Puerto Rico

“Somos Boricuas”

• Población: 3,987,960• Capital: San Juan• Moneda: el dólar estadounidense• Idiomas: español, inglés (los dos son oficiales)

La Comida

• “comida criolla” - combination of Spanish, African, and indigenous influences.

Arroz con gandules

• Arroz con gandules: rice with pigeon peas (like fried rice)

Pernil

• Pernil: pork shoulder

Tostones

• Tostones: fried plantains (like french fries)

Pasteles

• Pasteles: like tamales

Piraguas

• Piraguas: shaved ice with fruit syrup

Pinchos

• Pinchos: skewers of chicken or pork

Los Sitos Interesantes:

• Viejo San Juan: narrow streets lined with brightly colored houses with balconies. Mimics architecture of Southern Spanish cities.

• El Castillo de San Felipe del Morro: Originally built as a fort by the Spanish in 1539 to defend the island.

• El Yunque: The only tropical rain forest in the care of the U.S. Forest Service. The park has many waterfalls and is home to the “coquí”, a tiny tree frog named for it’s distinctive song.

El Coqui