This post is on my last night out with my French before they left Puerto Rico. This night was amazing, and I cherished it as much as I could, because I knew it would most likely be the last time I would see them. So, what did my cousin and I have planned to do for the French's farewell? A night of fancy dinners, classy coffee, and Latin dancing in Viejo San Juan sounded like a perfect farewell gift for the French. So, that is exactly what we did.
The day started off early. The reason behind that was because Jero and I had to clean the house quite well for we could be allowed to go out that night. We did laundry, cleaned the kitchen, swept, and mopped the floors until it was time to get ready.
I began to get ready around 3:00 p.m. and did not finish until 5:30 p.m. Yes, I ran a little late. However, that's nothing new because I sort of always take forever to get ready for very special occasions. Once I finally felt ready enough Jero and I picked up two of his girl friends, and then headed to San Juan.
We make it to where my friends were staying around 7:00 p.m. All six of us head out in my cousins beat up 1998 white Mitsubishi Mirage, to hit traffic in San Juan for about forty five minutes. Once we made it to the parking lot where we almost always parked whenever we went to Viejo San Juan, we started walking towards the strip where the restaurant we where going to was located.
The night was lit up by the tables that were set up down the Paseo de la Princesa, and by the other small businesses that sat along the boardwalk of the port where the cruises come in. We first walked by the Paseo de la Princesa, but decided to return to it later because we needed to reserve our spot at the restaurant.
We made it to the strip and we passed pubs with music playing, a street saxophone player, and more restaurants until found ourselves at Raíces . Raíces is a pretty well known restaurant in Puerto Rico. There are a few on the island, but the most popular one is on Viejo San Juan. Just being in the restaurant is an experience in itself. The restaurant has a theme which is "Jibaro." This term is very cultural and was once used to describe people from the country side of the island. The waiters and waitresses are dressed in old fashion clothing, the food is brought out in old fashion platters. The restaurant gives people a great cultural experience. Therefore we had to bring my French there.
There is a thirty minute wait. My cousin says he will wait at the restaurant with one of his girl friends and that the rest of us can go walk around the Paseo de la Princesa. So, my favorite French boy and I did just that. We looked at the beautiful crafts that were being sold at each table and made our way down to the Raíces fountain at the end of the Paseo. It's just coincidental that the fountain has the same name as the restaurant. Since I was very young it had been a tradition to take a picture with my family on this fountain. For this reason I thought it would be okay for us to sit on it. We were yelled at by a cop and told not to sit on the fountain. The cop may have just thought I was a tourist because my French clearly was. My French and I laughed the awkward situation off gracefully.
After that we decided to head back to the restaurant. It was almost our turn to be called so we needed all six members of our group to be at the restaurant. However, two members of the group had yet to return. Two other members of the group went to look for them because neither had working phones to call them on. Soon there were only two of us at the restaurant, and our group had been called.
Everyone was finally at the restaurant. It was time to sit, and order! I ordered my favorite, which is Mofongo Relleno de Churasco. It was served in a pilon. A pilon is a traditional cooking device often used to smash plantains. It is very Jibaro. We all ate, talked, and laughed about all the fun we had in the two weeks the French had spent in Puerto Rico.
We had finished our food, and were about to head out the door. While walking towards the doors I suddenly turned around and said to my group in Spanish "Wait, let's take a picture!" So we got a waitress to take a picture of our group. I'm so glad I suggested that, because I now love that picture.
We headed out to find the coffee shop Jero and I had recently been to, and knew the French would love. We figured out that the coffee shop was closed, and ended up at a starbucks. We sat and talked while my cousin's girl friend drank her caramel macchiato frap. After this, one girl had to go home. My cousin brought her home while the French and I stayed in San Juan. We went dancing at this tourist filled club called Señor Frog's, and danced the night away until the place started to die down. When it did we sat outside in front of the cruise dock staring at the ocean and the night sky until my cousin came to pick us up.
Mofongo Relleno De Churrasco!!
After dinner group pic!
Waiting in front of the cruise dock in Viejo San Juan.
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