|

Stand Up & Paddle: The Stand-Up Paddle
Board competition returns to Rincon. This new sport competition,
which is also great exercise, started last year in Rincon. It
will be held again at
Villa Cofresi Hotel
in Rincón on Sunday, April 11th, 2010. Registration begins at
7:00am the morning of the event. Dare and experiment this new
sport of Stand-Up Paddle Board. There will be prizes for the
different categories (Kids, Open, Elite and Unlimited), live
reggae music with Jomo Pemberton, a raffle and exhibition of
products related to the sport. You will also have the
opportunity to meet the professionals and receive demonstrations
for the use of the stand-up paddle boards. For more information,
visit the event page on Facebook,
Rincón Beachboy,
or call 787-501-3033 or 787-460-5540. (Photo by Angelo Cordero).
Collecting for the
Government: We recently had an interesting and enlightening
conversation with Ana Catalá, of the Room Tax division of the
Puerto Rico Tourism Company, in which she imparted
important information and asked us to share it with our readers,
especially those that
own and stay in Rincon vacation rental properties: Anyone who
rents any property for a vacation stay in the island of Puerto
Rico is required to collect a Room Tax and pass it on the Puerto
Rico Tourism Company- there are no exceptions. The Room
Tax starts at 7% and is higher for properties with certain
amenities, such as casinos. Room Tax dollars are used to promote
Puerto Rico tourism all over the world. Owners who handle their
own rentals are required to register their property with the
PRTC and send in
the room tax on a monthly basis. If a rental agency exclusively
handles all rentals for a vacation property, the manager or
broker is required to collect and submit the tax directly to the PRTC. For more information about the Puerto Rico Room Tax, you
may contact Ana or her colleagues at 787-721-2400. At the time
of this posting, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company website,
www.PRTourism.com,
was being reconstructed so the Room Tax page was unavailable.
Commerce,
Coconuts and… Pirates: Very
few cocktail concoctions become world famous. The Piña Colada
that we know today
was invented in San Juan in 1954, although it's said that an earlier version
was confected by the Pirate Roberto Cofresí in the 1800's. In 1968, the original
Pirate Special was invented in Rincon, which
came from the mind of the owner of Villa Cofresí Hotel &
Restaurant, the Rincon landmark beach hotel that jump-started modern
tourism in our then-sleepy sugar cane village. The Pirate
Special moniker is a nod
to Roberto Cofresí, a legendary 19th century Robin
Hood style Pirate, who navigated our waters and may have buried some of his treasure in
the foothills of Rincon.
The sweet and heady drink is a
mixture of several kinds of rum, coconut milk and other
ingredients and is the most popular signature drink in Rincon. What
makes it even more appealing is the fresh coconut that it's
served in, making the coconut meat part of the formula, as
seen in the picture on the right. For
over 40 years, tens of thousands of tourists have flocked to
Rincon to enjoy this tasteful and refreshing cocktail. The original
Pirate Special drink and its formula are even registered with
the island government.
Until now, the word
“original” had never been used to describe the Pirate Special.
We recently received an email in which a neighboring hotel is offering a
“New house drink…a mix of 5 liquors
served
in a fresh coconut.” The name of the "new" drink translates into English
as a punishing knock on the head. The image on the ad for the drink shows a coconut with two
straws being held by a couple that looks too young to be
served at any bar
(for sure in the USA). This marketing misstep, apparently
meant to garner a well-established clientele from a successful neighbor, has
mostly served to develop strong support for Villa Cofresí and
its owners. Fans of the original drink are already talking
about making the Villa Cofresí Pirate Special the official
drink of Rincon
It’s
ironic that the drink in question involves piracy, but as
Captain Jack Sparrow aptly said: “It’s the Caribbean!” The
Piña Colada is commemorated by a plaque that shows where this
milestone in the history of cocktails took place; the same
should done for the original Pirate Special, to ensure that
those that come to Rincon seeking to taste that “cocktail in a
coconut” know exactly where to get the real deal.
Romance, Magic, Beauty, Fantasy…
Just the elements needed for that special moment in every
woman’s heart- her wedding day.
Rincón Ocean Villa
offers that and more, in a special and spectacular Caribbean
setting, promising to
be the place for that unforgettable Destination Wedding.
To demonstrate just how
special and unique a wedding at Rincón Ocean Villa can
be, Danielle Tatangelo, managing partner, recently hosted
a fabulous and unprecedented Wedding show for New York City’s
finest wedding coordinators, giving the opportunity to Rincón’s
premier wedding suppliers to show their finest. Upon seeing and
tasting what Rincón has to offer, the attending guests left
Rincón Ocean Villa quite impressed and promised to return
with plenty of brides and grooms.
Rincon|Online Celebrates 10 Great Years of bringing the
best that Rincon, Puerto Rico has to offer to the rest of the
world. In 1999, we suggested to a guesthouse owner that he
advertise his newly acquired property on the "local Rincon web
portal". He told us that there was none, so we decided to start
one- as
a
hobby. Ten years later, Rincon|Online is a network of
websites and domain names that guarantees that Rincon, Puerto
Rico gets its fair share of exposure on the Internet. Today,
thousands of visitors find us first in search engines and
through our savvy marketing programs. Rincon has been featured
on Wheel of Fortune, the Today Show,
the Travel Channel, Esquire Magazine,
Condé Nast Traveler, Travel & Leisure
and other mainstream media outlets, in addition to many others
on the web, such as our most recent Editor’s interview comments
in yesterday’s
Associated Press/Yahoo! Travel News
article, which is quickly appearing in hundreds of Internet
travel sites and also being picked-up by newspapers throughout
the globe for their weekend travel and leisure sections. In the
coming months, Rincon|Online continues to grow with
several new and informative Rincon sites going live. Keep
visiting Rincon|Online to see what's in store for the
next ten years!
It was Forty Years Ago Today. Our Rincon Celebration
was a grand success. Over 500 people attended the opening, the
exhibition and the video presentation of the '68 competition.
We
thank all the co-sponsors, Mayor Carlos Lopez and the hundreds
of visitors who supported this historic event.
It is very likely that you are reading
this because of
the 1968 World Surfing Championship in Rincon. In October
of '68, Rincon was a sleepy town of about 8,000 souls that
mostly engaged in growing sugar cane and fishing. If you looked
at most maps of
Puerto Rico, you would not see Rincon on it.
Television consisted of three broadcast channels in Spanish and
no one had phones in
their homes. Tourism was in its infancy and
it
took three to four hours to get here from the nearest
airport. Those of us who lived here
before and after '68, can
safely say that the Championship was the catalyst that changed
the future of Rincon. It also got us on the map. For a
historical
perspective on Rincon '68, with cool videos and
first-hand accounts, read our
special coverage.
You can personally celebrate this event with one of the many Commemorative
'68 World Surf Items, available at the
Rincon|Online Store.
Salsero Willie Colon in Town? Reports that the
Godfather of Salsa was in
town
remain unconfirmed, although a source says that he was seen
leaving
Amapola House, on quiet
Vista Linda Road. We know that Willie is now on his big promo tour
of his new CD, "El
Malo 2: Prisioneros del Mambo"
being sold at
WillieColon.com.
Newsday reviewed it and said: "The great achievement of
'El Malo 2' is its uncanny fusion of old-school excellence and
contemporary innovation." Our editor, who interviewed Willie
Colon for another website, heard the CD, declared it "a Triumph"
and is playing it for everyone that comes into his office. To
read our editor's interview, "A Weekend With Willie Colon
in Mexico City",
click here.
Super Model Spotted at Tamboo. Kate Moss was seen
several times in Rincon, especially at the
Tamboo Beach
Bar, as well as
at
Harbor
Restaurant, where she
was not accosted
by
paparazzi nor the locals, who despite recognizing her followed
the long-standing Rincon tradition of letting everyone keep to
themselves. We report about them- after they leave Rincon. The tabloids have reported that she's bought a
private retreat in Puerto Rico. She probably stayed in Rincon
because she was able to enjoy our beauty in complete privacy.
Our sources tell us that she most likely stayed at
Caracol Che Private
Villa, but
mum's the word from the owner. Kate joins a long list of
mega-celebrities (who shall remain nameless) that find
themselves quite at home in Rincon.
A New Amapola
Grows in Puntas.
For years, we've watched how the hills
in
Puntas have become dotted with new and beautiful beach area
homes. The newest one,
Amapola House is
a three-level vacation rental villa,
located
on a ocean-view hillside near Sandy Beach, in the lush and
beautiful Puntas Hills. Enjoy the hillside breezes and
stunning views from any of the three terrace levels of this
brand-new vacation Villa, located on a quiet
beach-access road, just minutes from the seashore. The interior
is designer-decorated and contains family heirloom antiques and
unseen historic photos of Old Rincon. Amapola House has four
bedrooms, three bathrooms, a starlight veranda and a sunset
terrace with a jumbo spa tub that overlooks a vast nature
preserve and the sea. The fourth bedroom suite is situated on
its own level and offers its own bathroom,
terrace, Wi-Fi & network outlet, flat screen
TV with cable
service, compact
refrigerator, coffee-maker and microwave oven. Located just
minutes from the golden sand and pristine waters of Sandy
Beach, this spacious and elegant multi-level vacation Villa can easily accommodate
an entire
family or a large group of up to eight persons. For even larger
groups, an similar adjacent
twin home is also available. Amapola House is offering a
Welcome Pack that includes $100.00 in Fun Vouchers for
Dining, Drinks & Activities, plus a complimentary bottle of wine
in the wine cooler, as well as coffee, gourmet cheese, specialty
crackers and pure bottled water.
For full details, take a look at the Amapola
House website,
AmapolaHouse.com and enjoy video and pictures,
while being serenaded by different versions of the Amapola Song,
including a killer surf guitar version.
From Travel & Leisure Magazine:
"Rincón
is
known
for its pounding waves, which attract some of the world's best
surfers. But the location of the
Tres Sirenas Beach Inn—on
one of the town's more tranquil strands—is just as appealing.
Ex–New Yorkers Lisa and Harry Rodriguez returned to Harry's
native Puerto Rico to open a laid-back, stylish B&B. And with
four breezy rooms (dark woods, rattan, white linens) and the
elaborate breakfasts Lisa cooks up every morning for guests,
this seaside spot fits the bill. If you're traveling with a
group, consider renting out the entire villa. It sleeps 10, and
goes for a reasonable $840 per night."
Casa Bomberos
is named for the NYC firefighters that own it. This large
and
secluded vacation house offers privacy in a
beautiful setting in the middle of Puntas. This two-unit
villa has a pool with Tiki bar, ocean views, several terraces,
a BBQ grill and loads of amenities. The home can be rented as
a six bedroom, a four bedroom or a two bedroom. We welcome
Casa Bomberos to Rincon|Online. For a closer look
at this great vacation rental, visit their
website.
Harbor Restaurant not only offers great food in a
beachside setting, it has
the
friendliest owners. Recently, a group of guests of
Tres Sirenas Beach Inn
decided to take a leisurely walk to Sunset Village, where they
stopped in at
Harbor Restaurant for a
delicious seafood dinner. As the evening wore on, the diners had
such a great time, they nearly closed the place. They bid
goodnight to owners
David Acosta and Omayda Guerra, who upon hearing that they
intended to walk back to Tres Sirenas, insisted on giving them a
ride to their beachfront accommodations. Now, that's Rincon!
The Blue Boy Gets Wet! The fab Blue Boy Inn now has a a
huge and classy pool. This
elegant B & B is a short walk from the
best beaches in the
Caribbean. Located
in beautiful Rincon, Puerto Rico, well-known for surfing, diving
and spectacular sunsets,
The Blue Boy
Inn offers wonderful Caribbean accommodations with a traditional
European-style bed and breakfast service. The place is
impeccably decorated and clean. The decor will please your eyes
and the sights and sounds will sooth your soul. Your experience
at Blue Boy Inn will be more than a simple stay with a loved
one, it will be an intimate, romantic experience that you
will always remember.

Surf 787 is On! This new guest villa offers new and
elegant
accommodations
with killer mountain and ocean views. Spacious rooms, wide
verandas and hillside breezes make Surf 787 the perfect
lodging destination. Surf 787 also offers surfing lessons to its
guests as well as others. Instruction takes place with very
small groups, providing better attention to the student's
individual needs. To start the season right, Surf 787 is
offering promotional discounts on lodging and surf lessons. For
more about the Surf 787 Resort, visit their
website.
Bike Path Update: We got word that the PR DOT has
modified its plan for the Bike Path (see related story below) by
trimming the width to 12' and eliminating the beach gabion walls
that were highly objected to by the environmental community.
These concessions and the speed in which they were announced are
quite surprising for an island bureaucracy and are a step in the
right direction in making the path a positive tourist
attraction.
Tamboo Beside the Pointe has undergone an amazing
transformation.
Recently
remodeled, it's now ready to show its new stuff.
Tamboo has improved its facilities, but take heart, none of this will
change its "Bar on the Beach" way, which earned Tamboo a spot on
Esquire Magazine's Best Bars In America list.
When Tamboo opens its doors we'll all still agree that there is no place like the Tamboo
Tavern at Beside the Pointe. But don't pay attention to what we have
to say, read the
Esquire Magazine Review.
Boarding House
sits on a tropical tree-lined road that leads to beautiful and un-crowded
beaches. We welcome Boarding House to our pages. Reminiscent of
the first Rincon surfer guest houses, it was designed to provide
functional comfort in an atmosphere of casual elegance.
Boarding House offers well-appointed accommodations in
the desirable Puntas area of Rincon,
just minutes away from the best surf breaks, with views of the
blue seas and fresh skies of Rincon. The ocean views from this
new guest house are stunning. Visit the
Boarding House web site and see its well-appointed
suites and its desirable Puntas location.
Casa Verde is Back! with new owners, Billy & Tiffany,
already known for their
successful
Rincon leisure ventures. Under their new management, Casa Verde
and its Rock Bottom Restaurant have gone through a
well-deserved upgrade. Located just steps from Sandy Beach, it
now offers clean, upgraded
accommodations and great service. The Rock Bottom offers a new
menu and improved dining area and bar. A stay at Casa
Verde now promises to be quite enjoyable.
Katarina Sail Charters, also managed by Billy & Tiffany, joins Rincon|Online.
Everyone knows that a visit to Rincon is simply not complete
without a cruise on the Katarina, which will soon begin to
accept early reservations for the upcoming season, in order to avoid last
year's wait list.
Katarina Sail Charters
offers wonderful day cruises and there is no better way to enjoy
our legendary Rincon Sunsets than from the deck of the Katarina.
The picture you see here is a mere facsimile of what you
experience on the Katarina. For more information and
reservations, visit the
Katarina web site.
Caracol Ché, is a private
estate nestled in three acres
of private tropical gardens that overlook the sea. Caracol
Ché
offers the
best of island living- a spacious and breezy hillside Villa
overlooking a
blue lagoon pool and panoramic views of the ocean and the bay.
At Caracol Ché you can
spend the
day lounging by the lagoon pool, which is fed by a
mesmerizing waterfall flowing from the hillside, or take a
short stroll to a
secluded beach. Watch unforgettable sunsets
from the top deck and slip in to the Jacuzzi at the ocean view
deck to watch the stars over the surf and and the moon over
the mountains. For a glimpse of true Island living at
Caracol Ché, visit their new
website, masterfully
crafted by Rincon|Online.
Testing the waters at our beaches has become a weekly
thing for the local Surfrider Foundation Chapter. These tests
prove what our wise grandparents taught us all those years ago:
When it rains in the mountains and the clarity of our pristine
off-shore waters changes, you shouldn't spend too many hours in
the ocean. Common sense tells us that the rain-laden rivers and
streams carry silt and other organics that swirl off-shore until
the currents take them out to sea. So here's our response to the
surfers who have written asking about the water tests: Surfers
who want to spend an entire rainy day in the water should
consider earplugs to avoid possible ear problems, just like
surfers at the California coast don body suits to
keep warm and surf more.
The Original Rincon Surf
Patrol (left) has been put
out to pasture. After
over
200,000 miles, it
was time to retire the now-legendary truck. It has been replaced
by a leaner and greener model (right) that prowls Rincon and
collects info on surf, dive, fishing and weather conditions and
what's cool in Rincon.
It also serves as a
Roving Rincon Tourism Attraction that
travels to tourist spots all over Puerto Rico, to further expose
Rincon to tourists and residents. It
joins the
USA Rincon Surf Patrol
(bottom)
on the prowl to promote
Rincon in
North
America.
The USA Rincon Surf Patrol is equipped with promotional
signage,
portable and handheld PC's
with wireless Internet, GPS navigation, XM Radio, satellite phone,
special lighting and of course, thousands of "I Love Rincon"
giveaway
bumper stickers, hats and t-shirts. Look
for our Surf Patrol Reports and pictures of the Surf Patrol in
cool places.
Sunset Village Comes Alive.
Sunset
Village is a modern Festival Market located on the main town
beach in Rincon, Puerto Rico. It includes beachfront shops, a
great
seafood restaurant, a water sports & beach rentals facility
and an ocean view tower. Under new management by David Acosta
and Omayda Guerra, this fairly new tourist facility has now
come into its own. David and Omayda also own and manage
Harbor Restaurant, a beachside eatery that offers
mouthwatering fresh seafood. Sunset Village shops include a
gourmet ice cream and dessert shop, an art gallery, a souvenir
store, a modern hair salon, as well as real estate,
chiropractor and municipal tourism offices.
#1 for 10 Straight Years. Rincon-PR.com
continues to rank #1 in the top search engines, Yahoo,
MSN & Google, for the most used Rincon keyword
searches. We could not have done it without you. Thanks for
making us the #1 Rincon site. Rincon-PR.com: The only
Rincon site that is only about Rincon.
Surfer-Artist Darren Chen
Loves Rincon, so he's designed some great
Rincon throwback surfing T-shirts and other items that are
just too cool. These designs are
exclusive to the Rincon|Online Store. Other new items include
our RINCON
WINTER 2007
Logo items, plus many new Rincon
PR Logo items. Click the image and visit the
Rincon|Online Store
and righteously represent during the surfing season.
Passport,
Please? Not in Rincon.
If you're a U.S.
Citizen traveling to the rest of the Caribbean, you'll now need a valid
Passport, but not for Rincon, Puerto Rico, a U.S. Territory.
When you come to Rincon, you don't worry about Customs &
Immigration forms and lines, strange laws or currency
conversion. In Rincon, your dollars, ATM card and cellphone
work just fine. When you arrive and depart, your safety is
ensured
at the airport by the Transportation Safety Administration.
Rincon is the best and easiest Caribbean destination. So,
whenever you're ready to take a break, just make a reservation
with one of our fine lodging establishments, hop on a
well-maintained U.S. airliner and come to your home in the
Caribbean: Rincon, Puerto Rico.
Palatine Hill in Rincon
lives up to the Roman opulence of its moniker. Now, you can
experience the incredible views from the luxurious perch known
as Sugar Hill Luxury Villa,
located 300 feet above the
brilliant, blue waters of
the Caribbean, with an incomparable
360-degree panoramic view that will take your breath away.
Located in the gated community of
Palatine Hill Estates,
Sugar Hill Luxury Villa
is just minutes to beautiful beaches, world-class surfing and
charming downtown Rincon. Enjoy
miles of pristine beaches,
captivating sunsets, world-class surfing, whale watching,
snorkeling, diving, windsurfing, or just relaxing by the pool
and taking in some of the most awesome scenery in Puerto Rico.
The I Love
Rincon Spirit Goes Far, most recently Afghanistan.
Danny
Ramirez Crespo, who is serving on the other side of the
world, decided to honor his home town and its lovely beaches
by letting everyone know where he's from. Click the image to
see Danny's homage to Rincon.
We salute the men and women of the military and humanitarian
organizations endeavoring in all parts of the world. We wish
them good luck and a safe and happy return.
Rincon Escape
is a
luxurious beach Villa with a swimming pool, in a
quiet, exclusive Rincón beach neighborhood. Rincon Escape is a
large private home with an old world feeling- high ceilings,
generous spaces to relax in and a private patio and pool.
Located at Corcega Beach, which is becoming the trendiest
beach in Rincon, this lovely beach area Villa is perfect for
that oceanside vacation. To see more about Rincon Escape,
and its awesome features and great reates, visit their
web site.
Seashell Villas
is right on beautiful, quiet
Corcega
Beach and offers 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom fully-equipped
apartments. The Villas feature
dramatic open-plan living, kitchen and dining areas with
stunning views of the sea. The pictures on the web site are an
approximation of the actual beauty and
comfort of this gorgeous beach house. We welcome
Seashell Villas to
our pages; it promises to be
quite popular with the most discerning of our steady Rincon
visitors.
Luxury
Accommodations at Maria's Beach? Yes!
Surf the
best
breaks in Rincon and walk from the shore to the luxurious
Maria's Beach Villas. We've been there and can only say that
Maria's Beach Villas sets a new standard for high-end
lodging in Rincon. To see for yourself, go to the new
Maria's Beach Village web site, where you can
make your reservations
can be made.
Lemontree Grows in Rincon. The legendary
Lemontree Oceanfront Cottages
has new owners, a new look and a new
attitude.
If you haven't stayed at Lemontree recently, you're in for a
pleasant surprise. Upgraded tropical accommodations, flat
screen TV's and Wi-Fi are just some of the newer amenities at Lemontree. You can also learn Scuba at the on-premises school.
Bella Jane and Ted have made Lemontree the place for a vacation
to remember. To see more about Lemontree,

Casa Margarita a spacious
and airy Pool Villa, is just a A short walk
from Sea Beach. This very comfortable home is superbly
appointed and offers three bedrooms, two bathrooms, indoor and
outdoor dining areas, plus a pool with grill. For a
closer look and to make reservations,

Real Estate in Rincon continues
to attract savvy buyers and investors. By popular request,
we've added a Real Estate Classifieds page, which
showcases the best properties in Rincon. To see it,

Around the World have Rincon logo stickers gone. It was
just a matter of
time
before one appeared on a Humvee in Iraq. Our latest photo
submission is from MSG Dennis G. Acevedo, U.S. Army,
at Tall Afar, Iraq (click to enlarge). From the deserts
of Iraq, MSG Acevedo sees the beaches of Rincon, through the
cyber-windows provided by Rincon|Online. We salute the men and
women of the military and humanitarian organizations
endeavoring in all parts of the world. We wish them good luck
and a safe and happy return. To see which Rincon sticker
will look good on your Humvee or Hummer, visit the
Rincon Online Store.
Dive Rincon
and have the experience of a lifetime. The waters
around Rincon are aquarium-like. When
you dive, the water is so clear- it's almost like it's not
there. We can't begin to describe what it's like to dive
Rincon and the nearby uninhabited islands of Desecheo and
Mona. That's why we can only recommend that you visit
Taino Divers web site and see it for yourself.

The
Spot at Black Eagle continues to tantalize its patrons
with its original and delicious culinary creations. Host Amy
Bloom has become the darling of the seasonal Rincon
restaurant crowd. Now, you can keep up with what's cooking at
The Spot, by visiting their unique web site, designed
and hosted by RINCON|ONLINE.

The Rincon Shoreline Bike Path
has been the talk of the town for several years. Envisioned by
most to be a seaside scenic ribbon meandering through nature from
Sunset Village to the Lighthouse, it was widely accepted as a great
concept. Until recently, its actual route and construction method had
been a mystery to most in Rincon. Several weeks
ago, Leon Richter, a leader of the local Surfrider Foundation
chapter and Puntas land developer, produced a complete
set of engineering plans designed by the Puerto Rico Department
of Transportation. These plans can be seen on a
ring-the-warning-bell
website that mimics Al Gore’s movie-
although it’s not really an end of the world as we know it issue.
The plans that appear on the website show a
mostly-paved bike path on steroids,
with many add-ons that seem more geared towards motor vehicle
parking spaces than the bicycles and pedestrians it's meant
for. Upon viewing this expensive and intrusive plan, the Jimmy
Buffet tune, "Overkill", comes to mind. But consider the source- this
project would have been better assigned to recreational park
designers, not the highway department. Imagine if the planning
and construction
of Central Park would have been handed over to a group of NYC
Transit Authority engineers?
We spoke to the Mayor about the bike
path, who upon
being confronted with a copy of the plans, immediately
requested a meeting with the Public Works and Transportation
Secretary. He wants to ensure that the bike path plans
presented to him are correct and updated. He went on to say that he'll issue a position
statement after his meeting. It appears that our Mayor was not fully
aware of what was being planned for the most valuable natural
treasure of his town. We also spoke to
several community leaders who are now against the bike path,
mainly because it appears to impact the Tres Palmas Marine
Reserve (what part of the term “Marine Reserve” did the
planners not get?).
Rincon again finds itself confronting
the choice between Natural Preservation and Tourism
Development. In this case, one can recall the example of Marbella
in Spain- or maybe not even go so far and take a stroll
on the Piñones boardwalk between
Isla Verde and Loiza to see how that turned out.
It’s time
for the Mayor to convene and listen to a Tourism Development
Advisory Board. Projects like this one would then be more
representative of the Rincon lifestyle and in tune with the
realities and desires of all its residents. Besides
addressing seashore issues, the Advisory Board can also take
on overall development impact issues in the Town and rural
areas, taking into consideration our limited and somewhat
delicate infrastructure. This Advisory Board could also help
the Mayor determine how to best use current public tourism
funding and help raise more dollars. Right now, no one seems
to know where any public funding for Rincon tourism comes from
and what it's actually used for.
On a related
note, perhaps such an independent entity can also find out why the
“Chinchorro” (a large net that was cast from the beach by
rowboat and pulled by anyone who wanted to share the catch)
was stopped by the island Natural Resources Department, under the
flimsy excuse that “it damaged
the offshore reef” where it had been cast every morning for a
time longer than most can remember.
The only problem with that reasoning is a forgotten (or
ignored) fact: there
never was a reef off
that particular beach. Any fisherman knows that you can’t
cast a net over a reef- it’ll get stuck and besides breaking
the net and damaging the reef, you won’t catch any fish. Maybe
the local chapter of the Surfrider Foundation can assist in
bringing the
“Chinchorro” back to our community life and the ecological
traditions that had been in place for centuries before the
first surfboard ever touched our waves. After all, Rincon
is not just about preserving the beaches and reefs for
well-to-do surfers, is it?
The History of Rincon
in Pictures:
Besides recording today's Rincon in pictures and video for
your
enjoyment and for posterity, our archives contain hundreds of
Rincon vintage photographs, some dating back to the late
1800's. Many of these unique historical photographs are from
our Publisher's family archives. Others are from exclusive
local sources. In order to preserve
these important images, RINCON|ONLINE undertook a
long-term historical conservation project, as a public service
to the Town and its people. We have completed cataloging
and
scanning the most
important photographs, of which several were showing
deterioration. In some cases, the images were restored and
digitally enhanced. We've delivered the first CD-ROMs
of these
historic images to the Rincon Cultural Center, the Municipal Library
and to
Rincon Schools, for the use and enjoyment of current and future
generations.
I Love Rincon
Sticker: We once jokingly asked that anyone visiting China
take one our sticker to the Great Wall and it
happened. Marlene Gutierrez, that quintessential Rincon
lover who now resides in Pennsylvania,
has sent us another photo of
her with of our sticker, in front of The
Parthenon
in Greece, home of the 2004 Olympics. Marlene shows
her love for Rincon everywhere that she drives to with our
latest sticker on her Audi. We mostly give
away our stickers and they go fast. If you see
the Rincon Surf Patrol,
tell the driver to give you one. You can also order them
(cheap, to cover postage and handling) at the
Rincon
Online Store. Send us your photo
of a sticker at some unique spot, or on your favorite car,
boat or other toy, and we'll place it on our
Sights page.
|