A Pina Colada in Puerto Rico (15th, 16th and 17th August)

Hello, 

I haven't updated for a couple of days because I didn't have any photos from Arecibo and then we've just been lounging around the pool and beach so I needed a few days worth of photos and info to add here. 

On Saturday 15th August we went to the Arecibo Observatory. The radio telescope is the world's largest and most sensitive. It was featured in the 1995 Bond movie 'GoldenEye'. Click the link to see the telescope feature in the film. GoldenEye - Radiotelescope Scene. Another fact for you is that Hulse and Taylor won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1974 when they discovered the first binary pulsar. I'm afraid I can't tell you much about what that is, but I'm sure if you Google it there will be plenty to feed your physics appetites. 

We were told as we arrived that we had to switch off all cell phones because they didn't want any interference with the telescope- that meant no phone photos and unfortunately I can't get photos off of my camera right now. Perhaps when we're back in Orlando I'll upload some. The first thing you do when you get there is walk up a very steep hill up to the visitor centre where there are interactive science museum exhibits. They had a big chunk of meteorite which was cool. After about half an hour wandering around the different exhibits we watched a short film about the telescope, about it's design, the maintenance and the sort of work that goes on based on the signals it receives. There were some very cool pictures of distant stars and galaxies. Once this had finished we were taken outside to see the radiotelescope- it's huge! Part of me would like to roll down it like in the Bond film, but most of me would be too terrified I'd end up falling through the hole in the middle!

We drove back to the hotel and went out for dinner. I had a really good beefsteak with onions, fries, white rice and beans. I also had a virgin pina colada. I'm not overly keen on coconut and pineapple, but together they're pretty good.

Virgin Pina Colada

We ate quite early so when we got back to the hotel we went out to the pool and beach. Liv, Dad and I went for an evening swim in the sea. 

Afterwards we came back, showered and settled down to watch 'Contact'. It's a 1997 film starring Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey and the Arecibo Observatory, so we felt we ought to watch it since we'd been there. I like a good sci-fi movie so I enjoyed it and I love the whole prospect of 'aliens' and other things living out in the universe, as the film says, 'if we're alone it would be an awful waste of space'.

Sunday 16th August:

Yesterday morning we went to the beach, I managed to finish 'Never Let Me Go' and am now on to 'Children of Men' by PD James. It's set in 2021 or something and humans have become infertile, the last babies were born in 1995 so humans are becoming extinct. I haven't read much yet, but it certainly seems like an interesting concept. 

In the afternoon we took a trip down to Old San Juan to check out the old fort; Castillo San Cristobal. There are two but we only went to San Cristobal. It was built over 150 years ago to protect El Morro (I'm taking this from the guide map). It rained the whole time we were there, so I particularly enjoyed the bits with ceilings! Liv and I found the lookout area a great place for selfie taking... But I won't be putting any of those on here!

View of Old San Juan from the fort

View from the fort

We wanted to go back to St Germain's for dinner, but when we got there it was closed... We found another place though and I had a veggie burger and fries. We had frozen yoghurt from a place just along from the hotel. We shared an Apple Pie one and an Acai Berry one. Liv topped the Acai Berry one with gummy bears and these orange balls that pop when you bite into them. I topped the Apple Pie one with white chocolate curls.

Frozen yoghurt

We watched another Star Wars film last night: Return of the Jedi. 

17th August:

Today was spent at the pool and a little in the sea. It was very rough though, the waves were the biggest we've seen since we've been here. Each time we went out we didn't stay long because we got tired quite quickly, the undercurrent was very strong. 

We washed off on the slide each time we came back from the beach. We did a lot of sunbathing and Liv and I came in to FaceTime Nanny and Mum for a while. 

We went to a place called 'Punk' for dinner and I had a Caprese Sandwich. 

We stopped at the frozen yoghurt place again this evening. Debbie chose Cheesecake, it was topped with strawberries and for a laugh, as Debbie didn't think they went well with cheesecake and since she had gone to the loo, we added a couple of gummy bears to the top. I think they were the making of the whole thing.

Some of the toppings

I took these pictures from the balcony when we got back to the hotel room: 

The pool at night

Now we're just watching Epsiode One of the Star Wars films. I've noticed Huge Quarshie who plays Ric Griffin in Holby City is in it. I can't see him as anything but 'Ric Griffin'...

The Big Wide World has taught me: This was written on the wall of the frozen yoghurt place and I really like it, so I'm using it as what I've learnt...

It says:
'Your greatness is measured by your kindness; your modesty and intellect by your education; your ignorance is betrayed by your suspicions and prejudices and your real caliber is measured by your consideration and tolerance you have for others.'

We're going back to Orlando tomorrow, so my next post will be from there, not necessarily tomorrow, but sometime soon.

Thank you for reading about the amazing time I've had here in Puerto Rico, remember to subscribe by email at the top of the page (I've realised you can't get to the subscription box via a mobile, so view the blog on a laptop or in desktop view and you should see it at the top on the right hand side).

Until next time, 

L
xxx