Make Christmas dreams come true with new food, fun, traditions

 

Christmas morning on Hawaii, "the Big Island," presents a double rainbow to passengers aboard
a Body Glove trip down the Kona coast. Today begins a two-part series on holiday wish lists.  
                                                                                                                                                             bodyglovehawaii.com

YULETIDE GREETINGS FROM AROUND THE WORLD! CONSIDER PLANNING A BUCKET LIST TRIP AS THE OLD YEAR ENDS AND A NEW ONE BECKONS DREAMS

Bruce Keller and Christene
"Cookie" Meyers afloat but
not stranded last Christmas.

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS

PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER

The holidays in Hawaii are always colorful.
 In downtown Honolulu, Nutcrackers surround
a  merry Christmas tree and shop windows
 herald the arrival of Santa and his reindeer.

IF YOU'RE HOME this Christmas, enjoy! But if you're yearning to kick the holiday up a notch, consider spending Christmas elsewhere next year.  Start planning now to get the best prices. Holiday hotels often sell out and prices increase for air as time gets closer. Here are a few ideas to jump start your dream.

At Oscar's in Palm Springs,
every day is a holiday with
great shows and lively crowds.
 

MUSEUMS and aquariums make wonderful family outings during the holidays and two of the finest we've visited are in Hawaii and New Zealand:                                                         New Zealand's Te Papa Museum

Honolulu's Bishop Museum 
IF YOU love music, Vienna has one of the world's most famous chorales, the Vienna Boys' Choir. Their Christmas concerts will give you happy goosebumps. This venerable Austrian city offers a



Skiing is a huge winter draw and favorite holiday
pursuit in many western states, here Montana.

 delightful old-fashioned Christmas with sparkling holiday decorations and warming, fragrant gluhwein. The city boasts gorgeous imperial architecture. Outdoor Christmas markets display hand crafted ornaments and a bounty of tasty snacks. www.wien.info        Yuletide worldwide

A tour guide in the
tropics dons his Santa
hat for a holiday tour.

IN PALM Springs, the Living Desert Zoo and Botanical Garden in nearby Palm Desert is a magical place. 

More than 750,000 twinkling lights illuminate the park after dark, and it's a wonderful way to see the critters. The city's WildLights Holiday Festival is a drive-through holiday tradition to delight locals, tourists and families.

Our favorite venue there is Oscar's Bar and Cafe, a lively cabaret fun any time.  The yuletide is special, though, with a delightful docket of drag shows with holiday flair. livingdesert.org; oscarspalmsprings.org

Las Vegas was our choice for a recent
New Year's Eve, here at the Bellagio. 

IN MY HOME state of Montana, skiing is a big winter attraction. Everyone knows Colorado has a lucrative corner on winter sports, but the Treasure State also offers resorts, B&Bs and a wide range of lodging at Big Sky, Whitefish, Bridger Bowl, Red Lodge and elsewhere. Lift tickets are cheaper, too, than in more famous resorts.
SINCE KEVIN Costner's TV's smash "Yellowstone," my beloved state has become a "bucket list" favorite for tourists, but there are still sanctuaries and unspoiled terrain to be found if you do your homework.  If you're a cross-country skier, Whitefish is close to Glacier National Park and its spectacular mountains. Glacier's breathtaking switchbacks and splendid cross-country skiing are tops. Happily, it's not yet "discovered."  In nearby Wyoming, Jackson Hole

Fireworks are a big draw
in many destinations,
here on Waikiki Beach.

Mountain Resort is a beautiful ski destination in the spectacular Grand Tetons. To access skiing in these two states, you can easily fly into Billings or Cody and rent a car. And Bozeman has many flights now, including a non-stop from Atlanta which my southern family uses. www.visitmt.com; jacksonhole.com

Vienna is a wonderful place for a holiday visit.
Palaces, parks and churches are aglow and a
renowned choir awaits to serenade you.
 

LOOK ON the internet for fun Christmas vacation ideas for families.  You'll find hundreds of ideas, of cities, towns and villages across the world offering everything from beach basking to winter sports.  Most tourist destinations have winter festivals and an opportunity to visit Santa. There are movie nights with holiday themes, tree lighting and fireworks festivals on New Year's Eve. One of the most spectacular fireworks events we've experienced is in Hawaii, on Waikiki Beach at Hilton's Hawaiian Resort. www.hiltonhawaiianresort.com

Strasbourg in France goes all
out for holiday light displays.

EUROPEAN CITIES and villages have celebrated the holidays for centuries. You'll find Christmas Markets from Vienna, Austria, to Cologne, Nuremberg and Freiburg in Germany, Ghent and Brussels in Belgium, and Prague in Czech Republic. Copenhagen in Denmark and many small Norwegian towns also have fabulous holiday displays.  We spent one yuletide in Bergen and Alesund on a Viking cruise and loved the festive immersion. Strasbourg in France shows off its local wares and goodies at Europe's oldest and most lavish market with Christkindelsmarik, dating to 1570. Performers tell the "Christ story" in elaborate costumes making the city a top Christmas destination. www.europeanbestdestinations.com/christmas-markets/

About to tuck into trdlenik
in Czech Republic are
Bruce Keller and Cookie.

Vienna and Prague offer delightful old-fashioned Austrian and Czech Christmas spirit. Both are known for magnificent Gothic architecture, a spirit of gracious welcome and unique folkloric traditions. These two magnificent cities create an other-worldly feeling at their famed Christmas markets. Shoppers find beautifully decorated wooden huts filled with treats, unique craft gift items and ornaments for next year's tree. My favorite delicacy is spit-roasted ham. Keller loved trdelnik, a traditional hot sugar-coated pastry with nuts and cinnamon.

IF YOU really want to feel close to old Santa, head for Rovaniemi - Lapland, Finland. Rovaniemi is just north of the Arctic Circle and Finns believe it makes a better home for Santa than the North Pole. You'll meet Kris Kringle in this frozen winter wonderland of deep snow and pine forests where kids make cookies with Mrs. Claus and enroll in Elf School. Families enjoy husky-dog rides, tobogganing and the Northern Lights. For a super frosty stay, check into the Arctic Snowhotel, made entirely of ice, with has an ice bar, ice restaurant, ice chapel, Finnish sauna, and snow sauna. Are you packed yet? www.arcticsnowhotel.fi/en/

Cygnet Theatre's multi-talented Sean Murray
plays an endearing Scrooge in the theater's
popular "A Christmas Carol." Soon, Cygnet
 moves to a new home to be known as "The Joan." 

BEST BETS: Two holiday shows up through Christmas Eve deserve special attention in the San Diego area. "Miracle on 34th Street" is playing at Carlsbad's New Village Arts Theatre. It's a delightful radio-play musical take on the beloved 1947 movie about a young girl and Santa. Inspirational, moving and fast paced, with a strong cast, it is a lively production about a little girl's yearnings, the need to believe and the uplifting power of love. Favorite holiday tunes are cleverly interwoven in this revamp of the beloved film classic. Then Sean Murray creates the world's most endearing Scrooge in Cygnet Theatre's "A Christmas Carol." 

Dancing, singing, comedy, lively
staging and a heartwarming story
 make "Miracle on 34th Street" a hit
 at New Village Arts in Carlsbad.

The venerable Old Town venue features director Sean Murray's poignant adaptation and his portrayal of the irascible but ultimately endearing Scrooge. A fine 7-person ensemble puts magic, music and imagination in this beautifully rendered production. As Cygnet wraps its tenure in Old Town, it prepares for its new larger home at the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Performing Arts Center at Liberty Station. It will be known as "The Joan," in honor of its major donors. For tickets to both: newvillagearts.org; cygnettheatre.org 

Start now to make your bucket list 
a reality, here on the Queen Mary 2.

UP NEXT: New horizons for 2025. Why not take the trip or cruise you've been longing for? Start planning now for next year's holiday and you can make it work. Whether it's a summer or fall trip, or a goal for next Christmas, you can make it happen. If you're single, consider a low-interest loan or sharing a cabin. If you're a couple or family, figure ways to save and cut back on other areas and start a trip savings account.  Cruise lines sometimes offer deals for traveling with the family, as a single, or with generations. We'll offer ideas for holiday travel, and for fulfilling a bucket list dream.  It's possible to make a lifelong wish come true in the new year.  Think outside the box and remember, as a wise man said, "Everything you've ever wanted is sitting on the other side of fear.” — So don't be afraid to embrace an idea and make it a goal. Meanwhile, remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on travel, performance, nature and the arts. www.whereiscookie.com

Meet Cesar Manrique: the artist who changed the face of an island

Cesar Manrique's imagination and love of nature fueled his passionate devotion to his native Lanzarote.  Here, one of his gardens incorporates relaxation with appreciation of native plants. Nature and art were one for him. 

ONE MAN'S VISION AND IMAGINATION MARKS CANARY ISLAND OF LANZAROTE

Jameos del Agua is a natural space inside a volcanic tunnel
transformed by Manrique into a world renowned concert space.

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS

PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER

CESAR MANRIQUE was born in 1919 in the town of Arrecife on the island of Lanzarote in the Canaries.

Few people outside of the islands knew of these volcanic places off theJameos  coast of Spain, but that would change with Manrique.  

Architectural genius changes an island

Cesar Manrique is
immortalized in sculpture.

Bruce Keller and Christene
"Cookie" Meyers at the home
of artistic genius Manrique.

An artist from childhood, when he sketched nature images, he left as a young man to study in Madrid, returning many times, his head buzzing with ideas. By 1966, he'd settled back in his homeland for good. What he created changed the island and put it on the world map.

FOR 25 FRUITFUL years, he transformed Lanzarote to an imaginative place, where nature and architecture blend. It's a playground for imagination.
Perhaps no single man has had a greater influence on a place. Only Gaudi comes to mind, in his contributions to Barcelona. For working with Lanzarote's volcanic landscapes, Manrique insisted there be no tall buildings. He imagined that vineyards could flourish in craters, and they do. His homeland's strange beauty captured Manrique's imagination and encouraged his dialogue between nature and art. This extraordinary artist was the main creator of most of the art, culture and tourism centers that now exist on Lanzarote, making it the Canary Island's showpiece.

Cesar Manrique ever at work.

MANRIQUE'S VISIONARY designs integrate elements of nature with comfort and style. They welcome the eye, asking the viewer to step in and enjoy.
One can tell the artist enjoyed life and its pleasures, and that he was ever aware of nature, which he revered during his life, 1919 to 1992.

One of Manrique's many creations.

Manrique loved color and cactus, as this display at his
home, now a museum, illustrates.
 .

   In Europe, he exhibited his work in Spain and France, where it was greeted with raves from both press and the public. He  traveled to exhibitions in Japan and after the death from cancer of his beloved partner Pepi Gomez, he moved to New York for a change of environment. There he was befriended Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol and other famous 20th Century artists. But he was critical of the environment of New York, which he considered "inhumane." 

 

Painter, sculptor, architect Cesar Manrique transformed the Canary
 Islands' most interesting island, Lanzarote. Future blog pieces
celebrate the holidays as we showcase other creators. 

THE ARTIST'S   childhood friend Pepin Ramirez was president of the island and helped Manrique realize this idea to reflect the unique landscape and color palette of Lanzarote in the art and architecture on the island. Beside continuing his personal art career, Manrique gained attention with his commitment to protect Lanzarote from what he regarded as pernicious tourist development. Manrique was not against tourism but thought high quality tourism could transform the island and become its economic engine. This has come to pass.

 
www.fcmanrique.org/en/inicio/

www.hellocanaryislands.com

www.turismolanzarote.com/en/

COMING SOON: As we enter the holidays full tilt, we visit places that celebrate with specific cultural touches. From Hawaii to Madrid, French Polynesia to Brazil, Singapore to Sydney, we toast the holidays with art, music, food,  architecture and originality. Meanwhile, remember to explore, learn and live, and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on travel, performance, nature, family and more. Please share the link: www.whereiscookie.com

Dolphins delight: Monkeys, yes, but Gibraltar offers spectacular sea life

The Bay of Gibraltar is home to fancy yachts, pleasure and fishing boats and a variety of sea life,
along with the famed monkeys. This visit was to track dolphins, and we weren't disappointed.

 

BAY OF GIBRALTAR OFFERS GARDENS, WILDLIFE, CABLE CAR, FRIENDLY FOLK 

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS
PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER

Dolphins frolic in the waters of Gibraltar, where they
are a main attraction for tourists and beloved by locals.

GIBRALTAR is famous for many things from its photogenic  primates to its enduring rock. Its most notable attribute is its strategic position at the mouth of the Mediterranean, at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula on the Bay of Gibraltar.
Because it is so near the Mediterranean's exit into the Atlantic, its enviable location has made it a contested body of water over centuries and the site of many sea skirmishes. The bloody 1607 Battle of Gibraltar between the Dutch and Spanish is the most notorious.

 

The Dutch surprised a Spanish
fleet during The Eighty Years
War, destroying many ships.

GIBRALTAR is also celebrated as one of the few places in the world offering a view of two continents and three countries. On a lucky, clear day, from certain vantage points, it is possible to see both Africa and Europe. You'll also have a chance to see Gibraltar, Spain and Morocco, if you're really fortunate.
Realizing how close the continents are -- divided only by the narrow Strait of Gibraltar -- one understands the bay's importance as a maritime link between the two continents.

And wildlife abounds here.

Cavorting with the dolphins, from left: Christene "Cookie"
Meyers, Bruce Keller, Rick Cosgriffe, Jane Milder.

WE'D SEEN the monkeys twice, but we did not realize until this most recent visit that some of the Mediterranean's best sea life viewing is also here. Three species of playful dolphin are vying with Gibraltar's endearing monkeys for headlines: the common dolphin, bottle-nose dolphin and striped dolphin. These amazing and playful, "tourist friendly" creatures visit the Bay and Strait of Gibraltar for food, shelter and to breed. You can see both dolphins and monkeys in certain tours and the monkeys are worth a look, too, if you've not seen them before. Hang on to your hat -- they're clever thieves. They're Europe's only wild monkey population, originating from the Atlas and Rif mountains of Morocco and brought by early settlers.

Shrieks of delight as dolphins approach the
boat in the Bay of Gibraltar.

THIS VISIT highlighted dolphins, which our homework showed could be seen near our ship, Norwegian Cruise Line's stunning Viva. We were met at the dock by a friendly driver who shared dining tips during a pleasant ten-minute drive to our dolphin watching boat.
There we joined a small, convivial group of fellow dolphin fans. We were delighted to find dolphins within five minutes from the dock -- the easiest and closest viewing we've seen in many dolphin outings on several continents.

Gibraltar's monkeys are long famous,
but dolphin tours are on the rise. 

A CABLE CAR ride to the Top of the Rock and Nature Reserve is another highlight. The viewpoint was not open on our visit four years ago and is a recent addition to other attractions as Gibraltar amps up its tourism push.  

Gibraltar's cable car offers stunning
views of the bay, and on clear days of
two continents and three countries.

The laminated glass floor and balustrade are  an impressive 1,115 feet above sea level, built on the foundations of a  World War II base structure. A plaque informs that it is a faithful reproduction of the original base used for an anti-aircraft gun during World War II. 

Gibraltar's architecture reflects its Moorish influence but it has long been a British Overseas Territory with 34,000 proud Gibraltarians. Its area is a scant 6.8 kilometers, bordered to the north by Spain from which myriad daytrips are possible.
MAIN ATTRACTIONS are all fairly close in Gibraltar.  The cable car station for Gibraltar's Swiss designed aerial tramway is near the southern end of Main Street, next to the gorgeous Gibraltar Botanic Gardens, known as the Alameda.  This wonderful place offers plants from all over the world, a calming respite after the cable car with its white knuckle, 360 degree panoramic view across three countries and both continents. 

Gibraltar's Botanic Gardens, known
as The Alameda, are meticulous.

The viewpoint was opened in 2018 by actor Mark Hamill, known as Luke Skywalker of "Star Wars" fame. A tasteful plaque commemorates the dedication. Although spectacular on a clear day, it can be unnerving to climb those metal steps to the viewing platform, then walk on glass to the view. I confess to a tinge of vertigo -- the same I felt in Madeira, at the top of its spectacular Skywalk. But it's worth the nerves. 
We felt welcome here, too, as Gibraltar has yet to join the ranks of tourism protesters

More information:

www.visitgibraltar.gi/ 

www.ncl.com/Norwegian/Viva
www.naturereserve.gi/experiences/cable-car/

www.visitacity.com/gibraltar/tours

 

 

Native son Cesar Manrique had his hand in transforming
the island of his birth, Lanzarote. Here his home and
studio is now an intriguing museum in the Canary Islands.

UP NEXT: Cesar Manrique was a gifted artist --  painter, sculptor and architect.  He is beloved and famous for changing the face of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. The artist studied in Madrid and after several years exhibiting  around the world, he moved to New York, the mecca of art in the 1960s, then back to his native Recife on the island he loved and made more beautiful. We look at his fascinating architecture, remembering to explore, learn and live: www.whereiscookie.com

 

Give thanks, share and kick your meal up a notch with something new

Jambalaya is a tradition for Thanksgiving in many southern homes. Cajun appetizers also make
Thanksgiving special. We'll share an easy Cajun pecan recipe in the feature story below.

WHETHER DINING AT HOME OR AWAY THANKSGIVING WEEK, TRY A NEW TWIST 

A Turkish delight: appetizers which we followed with a lovely
salad, and a custard dessert one recent Thanksgiving.

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS

PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER

DINING OUT is one of life's sublime pleasures, and Thanksgiving is a time to enjoy and give thanks not only for family, friends, culinary treats and traditions, but for our bounty.

Remember to be generous, to count your blessings.  We give thanks daily for the opportunity to travel, to still have the dexterity, means and intelligence to book a trip.  We are tremendously grateful for, as my grandmother Olive called it, our "mobility and marbles." May these two treasured commodities remain in our possession for many more years.

Portuguese bean soup made a lovely Thanksgiving meal
one year in Porto, which has become a favorite city.

If we're home, we like to invite a single person or new neighbor over to share the meal. A widowed friend works in a soup kitchen on Thanksgiving and says it makes her feel connected, helpful and less lonely. We have fun making  my Gran's turkey wiggle with the leftovers. Try her recipe, click the link below:

TURKEY WIGGLE RECIPE

WHATEVER YOU DO, take time t

Cookie admires an appetizer plate, served
stylishly on a Thanksgiving holiday in Barcelona.

o be thankful for the opportunity to have sufficient means to share. And if you're feeling at a low ebb, consider doing something different to jump start your spirits.  We recommend Thanksgiving or any holiday on the road as a way of making new friends and memories. Even if "away" means an hour's drive to a cousin's or sibling's home.

WE'VE SPENT many Thanksgivings "elsewhere," enjoying the offerings of local eateries. If we're home in San Diego, and don't have an invitation or feel up to preparing a feast ourselves, we go out.

We spent one Thanksgiving in our San Diego base,
enjoying appetizers at a beachfront hotel.
 

We consider a favorite Greek restaurant, where we love the appetizer plate. 

Or change things up with jambalaya for Thanksgiving. Sushi or Korean barbecue?  Thai food, a lovely paella, Portuguese bean soup, or perhaps a tray of Turkish  appetizers? Our Jewish friends joke about their tradition of going out for Chinese food on  Christmas. Put your own spin on a holiday to keep it from becoming cliche.  Dare to stretch, think outside the box. Speaking of which, a friend in New York treats his housekeeper to bento box near Times Square on Thanksgiving. 

Sure, the classic dinner can't be beat. Those old-time favorites are time honored: turkey, gravy, stuffing, potatoes, green been casserole and too much pie.

Our friend, Jesus, born in Madrid, creates a
tasty paella for a memorable Thanksgiving feast. 

BUT WE suggest something new this year, perhaps a Cajun appetizer or  side dish to augment the menu.  It will add flair and zing to your Thanksgiving table. Serving foods from another culture and combining them with your own beloved  dishes will create a unique and memorable holiday feast while introducing new traditions.

 Remember to give thanks

  

Chilean sea bass and seasonal vegetables delighted us in a Barcelona restaurant. 
 With guitar music, the meal made  a colorful Thanksgiving Day treat that we fondly remember. 

EASY SPICED CAJUN PECANS

We tasted these Cajun pecans in New Orleans and got this
recipe from a friend. "Easy peasy," and a fun holiday treat.

 (The seasoning)

1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 

(The pecans)

5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon (2 2/3 ounces) unsalted butter, melted
4 cups pecan halves
1 teaspoon seasoning blend

Cookie and Keller enjoy a Thanksgiving sunset
off the coast of Morocco on holiday in 2022.

Gather the ingredients.
Pre-heat oven to 325 F.
Combine spices in a small bowl to form your Cajun seasoning blend; mix thoroughly. Set aside.
In a large, shallow roasting pan, combine the melted butter and pecans.
Roast in the oven for 15 minutes, stirring from time to time. Sprinkle with remaining seasoning and toast for about 15 minutes longer, stirring occasionally. The nuts should be brown but not too dark. And feel free to use walnuts or cashews or even mixed nuts if you prefer or have on hand.

Dessert in a Paris cafe on
Thanksgiving last year.

A festive dessert for Keller
prepared in a country inn
in northern Spain.

HOLIDAY MEALS become special memories when you're dining with friends -- new or old. We've spent Thanksgiving on ships with people who become good friends. Since many cultures don't celebrate Thanksgiving when we do, it's important to maintain a "when in Rome" philosophy. Our advice is to loosen up, share the bounty, enjoy, stretch -- and try some Cajun pecans.

Family, friends, fitness thanks

Peking duck became our favorite feast on several Thanksgivings in Asia, here in Beijing.

 

 

A few places in the world offer an opportunity to swim
with dolphins, and on the Bay of Gibraltar, dolphin
watching has become nearly as popular as the monkeys.

COMING UP: We romp with  dolphins and visit a fascinating island in the Canaries made famous by a native son.  We travel to an unusual cave in Barbados and Keller takes Cookie on a sail boat ride to create the whitest knuckles she's ever experienced.  From peaceful and playful dolphins to the thrills of an old-fashioned, classic 12-meter America's Cup racing boat, we take you there. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on travel, nature, performance, family and more: www.whereiscookie.com

 

 

 

San Juan seduces with nightlife, beaches, architecture, resorts, food

Old San Juan's colorful Boricua is a pleasant place to stop for lunch, stroll the shops, enjoy the beach.

BEACHES, CASINOS, DINING, HISTORICAL LANDMARKS, UPSCALE RESIDENTIAL AREAS, MUSEUMS, STREET FOOD, MUSIC: ALL IN A DAY IN LIVELY SAN JUAN

Stately homes and gentrified offices can be found in parts
of San Juan, which also has modern areas and many resorts.

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS

PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER

SAN JUAN is a vibrant mix of stately buildings, towering trees, lively cafes, posh nightclubs, glitzy resorts, simple street food carts, plazas to people watch, museums, beach life and more. It's an enticing blend.

A major port and tourist destination on Puerto Rico's northern coast, it is separated from the rest of the island by picturesque San Juan Bay and Condado Lagoon. The city was 

Old San Juan offers a mix of stately architecture, welcoming
plazas with benches and shade trees, and sculpture parks.

founded in 1508 by that globe trotting Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León and is the oldest city under U.S. jurisdiction.

YOU'LL NEED a few days to get into the grove.  We suggest starting with a stroll or drive in El Viejo San Juan --  historic Old San Juan, which has several names, and is properly known as San Juan Antiguo. It is home to the San Juan National Historic Site, with buildings dating from the 16th century. You'll want to visit a pair of the Caribbean's most famous fortresses, the San Felipe del Morro and San Cristóbal. We enjoyed a climb on the old city walls for gorgeous views.

You'll see street art throughout the city.

If you like old stately churches, the Bautista Cathedral should be on your list of "must sees."  It houses the tomb of Ponce de Leon in a neighborhood of brightly colored houses which line inviting cobbled streets. We stopped in a shady plaza for a cocktail in a small, colorful bar.  After a rest in our hotel, we returned to Old San Juan to sample a couple of the city's renowned Caribbean fusion restaurants.

IN OLD TOWN, as the sun slides into the horizon,  you'll join older residents out for a stroll and young businessmen and women, relaxing after a day at the office. 

The Bacardi Rum Plant offers tours, tastings
and more at an impressive complex. 

San Juan is an intriguing blend of Caribbean island charm and city hustle, a fine place to experience Puerto Rican culture if you have time for only a day's visit.
The people are friendly, helpful and welcoming to the tourist. We've visited several times and enjoy exploring the vibrant and distinctive neighborhoods-- from the old Spanish colonial buildings to state of the art restaurants and the same major shopping outlets one finds in Paris, New York or Milan.

WE OPTED one day for a self-guided history lesson with a return visit to El Castillo San Felipe del Morro, a 16th-century citadel that’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We stopped at the Bacardi Rum 

The Caribe Hilton is a glitzy modern resort.

plant for a quick tour then headed for a cooling dip at Carolina Beach and Luquillo, which attract well heeled, deeply tanned Americans and Europeans. We had arranged to meet friends for a late dinner or we would have considered an after-dark kayak adventure through Bioluminescent Bay. Next time.

Locals perform in holiday garb
at the Bacardi Arts Festival
 coming soon to Old San Juan.

 SAN JUAN celebrates Christmas  beginning in early December.  Holiday programs are specially designed for children, and presented at the Dominica Convent, La Fortaleza and City Hall.  The Puerto Rico Symphony and National Folkloric Ballet of Puerto Rico give special performances and the San Juan Ballet Company performs Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite." 

Sports fans have plenty to watch, with Canadian teams playing with local teams throughout the island in the Puerto Rico Winter League. Boating enthusiasts enjoy the Puerto Rico International Offshore Cup in mid-December, and there are speedboat races with some of the best offshore teams competing.

San Juan is a major port and tourist destination, known
for its culture, nightlife, lively Old Town and beaches. 

FOR HOLIDAY shoppers, the Bacardi Arts Festival is held each year  the first two Sundays of December. It features more than 100 booths, crafts, rides, typical food and of course drinks of rum.  The festival happens at Bacardi's rum manufacturing plant, the world's largest. One doesn't have to go far to see Bacardi's influence.  The logos and bottles are everywhere.  Casa Bacardi offers tours and classes where you craft your own cocktails.  

OLD SAN JUAN lights up right after Thanksgiving, becoming a "White Christmas" with lights, decorations, holiday music and at booths in the windows and plazas. Tourists enjoy life-size nativity creches beginning on Thanksgiving weekend with the 

The influence of Bacardi is seen
throughout the island, here at a 
fast food stand with hot sauce
for roasted chicken on a paper plate
and hot sauce in the rum bottle.
 
 

lighting of a giant Christmas tree in Paseo La Princesa in Old San Juan.

For more information on hotels, tours and what's happening through the holidays: 

www.sanjuanpuertorico.com/visitors-information-tourism-offices/

bacardi.com for information on tours and tastings

From American favorites such as this rare steak and fresh
veggies, to exotic international fare, we sample Thanksgiving
on the road in next week's column.  Please tune in. 

UP NEXT:  Thanksgiving is right around the corner, Nov. 28.  We've spent many Thanksgivings at various cities, villages and islands on the road, looking for fun and memorable ways to give thanks for a life of travel. We take readers to the Canary Islands, to Greece, Hong Kong and Barcelona for a look at specialty foods and taste treats for every budget.  Meanwhile, remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly at: www.whereiscookie.com