in that area. But just ask. You'll see the flags. You'll just ask is the water okay, Like everything is good to go, and then you go inside. And try not to go by yourself, don't get crazy. Or go too far out, far out, if you see, like waves that are like huge don't go like yeah, don't go in?

Speaker 1: 55:18

yeah, exactly, exactly. Is there any other don'ts that you wish people would know before coming to puerto rico?

Speaker 2: 55:26

can I say something about san juan area Of course. Sometimes tourists come here and they get a little bit comfortable and they start drinking a lot, like a lot, and they get aggressive in the bars or they get aggressive in a place that they're supposed not to be and that's when problems happen. So if you're going to bars here you can drink and always stay friendly, but don't drink and start getting aggressive.

Speaker 2: 55:58

Remember you're or insulting the locals, because you're, you're not if I will not go to some martinis all the other, because I know what's going to happen to me exactly so you can get. You can drink and just be chill and friendly and happy. But if you're a person that you're going to drink and you know that you become problematic or whatever, just don't drink, okay, be careful.

Speaker 1: 56:20

And I think also something that I think you and I were talking about this briefly before, and that is just you know, don't shove a camera in local spaces, like most local do not appreciate that. Ask first before you want to take a picture or a video of um local people. Uh, if they tell you no, don't still pull out a camera? Oh yeah, absolutely there are areas that um people that are known now, like, for example, la Perla is very well known because of that.

Speaker 1: 56:54

Despacito video which made it super popular, but it is still a very local residential area that is known to be not the safest part of Puerto Rico correct. So if you are venturing into, La Perla.

Speaker 2: 57:10

I am a local. I don't go down to La Perla.

Speaker 1: 57:12

I respect them so much I don't go down, but if you want to go into La Perla, then make sure that you can, that you stay respectful.

Speaker 2: 57:18

You ask, permission Ask permission.

Speaker 1: 57:21

Be respectful, don't go drunk and cause any ruckus, because you will get punched.

Speaker 2: 57:26

I went down to La Bella twice. You know that I've never been. I actually want to, though. I went twice, but it was just after La Despacito. Yeah, exactly.

Speaker 1: 57:36

Yeah, but they did like a whole thing down there also. After, right after the video, it became like the number one spot that everybody wanted to go to right.

Speaker 2: 57:44

Yeah, because they even have like decorations in their house.

Speaker 1: 57:48

Yeah, I mean, it's a beautiful little area and it's a real. I love the area from what I've seen on videos from other people, but I haven't. Most of the time it's because I was alone, so I didn't want to go into La Perla by myself. But you need to respect the community.

Speaker 2: 58:04

You need to respect the community.

Speaker 1: 58:06

Well, actually, not only La Perla, much everywhere you go, just respect the local community.

Speaker 2: 58:12

If you put a camera to a local, the local will punch you. Yes, and especially if they told you numerous times, no before and if there's more locals around, they will help as well. Don't put a camera to a local without asking so I think we've got it covered.

Speaker 1: 58:30

Is there anything else that you think we need to know about this area?

Speaker 2: 58:34

that's it ah of the center of the island yeah, it's just gorgeous when you visit the center of the island, obviously, if you're not, uh, because I have a guess that they're like they're not into nature.

Speaker 1: 58:47

Yeah, hardcore beach person, hardcore beach person.

Speaker 2: 58:49

Yeah, I want to stay alive. I want to play with sand all the time. But if you're like a nature person, I cannot say calm, because the center of the island is also more adventure. The center of the island Just once you come. You don't want to just stay in San. Juan no you want to come up to the center all the time.

Speaker 1: 59:10

And again, nothing against San Juan. San Juan is gorgeous. It is beautiful especially when you go to old San Juan. It is absolutely worth it. But if you are in Puerto Rico, venture out of the capital and visit a little bit more of the center of the island.

Speaker 2: 59:27

Also, everything is less expensive. Yeah, that's true, oh my, my gosh.

Speaker 1: 59:32

How much did we pay for beer in during the chinchoreo? I think it was like two bucks yeah, I don't know it was something like two bucks, three bucks maybe. Yeah, your husband paid for it, I paid, but I didn't even pay attention. But I can tell you even you know, yeah, it was definitely. I don't think I spent more than.

Speaker 2: 59:51

And the food is also cheaper.

Speaker 1: 59:53

The food is amazingly cheap All the mofongos are low when you want to eat mofongo you want to eat plantains tostones. Yeah, the fried tostones.

Speaker 2: 1:00:05

Or, if you like, I don't eat meat.

Speaker 1: 1:00:08

No me neither I eat plants only.

Speaker 2: 1:00:10

But if you like, how do eat meat? Like no, I need plants only. But if you like, um, yeah, if you like pork, the center is the oh my gosh, there's a lot, a lot, a lot of pork.

Speaker 1: 1:00:17

But even as vegetarians, um we were you can find plenty of stuff we found at this little place that we stopped those.

Speaker 2: 1:00:25

There is a food and also vegetarian food. But when we start with a mofongo.

Speaker 1: 1:00:31

I was out all day. I had the best vegetarian. Yes, we should. We didn't want to say and we don't. It's like that. I will have to erase this part just so we don't get. We can't give away our little secret spots here but oh my gosh, so so good.

Speaker 1: 1:00:52

They have, um, also the empanadillas, which are little um flour patties, which is, you know, the the flour and then filled inside with meats and all sorts of things, but they have one that they call an empanadilla de pizza. Yes, and it is the flour. That's for vegetarians, and I love it because it only has cheese and tomatoes inside, and it is amazing, but you also have only cheese, I think sometimes. So even if if you're a vegetarian, you still can eat local dishes and local snacks here and also vegan because, like for example, I, I Like the mofongo that we had.

Speaker 1: 1:01:32

The mofongo that we had was completely vegan, but you can go at different places.

Speaker 2: 1:01:36

For example, if we go to El Balconcito, you can ask for a mofongo with vegetables. You can have like a potato Tio Pepe also. They do like mofongos and soup. The mofongo is vegan. It depends what you put inside. For the people that don't know, mofongo is like plantain. Sometimes they use green plantain, but they can also use mature plantain mixed together and then they make this like a plate and then they fill inside.

Speaker 1: 1:02:02

It almost looks like a volcano, and then inside of it they stuff it with all sorts of like. Usually they'll stuff it with meat, with pork, with chicken, shrimp, but you can find vegetarian mofongo, which is then yeah, or just ask them.

Speaker 2: 1:02:21

If you're in a restaurant and you see they have mofongo, you can ask? Them like can you stop on me because I don't eat meat? Can you please put vegetables inside? They will put broccoli and cauliflower inside and mushrooms inside, so good. There are even more and more vegan places around that before. For me at the beginning it was so difficult, it was very.

Speaker 1: 1:02:40

Now it's easier, and especially in San Juan as well. I'm actually surprised at this time because six years ago, when I was here for the first time, it was hard to find. You know all plant-based dishes, but all you know. That's why we were cooking in hometown often. But this time around I was very surprised to find traditional Puerto Rican dishes, but in a vegetarian or vegan option, and definitely if you have it in the center of the island, I am absolutely a hundred percent sure that you can find really great vegan places in sakwan and in the other larger towns as well, like kaje and kaje has one of the oh my god peace and love is peace and love.

Speaker 1: 1:03:21

The pizza there was so good it's a vegan pizza.

Speaker 2: 1:03:25

They're vegetarian and their pizza is the best. It's like bromato free, like organic, and it's the best. Uh um. They even make hot dogs with uh carrot. They do chinese rice that's vegan. Like chinese rice, it's good oh, I had that.

Speaker 1: 1:03:45

It was good. That was really good pastas I love the alfredo pasta.

Speaker 2: 1:03:49

Uh, that is made with cashews. You're just giving a shout out because your son works there. I love the pizza and the bread.

Speaker 1: 1:03:57

Oh, the bread is fresh, it's freshly made and even when you put it in the freezer and you put it in the toaster the day after, it tastes phenomenal.

Speaker 2: 1:04:05

Yeah, and the cacao. They do one with cacao.

Speaker 1: 1:04:07

Really. Yeah, you didn't try that one, right? No?

Speaker 2: 1:04:12

you didn't trade that one right?

Speaker 1: 1:04:13

no, I didn't but yeah, oh my gosh, I mean listen there. There is so much food here and the food is so glorious, the drinks are glorious, the people are glorious. It's just a must do now. Speaking of mofongo, I have a little bit of leftovers from from, uh, when we were doing our chinchoreo. So right now we're going to have to end the show because I'm going now to eat the leftovers on my phone and I cannot wait. So, thank you, buen provecho, gracias, gracias, and thank you guys. So much for listening. Milly, thank you so much for being here.

Speaker 2: 1:04:45

I know that just for making the time.

Speaker 1: 1:04:48

You know, it was another fabulous day. I'm so grateful to you and your family for taking me in and we had an amazing time, as always. As always, and they took me all around again and showed me all of the cool places and, yeah, I had such a great time. Thank you, thank you so much.

Speaker 2: 1:05:06

Which one was your favorite this time?

Speaker 1: 1:05:10

My all-time favorite always is doing the Chinchoreo, but this time, of course, I think I had such a great time at our third stop, which was La Chorca de Doña Juana, which is the Doña Juana waterfall. Just because it is just. It's a waterfall on the side of the road like, literally, you're driving past this, this huge waterfall on the side of the road. It's amazing. There, the little bar there was serving the empanadillas and they had the one from the pizza, one that I love so much. So I was with a cold, cold beer in one hand and an empanadilla of pizza in the other, witnessing this beautiful waterfall, and it was like the most mesmerizing, most. It was almost like unnaturally beautiful. It was just such an epic moment, you know, that you almost feel like you want to cry when you're in front of it.

Speaker 2: 1:06:12

Oh my gosh.

Speaker 1: 1:06:15

But this particular one is just because you can park right next to it and it's right there, you don't need to hike up to it you know, so, yeah, it has. It has a special meaning for me and it's just, it's just for now. For me, it has become, like you know, part of the Chinchoreo. The waterfall has to be a part of it.

Speaker 2: 1:06:33

You can't put Puerto Rico. You have to take Rizal to the waterfall, Please go to Doña Juana waterfall.

Speaker 1: 1:06:39

It is absolutely amazing. I also must say Vientos was a great experience and the oh my gosh. I'm having such a horrible time remembering the name just because I can't pronounce it Joel or Gustavo? Joel is the owner no not the owners, but the other bar that we stopped at the last bar.

Speaker 2: 1:07:02

Ah, it's the Proyecto Upiana.

Speaker 1: 1:07:04

Proyecto Upiana. Okay, proyecto Upiana was absolutely a great spot as well. Had a great time there too. So, yes, it was all around a fantastic time. This time around I didn't get to visit the town, we did go for just one evening. Yes, we had, we had a fantastic time. So, uh, listener, if you ever find yourself in puerto rico, do me a favor, do yourself a favor, and head out into the mountains, into the center of puerto rico, and have an experience completely out of this world. It's going to be a memorable vacation, I can guarantee it. It's just phenomenal. And if you can find somebody like millie to take you around, even better. Thank, thank you, millie, so much for your time. Thank you so much.

Speaker 2: 1:07:52

Gracias.

Speaker 1: 1:07:56

Well, there you have it. What did you think? I know you liked it. You must have liked it, especially if you're a nature lover. There is no other choice but to like this episode and I am sure, now that you know about Ay, bonito and the center of the island, you are probably going to be including it in your next trip to Puerto Rico. And if you are planning a visit to Puerto Rico right now for the first time, I'm sure you are now going to include at least one day of exploring the mountains of Puerto Rico. So I want to thank you again for listening. Thank you so much for being here. I love that you made the time to spend with us today, thank you, thank you so much, and I will be back next week with another episode full of travel tips and travel recommendations and suggestions and travel tales from the locals who call these islands home. Thank you so much, and this was Paradise Perspectives. My name is Rizal, the Traveling Island Girl Saying bye and ciao. See you next time.