Playing Tourist..Arecibo, PR

Ever since I started going out with my bf we've always wanted to "discover" PR.  Basically play tourist and have fun.  We're about to go for 8 months and we hadn't really gone anywhere. (That Luquillo thing was just a beach day)  So FINALLY we went to Arecibo. 

For people unfamiliar with Puerto Rico, here's a visual.

San Juan (where I live)

Arecibo

As you can see, Arecibo is on the coast.  We went to the lighthouse.  The space around it has been turned into a museum? I'm not sure.. It was a combination of interactive displays, museum, aquarium, mini zoo, and playground...the works!  Great for kids and couples.

It's organized in chronological order beginning with the Taino Indians that first lived in PR and ending with a replica of the first helicopter and a mural of the first train in PR.

Taino Indian Display

Stealing some goodies :P

Next up: The Spanish Conquest..

The Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria

See the Tainos in the back? Again: chronological order.

Slave hut :(

Pirate ship!

stud

da finger!

This is the entrance to a dark air-conditioned cave.  There were ugly pirates and scary skeletons talking to us.  I have a video of our experience.  Hopefully I'll post it another day.  This then leads to an aquarium where i also filmed.  There was a mini pirate ship play ground and finally a gift shop. FUN!

 

and now...

THE LIGHT HOUSE!!!

Quite a walk uphill to get there but we enjoyed great views on the way.

Anybody remember this year? Spanish American War.  Spain lost and PR become a U.S. territory.

mini museum inside

To the residents of PTO-RICO!

From none other than General Miles himself.

Basically he states that he has no bad intentions with PR, his war was with Spain.

If we behave nicely with the military government, everything will be fine.

btw PTO-RICO? wtf!?

On our way up. Kinda scary these steps.

Made it!

Beautiful view

Off to the Mini Zoo

Not sure what to make of it.  Some of the animals looked sad. But what do I know?

I <3 turtles

El Jíbaro display

Our tradional folks that lived in the mountains.

They lived off of what their own land provided.

Some US officials assigned to evaluate the colony called them lazy..haters! :P

helicopter

haha!

Snack time!!

Yummy :)