16 Out in the Mountains February 2000 BY MARGARITA HUTCHISON its neighboring states, you may not want to leave, but perhaps this arti- cle will inspire you to consider taking at least a brief respite from the ice and cold to visit sunny Puerto Rico. Our focus for this visit will be on some of the vacation highlights travelers will find in the northeastern coastal region from San Juan to Fajardo: El Yunque, the only rainforest in the US Forest System; the beaches; sailing; snorkel- ing; and a little about the culture and night-life that abound here. Puerto Rico, with its mostly Spanish- speaking population of 4 million, is about the size of Rhode Island, and is located in the northeastern Caribbean, 1,000 miles southeast of Miami. Direct If you live in beautiful Vermont or flights from Boston, New York, and Hartford whisk travelers to San Juan ly feel the tropical breezes that bring temperatures remaining a steady 80 degrees year-round, except in the mountain areas, where it is cooler, espe- cially at night. Your eyes are immediately taken by the colors:' lush greens, vividly colored buildings, glorious azure sky, and ani- mated people. Within minutes, travelers can sunbathe on a white sandy beach or swim in the warm waters of the Caribbean sea. World-famous Luquillo Beach is only a half hour drive from the airport. As you approach the beach, you will see one of Puerto Rico’s cultural highlights: a row of approximately 70 kiosks, or lit- tle shack-style snack bars and casual restaurants which offer pina coladas, made fresh with local coconut and pineapple juices, as well as one of the numerous Puerto Rican rums. Foods available here include an assortment of empanadillas, arepas, and other Criollo ( P u e r t 0 Web sites for more information www.rainforestsafari.com _ www.islandwalkers.com escape.topuertorico.com www.villasmaragarita.com Rican) foods; you can even partake of a huge sword- fish steak dinner for under $15. L u q u i l l 0 Beach, a for- mer coconut plantation, stretches for International Airport within 3.5 to 4 hours. Fares usually start at $225; since it is a commonwealth of the United States, no passports are required, so trav- el to this enchanted island truly is a breeze. Upon arrival at the modern, partially open-air airport, passengers immediate- miles of .uninterrupted walking, jogging, swim- ming, or just plain lying under a beach umbrella listening to gentle waves lap- ping on’ the shore. Another beach, Seven Seas, just out- side Fajardo, offers unspoiled beauty in a tropical paradise. Surfers love “La Pared,” a beach area boasting waves Villas Margarita that draw surfers from around the world. A short ride from the beach in the direction of El Yunque, the Caribbean National Forest, will take you to anoth- er time and place, eons ago. You will see philodendron leaves the size of houses, and Impatiens — the lovely little flower Vermonters use for borders and hanging planters — growing to the size of trees. Driving or_ hiking in this rainforest preserve of nearly 30,000 acres is like going back to prehistoric times; ferns and vines grow everywhere, and the deep scent of the lush forest will fill your lungs with pure oxygen, as your imagination anticipates the arrival of a dinosaur just beyond the next tree. There are easy, moderate, and strenuous walks and hikes, with or without guides, most of which pass several huge waterfalls. The views to the sea and fromthe mountaintop are spectacular, and the waterfalls are unforgettable. You can play in them, enjoy a natural waterfall’s hydro massage, or just sit on Ch t:lm:I.r.ow pnrsasm INFORMING THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL & TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY SINCE 1973' All editions includ 2 a separate WOMEN’S SECTION USA/CANADA: $16 by first class mail Includes all states and provinces, national headquarters of organizations, mail order companies, etc. EAST and SOUTH Edition: $10 by first class mail _ AL, AR, AZ, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MO, MS, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, PA, PR, RI, SC, TN, TX, US Virgin Is, VA, VT, WV You can order directly from the address above, or you can find us at local gay-friendly bookstores, such as Peace & Justice (Burlington) 802-863-2532 Everyone’s Books (Brattleboro) 802-254-8160 I A/gJBear Pond Books (Montpelier) 802-229-0774 For an application to be listed (no charge), or lot details of current editions and prices, or information about mailing labels, please send a sell‘-addressed stamped envelope to Renaissance House, PO Box 533-OIM, Village Station, New York, NY 10014 212-674-0120 gayeIlo@banet.net http://gayellowpages.com EX vs: