In a week... I'll be in Puerto Rico!

[SolaresLarrave]

The time for one of my big trips of this year is coming close... In a week, I'll be in Puerto Rico (of course, arriving close to midnight helps very little). And, of course, it's not vacations: we're attending a conference from March 15 to 18.

Here's the question: where to go, what to see in San Juan? Are there parks, public places, outdoor cafés and the like? About other places, we have a short list (my wife was there a while ago, and she has an excellent memory).

We'll have a couple of days completely free before the conference begins.

Of course, I may play hooky during the conference itself! 🙂

Before I forget: I'm taking my Leica arsenal with. That is two M6TTL bodies (one for color and one for B&W), Elmarit 28, Hexanon 35, 'crons 50 & 90 & Elmarit 135mm, and an SF20 flash. I iintend to carry it in two small Domke bags or a larger Lowepro, whichever fits better in my carry-on piece, along with a bunch of K-chrome 64 & 200, some Ektachrome 100 & 400, and probably an Ektachrome 1600 or T-Max 3200.

Thanks in advance! 🙂

 

[bmattock]

Of course, I may play hooky during the conference itself! 🙂

I can't tell you anythink about pureto reico, but I can tell you thins, Show up rof rthe keynot and then go play, get pritnouts and handouts and swag from conference. No one will know ulnless your boss it there wth you. If so, good time to get sick sneak oub tabakc door.

Best, Bill

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Thanks for the tip, Bill! Luckily enough, I have a boss who would be the first to tell me to go and have fun after my presentation is done.

There's a bit of social life to do during these events, though... I'm probably going to run into colleagues I haven't seen in years.

Let's see who's carrying a camera this time! 🙂

 

[Doug]

Have a good time, Francisco! That's on our short list of destinations, and indeed we had it all arranged except for airline tickets a few years ago, then my aged mother fell and broke her hip and we didn't go. I had it in mind to visit the huge radio-frequency astronomical observatory at Arecibo, west of San Juan, and I understand there's some lovely scenery over that way too.

 

[ch1]

Well the castle (Moro?) is the classic picture venue. Usual shots I see are taken at dusk to get the Spanish canons silhoutted against the darkening azure sky. Might as well play "tourist" and do the same (maybe with a daytime alternative?).

If you have the time to rent a car - you could always drive down to Ponce, perhaps with a stop at the Arecibo radio telescope? The drive itself should provide some opportunities for "roadside" shots - try to take some of the "byways" instead of the main roads (as time permits).

Oh, and I'd carry extra color film - PR is tropical - go for the colors!

 

[ERV]

I went in March a couple of years ago. Walk through Old San Juan where all the houses are painted different pastel colors. There are a couple of nice small plazas with both newer hip restaurants as well as older classic joints that have been there forever. People are very nice and the weather is perfect.
If you have time there is a rain forest about 1 hour outside of San Juan that is worthwhile. Expect to get wet if you do go. Here is a digi-snap from a field by El Morro castle.

 

[terrafirmanada]

We are leaving this Sat. (11th), but we are going to Rincon on the west coast. So I do not know much about San Juan per se, but I also hope to spend a day there at some point shooting up some film. The west coast is renowned for good surf (why we are going) and good scuba- with whales. I wanted to pick up an underwater camera, but no luck there. I am hoping to go to the rainforest at some point too. We don't make plans for vacation in head of time, so we can be a bit spontaneous, but it would be neat to meet up. Let me know when you are having free time if you are interested.