El Yunke National Forest
Hi everyone. I’ve been on local guides connect for a short time so I want to let you know about my ethnicity. I was born in Rio Piedra, Puerto Rico. They call Puerto Rico la isla del encanto because it really is enchanted. I lived there until I was 4 yrs old. I remember the neighbors would walk through the street with maracas and sing for Reyes Magos. Our celebration was more about the three wise men than Santa Clause. Parents would put hay outside for the camels to eat. Similar to putting out cookies for Santa. Everyone was invited to each others house. Puerto Rico also had a time called siesta in which they closed up shop and rest about 2 hours and then reopen. The most beautiful places in PR is a place called El Verde. It is a beautiful river where spring water is filtered by rocks. The other beautiful place you can find in PR is called El Yunke. It is a beautiful mountain. Once you climb to the top you can see the pastures are green with a gorgeous waterfall. The island’s national dish is arroz con gandules. Other favorites
is mofongo and alcapurias made with yuca and plantains. Puerto Rico is my home. The 4 yrs I lived there is still the best memories I ever had. I was inspired to write about my country by @NareshDarji and @Cecilita Now I want to invite other local guides to share stories about their countries.
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Thanks, @Hkitty0573 for tagging me and sharing with us nice 
.
The waterfall looks great in pleasant natural environment.
Nice article, I did not quite get your name from the post so as to know how to properly address you.
I enjoyed reading this post as Puerto Rico is one of my favorite Caribbean Island destinations (I am yet to visit though 
). Have you met @Nosaint2_Rafael_Fe ? he is from there too.
I am happy to read about the cultures you shared particularly about the hanging out of hay for camels and the siesta for business owners 
that’s really surprising as I am a business owner myself, I know how tedious it must be to implement this as you cannot control what time the customers will come.
Do you know if these cultures persist till date?
What’s the name of the dish you shared in this post?
Suggestion:
I think should change the title of this post to something more fascinating like;
- Cultures and customs of Puerto Rico or
- Things to do or see in Puerto Rico or
- Things and Places to explore in Puerto Rico
or something, it is such an exciting read but one will never find out until they open it @Hkitty0573
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@Hkitty0573 Hola, HI. It’s good to read post from other Puertorricans. Great pictures.
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Thanks for your prompt response, Rafael @Nosaint2_Rafael_Fe
Mofongo looks great. Is it a rice dish?
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@Ewaade_3A I just realized that I haven’t published a post about mofongo. It’s really easy to make. It’s a fried mashed platain, seasoned with salt pepper, garlic and oil , and in some cases with little chunks of fried pork or bacon. All that prepared in a “Pilon” , a wood mortar.
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Pilon, wood mortar, it’s came on different sizes.
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Ahahha! We have this kind of Mortar and Pestle here too and I think this meal will taste somewhat like; “Dodo Ikire” with a twist because of the Bacon.
Thanks for sharing @Nosaint2_Rafael_Fe
Here is one type of Pilon and here is another type in this post
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Hi. @Ewaade_3A @Thank you for the idea to change my post of where I’m from. Yes the picture is of Mofongo. No there is no more siesta and the Puerto Ricans are suffering because they don’t want to be dependent on the United States so they lose funding but every thing about the holidays the beautiful places and delicious food is still going strong
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Hi @Nosaint2_Rafael_Fe Gracias por responder. Yo quisiera que me cuentes un poco de tus experiencias y recuerdos de Puerto Rico
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Hi @Nosaint2_Rafael_Fe . I know mofongo very well we eat it twice a month but yes I misspelled it. I do that alot lol. Thanks for having my back
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Hi @Ewaade_3A the real and traditional ingredients in Mofongo with green plantains oil ,salt, garlic and you get chicharrones de puerco and you mix it and push it down good en un pilón. You will love it. Im not speaking from experience. My parents are retired chefs they do Cuban and Puerto Rican Cuisine. Mofongo is not a rice dish. Enjoy
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Hi @Ewaade_3A you are suppose to use chicharrones (pork skin) but bacon is ok you can add medium shrimps. I gave you the traditional way. You can give it your own twist
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Oh! Thank you so much @Hkitty0573
What do I call you?
Thank you so much for your responses, I have enjoyed reading through each and everyone of them.
Some years ago I vist some of the Caribbean Islands; Grand Turk, Sint Maarten, St. Thomas etc, and that was the predominant story there with some resorting to the selling of hemp and all that.
How do you think the islands can become free of their independence on the U.S.A.?
The Islands survive predominantly on Tourism and many of the Tourists need to get the US visa first.
This is an ongoing discussion I guess, so, what are the people saying about it?
If you can answer without going too political, it will be fine as qe are not permitted to discuss politics here on Connect.
P.S.You made me really smile today, I could feel your emotion behind each of the words you typed and how sweet kust it be to be the daughter of such vastly knowledgeable chefs?
You have it all, babe!
Hi @Ewaade_3A You can call me Mari or Marianela which is harder to say if you don’t speak English lol 
… Thank you so much for your kind words. I have a feeling that you are just like me kind and helpful with others. Well about Puerto Rico it’s a double edge sword. They want to be independent of the U.S. for two reasons they don’t want to lose their country (they have their own person running the country, he is called a governor not a president) second reason is that they don’t want to pay taxes to the United States but they want the United States to give them money because Puerto Rico can’t stand on it’s own. Im from Puerto Rico so I’m not hating. I love my country but I feel they should just become fully part of the United States. Puerto Rico has beautiful tourist places you will love but there is a lot of poverty over there. I believe it is their pride that hurts them. I apologize in time I don’t want to offend Puerto Ricans because I’m one and proud. I was looking at all the Caribbean Islands you’ve been to. That’s awesome. I prefer the cold. I lived in Great Falls,Montana for a bit. Loved the snow. I tried to cook like my parents when I was in Montana but nothing can compare to their Congris, yuca, masa puerco. Im glad im back. Can’t live without their cuban cuisine. My sin recently moved to Pennsylvania and he said there is not one spanish restaurant. He told me how much he took it for granted. He is starting his life up their and I wanted him right here next to me.
honor