Regional NotesPuerto Rico GEOGRAPHY Puerto Rico is the most easterly, and smallest, of the four major islands of the Greater Antilles. It lies a thousand miles southeast of Florida. The smaller islands of Vieques and Culebra to the east, and the uninhabited Mona to the west, are part of its territory. Sometimes all of these islands are grouped together as the 'Spanish Virgin Islands'. Puerto Rico's main island is about 100 miles long and 35 miles wide. Its four coastlines have palm-fringed beaches, and its interior has mountains, hills, forest reserves, and some desert areas. TIME Atlantic, without daylight savings; GMT/UTC less four hours. GOVERNMENT Puerto Rico is a self-governing US commonwealth territory. This, and other tortuous descriptions applied to Puerto Rico, indicate its compromise position between independence and dependence on the US. In the most recent referendum in 1998 , the population voted narrowly against becoming the 51st state of the US. MONEY The currency is the US Dollar. Major credit cards are accepted. Tips of 15 -20% are customary, if not added as a service charge to bills. Banks are open 8.00 to 2.30, Monday to Friday, and 9.45 to noon on Saturday. COMMUNICATIONS Communications are at US standards, with coin- and card-operated booths. Phone cards are on sale at pharmacies and gift shops. LANGUAGE & CULTURE The official languages of Puerto Rico are Spanish and English, and Spanish and American conventions co-exist on the island. Night life is very active, and shops stay open late. People dress up in the evenings. Casual dress is customary during the day, but shorts etc. are not worn in hotels or casinos, where formal dress is expected after 8pm. Traffic drives on the right, and taxis and hire cars are readily availabe. Foreign driving licences are accepted for the first month of stay, after which a local licence is required. There is a public transport system but buses do not run after 9pm. Public Holidays One feature of Puerto Rico's association with the US is a double helping of public holidays, though the feasts are largely moveable: New Year's Day, Epiphany (January 6), Birthday of Eugenio Maria de Hostos (second week in January), Martin Luther King Day (January 17), Washington-Lincoln Day (3rd week in February), Emancipation of the Slaves (third week in March), Jose de Diego's Birthday (third week in April), Good Friday, Memorial Day (last week in May), US Independence Day (4 July), Luis Munoz Rivera's Birthday (3rd week in July ), Jose Celso Barbosa's Birthday and Constitution Day (also 3rd week in July), Labour Day (September 6 ), Columbus Day (second week in October), Veterans' Day (November 11), Discovery of Puerto Rico (November 19-29), Thanksgiving Day (November 25), and Christmas Day. HEALTH Health services are good, but expensive. The medical emergency service is on Tel 343-2550; also try 787/754-3535. For dental emergency 767-4976, also try 787/725-0202. The general number for all emergencies is 911. Hospitals with 24-hour emergency facilities are the Ashford Presbyterian Communicty Hospital, 1451 Ashford Avenue (Tel 787/721-2160), and the San Juan Health Center, Avenida de Diego 150 (Tel 787/725-0202). IMPORTANT ADDRESSES, CONSULATES etc. British Consulate, Royal Bank Centre, Suite 807, 225 Ponce De Leon Avenue, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00917-1929, Tel: (787) 758- 9828 Canadian Consulate, 107 Cereipo Street, Alturas de Santa Maria Guaynabo, Puerto Rico 00969, Tel: (787) 790-2210. Regional LinksThe Locations |
|