Not Much

Planning a trip is a lot of fun, and I like to start by gathering information about the destination: the language, the weather, the food, the must-see attractions. After all, I'm visiting another country. Actually, I'm not.

I booked a domestic flight. I don't need a passport or currency exchange. Its Puerto Rico! So naturally, I jot down a list of Puerto Rican things I'm looking forward to. It was shorter than expected - warm weather, beaches, fresh fruit, and coquí frogs. I couldn't recall any major information. Mostly I just started singing:

"Puerto Rico, my heart's devotion! Let it sink back in the ocean!"

The lyrics were only working against me. While I still occasionally break into song (and dance), I knew I needed more substantial information. So, I reached out to my family and friends.

What do you know about Puerto Rico?

"I don't know anything!"

"It's a very small island."

"Beautiful beaches and great food"

"They have great surfing waves!"

"John Henne went there many years ago and enjoyed the fresh fruit."

"They are a part of the U.S. and even have a representative that attends the electoral voting stuff but doesn't actually get to cast a vote. It's near the island of Hispaniola. They cut off their words in Spanish a lot, and they are all Sharks who hate the Jets."

"It's the 51st state."

"Es la Isla del Encanto."

"It's a U.S. territory, so if you get bit by a shark, it should only be a short helicopter ride back to the mainland."

"Nobody needs to work, everyone is on the beach salsa dancing."

"It's the wealthiest island of the Caribbean, however it would be the poorest state if it joined the union. And Roberto Clemente is from Puerto Rico."

"I want to go"

"For breakfast they eat a banana. For lunch, they eat a banana. For dinner they eat a banana. Sometimes an orange."

"It is in the South. You can walk across it in a day."

"They are included in the Miss America pageants, and Jennifer Lopez is Puerto Rican."

"They have beaches, and eat iguanas."

"I don't know anything other than it means 'rich port' in Spanish."

"BACARDI!"

"There is a cool singing gang called the Sharks from there that I always wanted to be a part of."

"Puerto Rico is awesome!! The people are super friendly. Driving is great because anything goes! And the beaches are FANTASTIC!"

"The construction office was moved there last year, and there are nice beaches.

"Someone from Puerto Rico once gave me a vat of guava, and there are coquí frogs."

"I had friends that lived there, and they eat flan!"

"Genesis is from there. It is an island, and the people like beans."

"The capitol is San Juan. Genesis is from there. You should ask her, she would know more."

Great information, guys, so many facts ... and guesses. I'll be sure to get a full explanation from the lovely Genesis, our host and native resident.