The name of the statue is “Birth of the New World,” and so as a symbol it is controversial, a reminder of history both good and bad. As a piece of art, there isn’t much to say, though I found charming the little ship that is sailing round the base. You will see in the picture that follows that we could see it from the beach. (I found out it is even taller tha the Statue of Liberty, making it the tallest statue in this hemisphere.) It is erected at the top of a hill, so it is visible for quite some distance, if you are far enough away (as in: out on the water). Despite its checkered history, (see the article above) the monument is impressive. It is easy to see from the road, and that was our only choice as the access to it was closed. We stopped to see the statue of Christopher Columbus. Images of Playa Pata and Mar Chiquita Manati, Puerto RicoĪfter this trio, (and by no means are these the only beaches near Manatí!) we drove over to the area near Arecibo. Mar Chiquita is very popular with families because the water is safe for children. On a Thursday morning, early summer, all three of the beaches were nearly deserted. And, just beyond Pata Pata is the famous Mar Chiquita, a hemispherical sandy beach around a pool of calm water made by a break in the rocks that line the shore. Though it is native to Puerto Rico, this is the first reference I have found for it. Pata pata in English means paw paw, a tree with a fruit of the same name. Right in the same area, moving westward is Playa Pata Pata. I didn’t know the north coast as a place for surfing, but I was surprised to learn that there are potentially good waves all year here because the beach is so wide and open. As near as I could ascertain, Los Tubos refers to the “tubes” that form as big waves break, as in surfing. Los Tubos Beach, near Manatí, is a beautiful stretch of open beach on the Atlantic coast. Google may show the name in the other language, so be aware that it might be a translation.) (That means if you’re visiting and have to ask for directions, that is the name you should use. For my part, I am going to give you the local usage name. I supposed there is a rhyme and reason to all this. Some use the word “ playa” in the name, some use the word “beach”. Even Google tries to translate them, but the translations don’t always coincide with local usage. Some have Spanish names, and some English names. The naming of beaches in Puerto Rico poses certain challenges for a writer. We left San Juan about 7:30 am, driving along the north coast. We were definitely photographing for a purpose: Our 2022 Puerto Rico calendar. The weather was hot, so what better way to stay cool than to get out onto some breezy beaches, where we could enjoy the waves and the sun. Recently, while visiting Puerto Rico and preparing to move (May 2021), my husband and I took two days off and set out to photograph the north and northwestern beaches of Puerto Rico.
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