El Merendero del Guajataca Public Park

We live in Guajataca overlooking the lake, so this is our neighborhood. My plan was to be retired two years ago. Thanks to you know who, I'll be lucky to retire ever, but we still have our house. This trip is going to be short three weeks.

This is our vacation so we're doing touristy things on a tight budget. The jaw dropping beauty of nature is what we want to see.

Due to a spinal cord injury my husband can't walk very far; he won't use a wheel chair. This greatly limits the types of places we go.

El Merendero del Guajataca is a little park on the north coast in the Porta del Sol area. It's on the ocean side at the flashing light at route 2 where 113 turns inland. From the handicapped parking space you can see the ocean!

The bathrooms are less than fifty feet away. Each time we've been here they have been clean. Do bring hand towels.

A picnic in the splendor of the vista is today's activity. Just across the street in a bright yellow building they make pastallio that melt in your mouth. Kirt loves the shrimp, my preference is the octopus.

The park is next door to a higher price restaurant, La Llave de Mar, with a killer view of the cliffs. If you get lucky there, you'll see the huge lizards with orange feet. Iam not a reptile person, but these were interesting.

It's a compact area, so I did the trail, which felt completely safe.

 People here are very friendly to each other. They do not like being snubbed by tourists, who are uptight or apprehensive. If you smile and nod, they politely nod back. If you say good afternoon in Spanish, they give you a smile and that fabulous Puerto Rican warmth.

We ran into our old friend Rasta, who needed a meal and some water. He didn't mind a bit of petting either. We've seen the sweet boy greeting visitors for about a year. The cords of hair behind his ears give his cool dog persona. Don't be hurt if he leaves you flat for the next one to come along. That's just how he is!

Come See the Fish Market in Isabela, Porta Del Sol

In Tuscany, where we are bound some day there is a reverence for local foods produced slowly. This is the ideal life style in my opinion.

Until Italy is in sight, let me tell you about the fish market in Isabela, Puerto Rico.


This is the Puerto Rico we came to see. There's beach and ocean on the north side of the road.


The south side of the street is lined with kiosks offering the beverage of your choice and Puerto Rican style comfort food. A personal fav is the sea food pastallio, which is a flakey pie shell encasing fresh shrimp, fish, etc. Did I say, melt in your mouth fresh?


Perpendicular to the kiosks is a row of small vendors at the end of which is El Anzuelo, the hook. Almost newlyweds, Ari & Joshue celebrate the fifth month anniversary of their restaurant this week, Ari told me with pride. It's a testament to quality that a new place is doing well in today's economy.


A fresh salad with three types of lettuce and spinach puts a smile on my face these days. The texture of a fresh shrimp in your mouth is nothing short of exciting. Pasta al détente, well I can't tell you what that does to me.

Some of the high end restaurants up the road have served us what we consider latex masquerading as sea food.


The pescaderia, which is the fish market is the anchor to this group of vendors. About a dozen fisherman bring their catch of the day to sell right here. No wonder why I love the seafood at El Anzuelo!


This morning over coffee we watched guys making as small fishing boat. This is the Puerto Rico I want to see.