http://www.puertorico.com/blog/ en 2013-05-12T23:14:36-05:00 hourly 6 2013-05-12T23:14:36-05:00 http://www.puertorico.com/blog/karla-monroig-model-actress-and-television-host 2013-05-12T23:14:36-05:00 en Editor Features Puerto Rican model, actress and television host Karla Monroig has been chosen to host the second season of the immensely popular reality television singing competition Idol Kids Puerto Rico, scheduled to start in July 2013. As the Puerto Rican franchise of the British show Pop Idol, Idol Kids Puerto Rico has a panel of judges who have the difficult task of selecting the most promising and talented young singers between the ages of 6 and 12 years old in the audition stage of the competition. Telephone voting by viewers plays a role in choosing the finals. The show includes the stories behind the lives of contestants, and as with any live show, presentation is paramount, and the host needs to keep things moving in a way that keeps the audience captivated. In an interview in the Latin American Herald Tribune, Karlo Monroig noted that she is very happy to have been given the chance to host Idol Kids Puerto Rico and to contribute to discovering the stars of the future, describing the show as "fun and positive". http://www.puertorico.com/blog/take-a-walk-through-old-san-juan 2013-04-29T03:09:18-05:00 en Editor Travel Covering an area of seven blocks, Old San Juan features up to four hundred superbly restored 16th and 17th-century Spanish colonial buildings. Those who have done so, agree that one of the best ways to explore this historical treasure is on foot, giving yourself time to take in the details you may otherwise miss. Information on the various attractions of Old San Juan can be obtained from the Puerto Rico Tourism Company’s Visitor Center located opposite Plaza de la Darsena, which is a good place to start a walking tour. http://www.puertorico.com/blog/talented-puerto-rican-composer-juan-morel-campos 2013-04-15T03:39:07-05:00 en Editor Features Although the music of Puerto Rico has been influenced by its African and European heritage, it has developed its own distinctive vibrant sound over the generations. There have been a number of notable Puerto Rican musicians and composers who have made significant contributions to the various styles of music enjoyed by the people of the enchanted island. Juan Morel Campos (1857-1896) was one such composer and musician, who, in his relatively short lifetime composed more than 550 musical works, with his focus being on the popular genre of danza, although he also composed symphonies, waltzes, marches and overtures. http://www.puertorico.com/blog/environmental-research-at-luquillo-experimental-forest 2013-04-01T03:15:17-05:00 en Editor Features Consisting of more than 140 islands, islets, cays and atolls in the Caribbean Sea, the archipelago of Puerto Rico is a popular holiday destination offering a host of fascinating cultural, historical and natural attractions to visit. Among the natural attractions are numerous forest reserves, conservation areas and wildlife refuges offering eco-tourism opportunities. Puerto Rico is also home to the Luquillo Experimental Forest – one of the 26 sites run by the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network which conducts vital research on a variety of different ecosystems across the United States and Antarctica, with a view to understanding how climate change and land use affect the environment. http://www.puertorico.com/blog/explore-the-fascinating-museums-of-ponce 2013-03-18T03:04:37-05:00 en Editor Features Named in honor of Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the great-grandson of the first governor of Puerto Rico, Juan Ponce de León, the city of Ponce was founded in 1694 and is a treasure trove of culture and history. Visitors to the city can gain a true sense of Puerto Rican history and culture by visiting the city's museums such as the Museum of the History of Ponce, El Museo Castillo Serralles, the Ponce Museum of Art, the Museum of Puerto Rican Music, the House of the Ponce Massacre, the Old Ponce Firehouse Museum and the Tibes Indian Museum and Archeological Site. http://www.puertorico.com/blog/fun-and-excitement-at-toro-verde-in-orocovis 2013-03-04T02:38:07-06:00 en Editor Features Located less than an hour's drive from San Juan, near the town of Orocovis, Toro Verde Ecological Adventure Park offers hours of fun and excitement for thrill-seekers – all in picturesque natural surroundings. The Zipline at Toro Verde features eight two-line wires, connected by a series of platforms. The minimum height for visitors to enjoy the zipline is 4 feet, with the maximum weight the wires can safely carry being limited to 300 pounds. Strapped into a harness and traveling feet first, the speed of the ride varies depending on wind speed, weight and other factors – and is sure to be exhilarating. http://www.puertorico.com/blog/the-2013-casals-festival-a-cultural-celebration 2013-02-18T02:19:24-06:00 en Editor Features The 2013 Casals Festival is set to take place from the 23rd of February through to the 16th of March with a full program of world-class entertainment and events. The festival was founded in 1956 and named in honor of its founder, the world-renowned Catalan cellist and conductor Pablo Casals (1876-1973). The inaugural event was held in the theater of the University of Puerto Rico, and was meant to start with a performance by Casals of Johann Sebastian Bach's Suite No. 3 for Cello Solo in C Major, but unfortunately Casals had suffered a heart attack during rehearsals and missed the festival as he was recuperating. An empty Conductor's chair signified his absence during the entire festival. Fortunately, the Maestro recovered and became the driving force behind the festival until he died in 1973. http://www.puertorico.com/blog/prso-promoting-symphonic-music-in-puerto-rico 2013-02-04T01:51:38-06:00 en Editor Features Established in 1956 under the leadership of Pablo Casals, the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra (PRSO) has been entertaining sold-out audiences since its inaugural concert in Mayagüez in 1958. The PRSO has among its goals the creation of an environment to encourage the development of Puerto Rican musical talent; the promotion of an appreciation for symphonic music through educational programs; the opening up of opportunities for young graduates in the field of music and providing opportunities for soloists and composers to showcase their works; and to collaborate with educational, cultural, governmental, civic and private organizations in promoting critical appreciation of the symphonic repertoire. http://www.puertorico.com/blog/amazing-aerobatics-of-puerto-ricos-green-mango 2013-01-21T03:23:56-06:00 en Editor Features Bearing a name that is more likely to be associated with an unripe tropical fruit, the Green Mango (Anthracothorax viridis) is in fact a species of hummingbird found only on the main island and archipelago of Puerto Rico. With iridescent green feathers and blue and black tail, the Green Mango is a relatively large species among these tiny birds and has no clear distinguishing features to differentiate between male and female. While being considered fairly uncommon, it is listed with the IUCN as being of 'least concern' as its numbers have not declined significantly over three generations. Nevertheless, as with all the wildlife of Puerto Rico, the Green Mango is dependent on conservation of the island's natural resources for its continued survival. http://www.puertorico.com/blog/talented-entertainer-jacobo-morales 2013-01-07T00:35:20-06:00 en Editor Features Born in Lajas, Puerto Rico, on 12 November 1934, Jacobo Morales in widely considered being the most influential film director in the filmmaking history of this charming Caribbean island. He is also a talented actor, having appeared in a number of films, some of which he directed, and is one of the members of the Puerto Rican comedy troupe, Los Rayos Gamma, which is well known for its distinctive brand of political satire.