The closing of Roosevelt Roads and Ramey AFB had marginal effects on the overall PR economy. For one, both of those military installations were largely "closed economies," meaning most of the income inside those bases never left the bases. Yes, people were employed and many goods and services were purchased from the Island economy but the overall impact was on the margin. The former Ramey AFB area is arguably more of a local economic engine now than it was during the AFB years as all of the homes and business there participate in the local economy. Roosevelt Roads has been slower to develop due to the extensive environmental/toxic reclamation needed but the neighboring islands are more economically vibrant (Culebra and Vieques). Most people don't even realize that most of the military & their families stationed at Ramey AFB never stepped foot outside the base during their 2 - 3 yr postings!
You nailed it on the bonds: high rates of return because of high risk. However, bond holders consider their bonds to be without risk. They especially like these bonds because of high interest rates AND because they were exempt from state and federal taxes. So, really, who is getting the bail out? The bond holders. Ya'll know the saying, if it sounds too good to be true then it probably isn't.
Many gringos bring their attitudes from their crowded stateside breaks down to the Island. Many gringos exercise a colonial attitude as well. It has been increasingly ugly over the past several years.
Ron I searched high and low for a LEGIT sports bar in Rincon, Mayaguez, Aguada, Aguadilla, etc. and I didn't find not one, not in 4 different trips worth about a month of time spent on the Island. And Chilli's or Applebee's does not count. To watch a NFL football game I had to go sit at the poolside bar behind Lazy Parrot because they have a couple TV's there but that is no sports bar. Have you ever been to a Buffalo Wild Wings, Dave & Busters, Miller's Ale House, or a Beef O' Brady's? That's my idea of a sports bar. There should be huge flat screen TV's everywhere spanning the entire circumference of the interior of the building and a bunch more all around the bar area. The bar should have wide variety of beers on tap and a full liquor bar. It should have some of the best chicken wings you can find and a large menu of bar food items as well as a few healthy options for the women who don't like the fattening foods. There should be waitresses with tits popping out of tank tops and maybe short shorts or a skirt. The audio being played on the house speakers should be the highest profile game that is being played at the time. During the summer there is plenty of baseball games on, NFL football starts in August, and there is always soccer being played somewhere in the world. Throw in tennis, golf, and a few other lesser popular sports that are played year round and you have something for everybody. A venue that includes these things, in addition to some pool tables, darts, video games and trivia and you have a legit sports bar. I'd like buy the Surfer Bar or Calypso or something and put one of these there and I guarantee you it will be the #1 spot in the area and will be packed year round, summer or not. There's nothing like this that I found, if there is, please tell me where so next trip down I can go and enjoy myself when i'm not in the water. There's only so many times you can go to Tamboo, Red Flamboyan, Shipwreck, Villa Cofresi, etc. lmao Feel me?
Sounds like you went to the wrong place... You described a good business opportunity for Orlando or San Juan, but not the west coast of Puerto Rico. For the "other" island (outside of San Juan metro area your proposal is mostly a cultural projection. And for six months in the year the concept would be a business failure in your "Calypso" target area. Sorry, it ain't Cocoa Beach, it is Puerto Rico. Have you tried Jaco Beach or Tamarindo?
No, I went to the right place, I love Rincon, I just see the opportunity. You may not, and that's OK. You're right though, it's not Cocoa Beach, and that's a good thing. Culture has nothing to do with it. I met plenty of people in Rincon who love sports, love drinking, and love food, all things that are universally accepted all over the world. Never know until you try. I would love to give it a shot one day if I run into a large sum of money and can convince my wife. Most people who do great things in this world are told by others that they will fail, this is no different.
I am the tourist who dropped in on the local in this incident. A friend who was with me at domes sent me this link, and I thought id share my thoughts. This was not an issue of disrespect, i simply did not see the local in the wave and as soon as i did i pulled out of the wave but i guess he thought i did this too late. I immediately apologized, but he attempted to punch me. When the local realized this was a fight he would not win (me being 200lbs and 6% body fat, him about 130 soaking wet) he paddled in to get a police baton (not a selfie stick with a hook). He chased me to the shore and on the beach I told him repeatedly i was sorry and did not mean any disrespect. He did not really accept my apology and insisted i leave (which i didn't.... i stayed and surfed the same break for hours after.) Luckily for both him and myself he did not hit me. For him, because he would've gotten slammed on his little head in front of all his local friends, and for me because all his local friends would've preceded to kick my ass and i never would be able to return to domes. I understand the frustration that locals face when their beaches fill with tourists. But violence does not need to be the initial response to someone dropping in on you. Respect goes both ways and he showed me none.. I sure as hell wasn't about to be a ***** and leave the beach because of this ass hole.
I've had a person or two talk **** only to see I'm a foot taller and 50+ pounds larger than him (and everyone else). Aggro doesn't happen to me cause I happen to be the size of an NBA small forward. Sorry to hear that happened to you. I'm headed to Rincon for my honeymoon and don't want any of that bull****. Guess I'll be sure to look both ways before I take off and try to avoid the more crowded spots. DPSUP, if you build it they will come. I happen to agree with you bub.
I heard he hit you in the face with a monkey wrench. When you little scamps get together, you're worse than a sewing circle.
I appreciate that. You know this, but it's also where I went for my honeymoon, you won't be disappointed. Don't worry about going to Domes, Maria's, Sandy Beach, etc., never had an issue there. Only once did a local get frustrated that I was in the impact zone on his drop and we squashed it quick because nothing I could of done. It gets crowded but you'll get plenty of waves and your newly wed wife will enjoy all the restaurants / bars, beaches, etc.
Well, there's two sides to every story. If yours is true, then you may have just run into a guy who was having a really bad day. Isolated incident. No harm no foul. Minor drop ins like what you describe happen on every wave, on every swell all Winter long from Dogman's up and around to Sandy. Sounds like the guy flew off the handle a bit considering it's Domes. But it may have been more prudent for you to have moved along down the road to Marias or something. YOU are lucky it didn't get physical, not the other way around. You have a lot more to lose than they do. You can have 6% body fat and fight like Bruce f@cking Lee, but you will lose when the pack sets on you. Your lucky this didn't happen at Bridges. I've seen them swarm like a pack of howler monkeys.
I can very easily see the situation escalating out of control. After several knowing or unknowing careless drop-ins it is easy to lose patience and directly curse the next offender. As in Hawaii, the 3 strike rule is usually in effect among all the surfriders including longboard, shortboard, kneeboard, boogie. The strikes including drop-ins, failing to catch a wave a person calls or signals they will catch and fail to catch, and wipe out takeoff on a wave judged to be less than difficult. Other factors might include being out of position, sitting inside on the impact zone interfering with others, paddling to the shoulder instead of eating the white water, etc. Quite frankly, a lot of "visitors" don't have an appreciation for the rules of the water when coming from beach breaks and crowded surf spots.
I say we nuke the island: No more crowded surf breaks, No more Welfare parasites; balance the budget; No more Zika
