Fail Day

Day #4


Seen on a t-shirt in San Juan: 

"Even a failed day on vacation in Puerto Rico,

is better than a good day at the office."

Does this mean that vacationers to Puerto Rico often experience "Fail Days"?

Now, don't get me wrong, the day was not a complete loss.  We definitely kept our sense of humor . . . and saw a few sights . . . but sadly Day #4 of our vacation did NOT go as planned or expected.

For the last 1/2 of our vacation, we decided to rent a car so that we could explore the island.  It was a great decision, but our tour books just guided us to the wrong destinations for our first day of exploring.  (smile)

We started off by getting onto a wrong freeway about 5 minutes out of the city.  Have any of you ever driven in a foreign country where you don't speak the language?  It is very interesting when you can't read the Road Signs.  (smile)  We realized the mistake fairly quickly, but the "detour" we took to get back on the correct road took us quite some time.  (However . . . we were oh. so. thankful. for our iPhones, and our "non-roaming" status because Puerto Rico is a U.S. Territory.  We actually drained my battery that day; and nearly drained Jim's as we used Google Maps all day to try to navigate, since our Tour Books were less than helpful.)

We found our way to the Southern side of the island (where we had read that the Caribbean Sea beaches were more spectacular . . . but never saw even one nice beach all day).  

We finally found the "Boardwalk" in Ponce . . .

but there was only 1 open shop because it was the "off season".

I'm sure it is a bustling place in the Summer Months.

There was a Marina . . . and lots of Fishing Boats . . . but not much of a beach.

We traveled on to the town of Yauco . . .

where we had read all about it being the "Coffee Capital" of Puerto Rico.

We were excited to bring home some Puerto Rican Coffee Beans.

We drove all over town and could not find 1 Coffee Shop nor 1 Gift Shop.

However, the Bright Colored Houses on the Hill were fun to see.

 And the view was beautiful.

We thought this was a cute little Donut Shop.

On we drove to Gunica . . .

in search of Gift Shops and Beautiful Beaches.

But, there were none to be found.

We then back-tracked through Yauco,

hoping we had just missed something the first time through.

No. Such. Luck.

On down the highway we travelled to Guayanilla . . .

in search of their famed Seafood Restaurants.

Again . . . not a Gift Shop nor Restaurant in sight.

As we headed East back through Ponce . . . 

and on down Highway #1 towards Santa Isabel,

I did get a quick glimpse of the Beautiful Caribbean Sea.

The Tour Books raved about the Gift Shops 

and Seafood Restaurants in Santa Isabel,

but maybe they are only open in the Summer, as well.

We went up and down the "beach" area of town

(after dark so we couldn't actually see the beach if there was one)

and only saw 1 business that was open . . . a bar.



We finally turned back to the #52 freeway,

headed North across the island to San Juan.

We got off the freeway one more time,

in the town of Caguas.

I searched for restaurants on Google,

but there were no addresses listed.

I called the listed phone numbers,

but not a one answered.

Yes.  

I believe Puerto Rico is only "Open" in the Summer time.


By the time we arrived back in San Juan for dinner,

it was after 9:00 pm.

We had eaten a small breakfast at Quiznos at 11:00.

We had searched all day for Gift Shops and/or Restaurants,

but found not. a. one.

As we headed North towards the city,

we could have stopped for dinner at Wendy's or Burger King,

but by then we were in need of much more than a fast food burger and fries.

Oh. So. Good. was the food we finally found at Chili's in San Juan.



While it was a long day . . .

and disappointing not to find all of the things listed in the Tour Books . . .

we still thoroughly enjoyed our time together . . .

we laughed a lot . . .

and talked a lot . . .

we walked along the boardwalk . . .

and we tried to read the Spanish Road Signs.

(After nearly bottoming out our little rental car
 in a drainage ditch that ran across the road . . . 
by the 5th or 6th ditch, Jim noticed a sign before the ditch.
It probably said "Drainage Ditch" or "Bump" 
or some. such. thing.  We got a good laugh out of that one.)



I was so very glad that it was Day #4 of our 7 days in Puerto Rico.

It would have been much more disappointing if it had been

the first or last day of our trip.

As it was, we just looked forward even more to the next 3 days.