Have you ever felt like you were gently rinsed soft with the most deliciously scented softener you can ever imagine? Would you like to try? It's never been so easy. Paradise is a 12-hour-flight away from most places in Europe. I am talking The Carribeans, dearies! There are indeed many beautiful islands great and small to choose from. We decided on visiting Puerto Rico, the smallest of the Great Antilles, situated between the Dominican Republic/Haiti and the British Virgin Islands, and one of the most underrated or under-mentioned islands in the Caribbean.
Being US-territory but not a state has a lot of beautiful advantages for you travellers. Puerto Rico is a rather large island compared to the well-known and super touristy Small Antilles, so that gives you ample breathtaking Carribean scenery to explore and roam around in one vacation. At the same time, you can enjoy good roads and perfect safety to wander about to your hearts delight. No hanging in the one place you had yourselves booked in for days on end, no guided tours with a bus or ship full of co-travellers. Mind you, there are a few dreamy resorts especially up on the North coast, and large cruisers in the harbour of San Juan ready to take you on, if you are so inclined.
Now back to the 'gently rinsed soft feeling'. We stayed for three and a half weeks. It doesn't matter much, though, if you stay for just a proper week. The soft rinsing starts the minute you step out of San Juan airport into the soft balmy breeze of la Isla del Encanto, the enchanted island. And enchanted it is! It is like magic to feel the warm, flower-scented air caress your skin. Like magic to let your eyes follow the lovely white clouds trailing the cerulean sky. Like magic to listen to the song of tropical birds and coquà frogs when you have finally arrived at the residence of your choice. And it is true magic when you then immerse yourself in the turquoise waters of your favourite lagoon at one of the many amazing paradise beaches that should be close to your quarters - unless you choose to reside in the mountains of the island with a bit farther to go to the ocean - we are talking approximately 1 to 1 1/2-hour drives - but with even more scented flowers, gigantic rainforest plants, bird and frog song (they do sing, not croak!!) in the short and blissful tropical nights, and paradise gardens with majestic waterfalls.
Encanto' also means charm and gracefulness. Having returned the place I call home, I am still feeling charmed by the natural beauty and grace of this island. It isn't always as ethereal as it may have sounded so far, though it can feel pretty ethereal when you are surrounded by nothing but sheer blue sky, sheer blue water, palm trees drifting in the breeze, and the drowsy warmth of a Caribbean breeze. However, there is also music almost everywhere, and people who love to dance and celebrate the beauty of life. And then there is the food!! Join in for a delicious sunset cocktail on the beach, eat as much Mofongo, Empanadas, Pasteles, and Tostones as you possibly can. This is amazing local food that is served at any good restaurant, but which you can also safely enjoy from any food cart by the road.
So, swim. snorkel, dive, surf, ride your horse on a long sandy stretch of beach, or just dose off lying in the shelter of a palm tree its leaves drifting and rustling in the breeze. Eat, drink, make music, make love, dance in the sunset- you have long become gently immersed in this magical island called Puerto Rico. It will stay with you for a while, I promise.
