Packing List Part 2

It's getting chilly out and I cannot wait to go home! I arrive the island of enchantment on December 13th and Ryan gets there on the 20th. So exciting! RSVPs are starting to roll in... Have you started to pack your bags???

I forgot a few things on my first "Packing List" blog. Some more thoughts:

• Shoes: Aside from a nice pair to go out and for the wedding, make sure you bring good sneakers for walking and sandals for the beach. You will see Puerto Ricans are obsessed with crocs so don't be afraid of wearing your most colorful pair. Also, if you are visiting a river I strongly recommend you get water shoes. If you don't have a pair you won't have any trouble finding a cheap one at any Walmart, Walgreens, K-mart, or any grocery store in the island. BTW, the biggest chain of grocery stores in the island is AMIGO, owned by Walmart.
• Electrical outlets/wattage is the same as the mainland, so no need to pack a converter.
• Your swimsuit! Hotels have towels and most of the vacation rentals provide them also. But I strongly recommend you double check with your vacation rental office.
• Your camera!
• By now I think that most cellphone providers work from Puerto Rico and don't charge roaming or long-distance. For sure: Sprint and AT&T work fine.
• If you have a portable GPS you should bring it. That being said, some rural roads in Puerto Rico tend not to be on them. Your invitation should have arrived with a map. Bring that with you!

Feel free to contact me if you think of anything else. You can find pretty much everything you buy in the states down in the island so don't stress too much if you forget to pack some essentials!

Packing List and Airport Security stuff

With the beginning of Fall I thought it is a great time to go shopping for deals on summer clothing and accessories. I put together a packing list of sorts. Enjoy!

I'd recommend of course bringing sun glasses or any sort of hat to shield you from the Sun. The weather in Puerto Rico is warm year round so bring pleanty of cool clothes. Having said that, no matter how steamy the weather gets, Puerto Rican locals will not wear shorts. Puerto Ricans dress nicely when eating out, regardless of the restaurant. They even dress well when going to the grocery store. This does not mean that people wear formal wear, but they do dress well. Some people wear jeans when going out, but they are paired with dressier tops. You will very rarely see a woman wearing a t-shirt. So if you plan to go out at night, you may want to bring a nicer outfit, along with a nice pair of shoes.

For the wedding the most important thing is that you are comfortable in what you are wearing. It will be a semi-formal wedding. This is a little tricky because like I said before Puerto Ricans love to dress up, and the Puerto Rican definition of semi-formal is slightly more formal than semi. Because there is a good chance its going to be warm and humid and the reception is outdoors, I would stay away from fabrics like satin or taffeta that don't breath well. Some people have asked me about the protocol for a Catholic wedding and if a specific attire is necessary for entering a Church. I think that as long as you are not wearing a JLO style V-neck you'll be fine. The Church is air-conditioned (you will find Puerto Ricans love air-conditioning and keep rooms really cold) so I would definately recommend a shall or light cardingan in case it gets chilly during the ceremony and at night.

For toiletries, sunblock, etc.. bring as much or as little as you feel comfortable. In Puerto Rico you will find a Walgreens, a Wal-Mart, or a K-Mart in every corner so you will not have any trouble buying basic necessities at an affordable price. If you are bringing toiletries with you, don't forget the 3-1-1 rule airport security has for carry-ons = 3.5 ounce bottle or less (by volume); 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic zip-top bag; 1 bag per person.

Speaking of airport security, if you are checking bags on your way to PR, make sure you save your receipt. You will have to show your receipt to security on your way out of the airport and they will verify the receipt matches the tag on your bag. They are pretty strict about this rule.

Also if you are checking-in bags on your way from PR, the USDA will have to scan your bags before you enter the airport and tag them.

Hope that helps!