Rincon Shipwreck

In 1986, Richard Fitzgerald, while taking a group of people fishing, had problems with his engine.  As he looked over the engine, he noticed rows of algae on the bottom of the ocean floor.  He put on a mask, to explore: algae does not grow in rows.  What Richard discovered were canons.  What Richard discovered was a shipwreck, in Rincon, Puerto Rico.
Historical treasure was discovered.  Amidst this treasure was a small round artifact used to navigate: an astrolabe.  Many persons became involved sifting through the wreck.  An argument ensued over the future of the Rincon Astrolabe.
There are too many details that can only be covered in a book already written.  Well, not really a book, but a masters thesis by Gustavo Adolfo Garcia Ortiz submitted at the Texas A&M University.
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This summer Texas A&M University, lead by Dr. Luis F. Vieira de Castro will lay down the foundation to begin the excavation of the Rincon Shipwreck.  Dr. Vieira de Castro is only interested in the historical information this shipwreck will reveal.  No doubt, there will be plenty of artifacts and possibly treasure discovered.
Today, the Rincon Astrolabe is hidden in some part of the Institute of culture as well as over a thousand other items already recovered from this shipwreck.  There is a group that have already incorporated a non-profit organization to create The Rincon Maritime Museum or rather Museo Arqueologico de Rincon .  They want to keep the future artifacts in Rincon, as well as the return of the artifacts in San Juan.  This museum can be a great tourist attraction for Rincon.  We need to spread the word and rally support: Let's support the creation of this museum.  

Read about The information Texas A&M has.
Read details about the Rincon Astrolobe

Bomba Plena Festival Mayaguez

This Sunday February 28,  in Mayaguez the 15th Bomba and Plena Festival will rock and roll at Boulevard de Mayagüez, right next to the Municipal parking lot.  Festivities start at 10 am.  There will be food, arts crafts and Bomba/Plena music.  The Mayaguez School of Bomba and Plena will perform at 12 pm

 This is a fabulous activity, don't miss it!

One Ten Thai Aguadilla Puerto Rico

During dinner at Mia Bistro, the person introducing the small brewery beers identified himself as Chef Andrew Klein, owner of a small restaurant in Aguadilla.  He mentioned his restaurant served beer from a small brewery in San Juan.
I didn't know there was another brewery in Puerto Rico.   There is a brewery in Mayaguez, but it has a mass market flavor I don't care for.  This San Juan brewery produces about 6 types of beer, and only one place in the west serves it: One Ten Thai.
I like good food, and I like good beer, and just like Mia Bistro, it's a rare find on the western side of the island when you can find both in the same restaurant.
One Ten Thai is a small restaurant, a very small restaurant and if you show up late, there is the chance you won't find a seat.  We were lucky to arrive early, right before 6, and a couple had just left and allowed us a table.   Couples and families kept approaching the counter and were being placed on a waiting list. 
After I tried the food I understood why.  The food in One Ten Thai is wonderful.  They don't advertise.  Word of mouth has built up their business.
They started their restaurant out of their kitchen, selling food to friends on weekends.  Chef Andrew Klein, said it snowballed from there.

For appetizers we tried the Summer rolls, veggies and cabbage wrapped in rice paper and the ribs, which were grilled with a peanut sauce, which the only word I can find to describe their wonderful flavor is orgasmic.

   I commented to the waitress that everything tastes fresh.  She told me they grow many of their vegetables next door and they buy their veggies from a farm near by.

 

My son and I are carnivorous, we each had variations of the same dish: a stir-fry with cashews.  I chose the variation with mahi-mahi.  My son chose the pork variety.

I tried two types of beer, Taina a seasonal wheat beer, and Santo Viejo, a type of Pilsner. 
One Ten Thai sells over 20 types of beer, by far the largest selection of small brewery beer on the western side of the island.   This week they're getting beer from Spain.
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How to get to One Ten Thai: It's located on route 110, right outside gate 5 by the airport in Aguadilla.  When you leave the airport, look for it on your left side.  If you get lost, call them:   787.890.0113
My family has lobbied to return, so we'll go back this week.  When you go, go early.  And if there're waves, go even earlier.
One bright note: One Ten Thai is expanding their restaurant.  They'll open the second part in a few weeks.   Check out their online menu on their website: One Ten Thai.

They're open Wed - Sun:

5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Mia Bistro Mayaguez Puerto Rico

I've been visiting Plaza Colon for its neat night time activities. Last time I had the opportunity to sample food from the makeshift restaurants in the plaza.  One restaurant in particular caught my attention. They offered two things I really like that's hard to find on the western side of Puerto Rico: Good food and small brewery beer.

I'm from New Orleans so I grew up going to restaurants and trying out all sorts of great food. Later I developed an affinity for dark beer, and if you've ever been to England you can step into a pub and sample a library of beer flavors. But, Puerto Rico doesn't have that variety. In fact you're hard pressed to find bars and restaurants serving dark beer at all. Rather than drink a mass marketed beer I'd rather have water.

At the plaza Mia Bistro served several flavors of dark beer from small stateside breweries. They tasted fabulous, along with their flat breaded ordouvers. And the owner mentioned a monthly beer tasting activity beginning in February. I've heard of wine tasting activities on the western side of Puerto Rico, but this is the first beer tasting activity I've ever heard of.
Five beers were being presented along with a 5 course meal.  I got there early to start sampling  beers, and would you believe they wouldn't let me sample the beers until the activity?  I was the first customer and little by little beer drinkers wandered in.

Chef Andrew Klein from One-Ten Thai, introduced the beers, begining with a champagne float atop of a Kalamazoo Stout.  This beer tastes like dark chocolate.   It was at that point I turned off my camera to enjoy the beers and food.  

Prices at the restaurant are  reasonable.  Lunches start from $6 to $10 and they run from Mon to Fri.  Dinners start from $8 to $20  and the dark beers start at $4.  Dinners are Thursday through Saturday. 
Best to call to reserve: (787) 831-6100   Calle Del Rio Norte #13
 Check out their website: Mia Bistro
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Best way to describe getting to Mia Bistro: When you are facing the Catholic Church at Plaza Colon, it's two blocks to your left.  Park there and walk.  Try the ice cream parlor called Rex nearby.

Mayaguez 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games Schedule

    Rincon has BMX and Mountain Bike.  This schedule seems incomplete because the Triathlon will be held the 24th and 25th in Rincon and I don't see it.

  Click on pictures for larger view

The Mayaguez 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games are coming and I haven't seen anyone post a schedule. But the schedule was hidden in the Mayaguez 2010 Games website.  The blue squares are the ones being held in Mayaguez area.
I was at a meeting recently and it was estimated there could be close to 90,000 persons per day in the Mayaguez area--ouch!  Already there are bad traffic jams with our daily traffic.  Even if 50,000 persons visit daily, traffic will still be terrible.  So if you're coming to the games, it best to start thinking about planning your trip.

View the beachfront Mayaguez 2010 Facilities.
Download Mayaguez Games Schedule.

Saints Win Super Bowl

This is a tourist blog, and I  have never written about sports, but I cannot contain my excitement that the Saints won the Super Bowl.  I am from New Orleans and it's one of the reasons we call our vacation rental Villa Orleans.  I moved down from New Orleans back in 1990, but my brother moved because he lost his business and clientele from Hurricane Katrina.
I remember going to Saint's games when I was eight at Tulane Stadium.   I remember when the Saints were so bad, we wore paper bags over our heads because we were too ashamed to let others know we were Saints fans.  I watched games Saints games in Puerto Rico.  This season I watched most of their games.  For the Saints to win the Super Bowl has been a dream for many New Orleanians.  I know there are many Saints fans spread all over the country, because of Katrina.
I know that there is a celebration like Mardi Gas going on in the French Quarter now.  I know that this celebration will go on until tomorrow night.   I know that tomorrow New Orleans will not stop celebrating this win.   Go Saints!

Villa Orleans TripAdvisor Review

"We are a family of 12 that just came back from 9 days at Villa Orleans, Puerto Rico.  It was difficult to find a place that we thought would fit all of our needs and that we would all be happy with, but this place turned out to be perfect!  We rented 2 vans so were able to get there easily from San Juan, and also explore other towns and beaches in the area during our stay.  The house was great, lots of room for us all and the small swimming pool was ideal, especially for the kids.  Since we did our own cooking, there was a very convenient store in nearby Rincon to get our food, as well as lots of roadside stands for great fruit and veggies.  We loved being right on the ocean and hearing the waves and seeing the wonderful sunsets.  We could relax on the big porch or patio, walk on the beach, watch tv, do day trips, snorkel and even play with the 2 friendly dogs! We even made friends with a cute little parrot sitting in a tree above our heads!
Roberto and Nina, our hosts, made us feel right at home and were always available to help or answer any questions.

All in all, we had a wonderful vacation there and we would go back in a minute. The only problem for us was coming back to a cold Canadian winter!"

Rincon PR Trip Advisor Review
Feb 3, 2010