Beyond

Beyond

By Taylor Porchey 

I have gained some of my most important life lessons from traveling and I would never trade those experiences for anything in the world. One, I have learned that it is important to know what you need in life and to shed the things that weigh you down. I used to over pack. It was a dreadful problem. I can now say that I have overcome it proudly and only pack what I need, though I have come to find that I still need a lot of things. I tend to be the person that always has Motrin or band-aids or a spare (blank) when someone needs it and I like being that person so I plan on it. Which leads to the second thing I have learned from traveling, is that it is important to know yourself. Just like I know that I like to be the person that people fall back to when they need help, I also know that I get “hangry” and that I need to eat either continual small snacks throughout the day to keep my blood sugar consistent or know when I will be eating next.

I adore travel. Almost everything about traveling and tourism is intriguing or exciting to me in some capacity and I hope to do more of it in the future on a personal and maybe even professional level.  Yes, I did say both. I recognize the distinction between the two even more clearly after this class and know that I enjoy both. I love relaxing on beautiful beaches and hiking up mountains and going to museums. I see all of the above in my future if pay checks and time off allow for it.

The role of media in tourism has been interesting to look at through the lens of this class. Advertisements and communication to potential and past customers is, in my opinion, the most important media in terms of tourism. Without that draw, that communication of why people should not only come to your specific location but visit your specific zip line company, for instance, is essential. This need will mean that there will always be jobs in the content creation field in the tourism industry and the competitiveness of it, I am positive, will only increase.

Yay for travel!

Check Out: 

http://travel.usnews.com/Rankings/Most_Relaxing_Beaches/

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/top-10/

http://www.newzealand.com/us/

http://www.visitlondon.com

https://www.travelalaska.com

Artifacts

Artifacts 

By Taylor Porchey 

The Museums in Caguas were quite interesting, not only for their historical and cultural content, but because of the role they played in the community. While at the tourism office, the sweet women in the office said that because they do not have beaches or rainforests to attract tourists like other places in Puerto Rico, they use their rich and deep culture, which they work hard to preserve, to attract tourists. They have been very successful at this endeavor and continue to look for ways to improve strategies to reach tourists and make guests’ experience in Caguas the best possible. The eleven museums in Caguas surround the central plaza and are connected by beautiful mosaic tiles in the sidewalk helping to guide guests from museum to museum. Additionally, each museum is color-coded a different color corresponding to a different color on the map so even if you are directionally challenged or do not speak Spanish well, you can match the colors and ensure that you are at the right museum that you desire to visit.

While in Caguas, we visited the Museo de Arte, Museo del Tabaco and Casa del Trovador Luis Miranda “Pico de Oro.” My favorite memory from the museums was walking into the Art Museum and being overwhelmed by the effervescent scent of lavender. It truly made the art museum feel special and separate from the outside world. Each museum encapsulated a part of culture and history from the island that could not be experienced in any other way. It is truly a special and significant experience.

 This is the mosaic tile found right outside the tourist center in Caguas. Many others are found throughout the city denoting other museums and important locations. 

Traditional dolls in the Art Museum representing the many ethnicities and races found on the island. 

Making cigars typically involves a number of steps, but this special lady makes it look like one fluid motion.  

Check Out: 

http://visitcaguas.com/route.htm

http://visitcaguas.com

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g147319-Activities-c49-Puerto_Rico.html

http://www.fourpointscaguas.com/things-to-do-in-caguas

http://www.expedia.com/Caguas-Hotels.d6047341.Travel-Guide-Hotels

Detaching from reality

By: Pam Ortega 

I sat down on the shoreline, warm water rushed and hit my thighs, my hands played with the sand, and I looked out, not thinking about what awaited back home. It’s no surprise that Puerto Rico is called the island of enchantment. From their high mountains, to their colorful bio bays to their clean beaches, Puerto Rico has something to offer everyone.

Nature is an essential part of Puerto Rican culture. The island is in a tropical state, thus vegetation and fishing is key. Puerto Ricans have always closely identified themselves with nature, especially at night when the coqui sing a lullaby.

Among one of the wonders of Puerto Rico is El Yunque. (http://www.fs.usda.gov/elyunque) The forest is the only tropical rainforest in the US Forestry Service and one of the most diverse sub- tropical mountainous forests in the Caribbean. It’s no surprise visitors are amazed by it. Aziz and Sarah Alamajil , a newlywed couple visiting from Saudi Arabia (http://www.wunderground.com/weather-forecast/Saudi%20Arabia.html) , were amazed by the size of the trees, waterfalls and snails. El Yunque served as an escape for them from “ 122 to 130 degree weather.”

Puerto Rico (http://www.puertorico.com) allowed me to detach myself from the world and enjoy the wonders it has to offer. In Oklahoma, we can not walk to the store or run by the beach. I had the opportunity to engage with nature, in a way I had never done before. I trekked up the El Yunque trail, which other than giving me a good workout gave me a learning experience. For a person who easily freaks out over ants, I did not mind being around green-eared snails (http://lntreasures.com/pr.html)  and coquis.(http://www.elboricua.com/coqui.html)  I gracefully ran by the ocean shoreline, continually thinking about life. I was able to sit down, by the ocean, and just stare out. Puerto Rico gave me a break from reality, from running errands, to meetings and assignments. It gave me the opportunity to finally live.

http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/top-10-natural-wonders/

http://www.naturalwonderspr.com

http://www.seepuertorico.com/en/experiences/nature/

http://gopuertorico.about.com/od/top5attractions/tp/7wondersofpuertorico.htm

http://www.puertorico.com/reserves/