So our first night in Ponce, we stayed at the house of a fellow seedling squad member, Alejandro. The orchids are compliments of his mother's green thumb.
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| Puerto Rican fighting cock, who, contrary to popular belief, crows ALL night long, not just at dawn. |
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| African Tulip Tree |
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| Fruit Bats! |
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| Ceiba Tree |
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| Ceiba blossom |
We visited Castillo Serralles, a mansion on a hill overlooking the city of Ponce. It was built by a family who made their money by exploiting people to grow cheap sugar cane, operating a mill, and producing rum. This was their summer home. Thank you Capitalism and big business for all you have given us.
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| The castle that rum built (on the backs of sugar cane laborers) |
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| The view from on high, far removed from the commoners down below |
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| Vejigante mask |
We also visited a Casa de mariposas on the mansions grounds.
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| Me and Donny Q |
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| Bonzai! |
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| Ponce Plaza |
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| More Vejigante masks for sale at the Plaza |
Then we went to El Ataud in Adjuntas, an amazing place to wile away an afternoon. Clear pools of deep water flowing from water falls, a tropical backdrop, and complete the picture with some chichaitos. A great day.
The next day we drove a little further west to Guanica and the Dry Forest.
