Puerto Rico Unidad 3

Puerto Rico  Official name of the country is Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico.  It consists of one main island and several small ones.  Columbus named the island San Juan Bautista.  Current Governor Luis Fortuño

San Juan  The capital of Puerto Rico.  Population close to 1 million.  Old San Juan is the original section of the city. Portion of the walls that once surrounded it are still visible.

Festivities  The biggest holiday celebration of the year in Puerto Rico is El Festival De San Juan Bautista (Saint John’s Day) on June 24th. On the eve of that day, families go to the beach for an all night celebration that includes bonfires, music and food.

Salsa  Is the dance with Afro-Cuban influences that is popular in Puerto Rico and the rest of Latin America. Salseros include Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Pacheco, Eddie Palmieri, Rubén Blades, Will Colón, Luis Enrique, Marc Anthony, and Jerry Rivera  Baile Folklorico Baile Folklorico  Bomba y Plena Bomba y Plena

El Yunque  Bosque Nacional del Caribe.  The name comes from a major mountain in the Forest.  Located South of San Juan.  Means Anvil. Is called this because its peak resembles an anvil when viewed from the nearby towns.  Like all rain forest, it has 4 zones.

El Morro  This fortress was built in 1521 to protect the Spanish settlers from pirates and other invaders.

Coquí Tiny frogTiny frog. Receives its name because of its sound.  Sings only at night.  If you see one, it means you are going to have lots of luck.  Resides in El Yunque. Other important animals are the Loro Puertorriqueño (bird) & Orquídeas (wild orchids)

Popular Dishes  Pasta de Guayaba is a popular dessert. It is a thick paste made from the guava fruit.  El Asopao is a soupy dish made with rice, chicken, vegetables and seasonings.  El Mofongo consists of cooked plantains that are mashed and seasoned with garlic.  Pinchos – chicken skewers  Tostones – fried plantains (side dishes)