Blog 5

How To Make Travel Economical, Educational, and Fun!

     It is possible to travel inexpensively and still have the most memorable and the most profound times. Planning in advance could save a lot of money when it comes to travel. Maryland state offers a variety of places to visit, or closest cities such as Philadelphia, District of Columbia and New York. We just need to be creative, use the countless information available and get the best travel options. There several ways to save money: First, the internet offers overabundances of online travel agencies to help travelers to search hotels and airfares at a market price, among the many competitive sites, Destinations on Google is an easy-to-use platform. Secondly, by posting a travel question to friends and families on Facebook, someone will provide ideas or suggestions about traveling. Thirdly, by consulting your local travel advisor, they know all about traveling, and it will save you long hours of internet browsing. Local travel experts offer varieties of trip alternatives, and specials as well. Nonetheless, it is logical to say that the shorter the distance to travel, the less money a person could spend. There're many attractive places in the state to visit.

     Maryland has many places to entertain travelers such as the National Aquarium, the Maryland Science Center, the American Visionary Art Museum, the Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum, including the Maryland Science Center among other’s attractive and interesting in-state destinations. If a person is looking for a weekend get-away, another alternative to bear in mind is the eastern shore beaches. The commute is just 146-miles from Baltimore and these days gas prices are low, and because of the off seasons, hotels offers attractive rates. Between Maryland and Delaware, we found the following beaches: Ocean City, Ocean Pines, Fenwick-Dewey beaches, Rehoboth Beach and the Chesapeake Bay. Looking for the relaxation that natures offers? Then, western Maryland landscape offers beauty-of-nature that are great spots for meditating, night sky views and outdoor camping. Writing about nature, Maggie Stiefvater wrote: “It was a sort of ferocious, quite a beauty, the sort that wouldn’t let you admire it. The sort of beauty that always hurt”.

     In addition, Maryland is located between three major cities: DC, Philadelphia, and New York. Transportation is available by the Bult Bus, or by the MARC or Septa trains. So many great places to travel, and still remain within budget.

     Food for thought: tourist areas are considered expensive, and the stores double or triple the prices of their products, so be on the look to avoid eating or shopping these areas,- if saving money is your main goal. So, where would you like to travel?

Blog 3: The Key To Family Happiness Is Really Simple

Blog # 3

The dynamics of my family are pretty low key compared the rest of the families in the USA, and perhaps, around the globe. My family gathering happens in Thanksgiving or Christmas.  We meet for dinner, drinks and gift exchange.  Despite we don’t meet more often, we keep an active communication by phone or by social networks such as Facebook.   

Our family meetings are not structured.  Just imagined it!  Because we have no structure, we put creativity to work.  We have a great time; we catch-up, we enjoyed each other belongingness,-we are a type of My Big Fat Greek Weeding, celebrating  a full Opa life style.  Mostly of the time we are so peppy, we laugh into our stomach hurts.  In the same time, as human being with weaknesses, gossip gets in the way and the reaction of whom ever the coin falls into could be the same reaction when Chris Rock sang The Roof is on Fire in the movie Head of the State.  After all we are family and family sticks together.

For many reasons family time is important: First, we can continue to develop a sense of unity.  Second, we can appreciate the different stages in our family life cycle, from childhood to senior and how we can support each other.   Third but not last, a family will always will be there no matter what the circumstances life can bring.  My family has always stick together. 

Therefore, family can be demanding and challenging, but the most important benefits that a family can give is love. 

Yabucoa, Puerto Rico

One of the Yabucoa Rivers

El Cocal Beach View

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Green Mountains

Yabucoa, Puerto Rico

      I was born and raced in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico.  Yabucoa is an indian name meaning "sitio donde se cultiva la yuca", a close translation in English will be: "site where cassava is grown".  Yabucoa is also known as The City of Sugar.

   Yabucoa is located in the southern region of Puerto Rico, a 30-miles drive from the City of San Juan.  It is an enjoyable and  beautiful drive from San Juan to my hometown.  On a sunny day, one's can appreciates the green nature, the mountains and the ocean waves embracing the island.  Puerto Rico have 78-municipalies and the municipality I was born is call Yabucoa.

    Yabucoa consist of 10- villages:  Calabaza, Camino Nuevo, Aguacate, Guayaba, Jacanas, Juan Martin Villa, Limones, Playa, Pueblo y Tejas.  People who are born in Yabucoa are called: Yabucoenos.  My hometown have many attractions, it is so close the the beaches and rivers.  When I was a child, I loved going to the beaches and rivers,-the distance was no more than than 15-miles away from home.    

     The two closest beaches from home are Andalusia and El Cocal.  The majority of people will go to Andalusia beach because it is more common for visitors and safer beach than El Cocal beach, which is more for suffers due to their huge and strong ocean waves.  Besides the rich warm water fun, my hometown was a very quite town.

     When I was growing, Yabucoa was considered a small non-urban , -a very safe place to raise a family.  The town probably consisted with no more than 25 stores, including super markets and among others.  In 2007, I visited my hometown and to my surprise and to this date, the commercial is growing.

    The small-town, additional to regulars stores,  have opened shopping centers, a McDonalds, a Burger King and a Walgreens.  For folks who lived in a metropolitan area, this is not huge.  But, for residents in my hometown, it is elephantine!   To keep adding to the list of elephantine in my town, Education Ana G. Mendez University System was founded in 1941and was only operating in the major cities of Puerto Rico, such as Caguas and San Juan.  The university keeps extending their services to USA territory, such as Wheaton, MD and other areas in USA.   What it seems a small town 20-years ago, is growing rapidly, despite of the current financial crisis the island is facing.

     So, if you are traveling to Puerto Rico for vacation or work, you will have a great time in Yabucoa.