If you want
      to spend some time touring Puerto Rico, you will pretty much
      have to rent a car. The there-and-back-again price for a taxi to
      the Observatory is the same as a 1-week car rental. There are
      all of the usual car rental companies at the airport, and many
      people seem to use Charlie Rent-a-car. In Arecibo, there is a
      new Hertz office associated with a travel agent. I don't know
      that you can walk in and rent a car, but you can apparently
      reserve one and rent it there, and return it either there or at
      the airport. They definitely have limited hours. It may be
      comparable or cheaper to rent a car for the entire time if you
      use one of the less-expensive companies, and probably less
      hassle.

      <p>Some suggested things to see are:
      <p>The old Spanish forts in San Juan. El Morro shows you what "the last bastion" really means.
      <p>El Yunque national forest is a real rain forest (maybe twice as much rain as at the Observatory). It has plenty of trails etc. You will get wet.
      <p>Driving through the mountains is lovely, as long as you don't get seasick.
      <p>
	The bioluminescent bays (Parguera on the South end of Puerto Rico, and
	the much superior Mosquito Bay in Vieques) are wonderful, though less
	so during full moon. After the workshop, the moon should rise late
	enough to make these worthwhile.

      <p>
	The diving in Puerto Rico is excellent, and the water is warm
	(>25 deg. C), even in February. We can arrange dive trips if
	you let us know well in advance (like now). Most trips are
	boat dives, often to 300m vertical walls, though some dive
	shops can arrange ad hoc shore dives for drop-ins if you show
	up reasonably early. "The Shacks" has a very nice 20-m pool
	where snorklers wish they could go just a bit deeper. There
	are nice snorkling areas too, though again, the best one I
	know is in Vieques. "Crash Boat" is a recommended place.
	
      <p>If you want to tour, the Observatory is not a particularly
      good base to work from. Better would be San Juan / Condado /
      Isla Verde, Ponce / Parguera, or Fajardo. Even the hotels near
      Arecibo will save you an hour compared to the Observatory. If
      you have the time to visit one of the nearby islands, Culebra or
      Vieques, they are relatively uncrowded.

      <p>It is generally a good idea to have hotel reservations,
      rather than expect to find a room wherever your travels take
      you, though a day ahead is probably fine. Note that places
      called "motel" typically have hourly rates. "Guest houses" are
      generally the best value, but are not widely
      advertised. "Paradores" are next, and are in some way government
      sponsored. Paradores vary from fine to wonderful. The hotels
      with casinos are mysteriously the most expensive option. They do
      tend to have multiple swimming pools, golfing, etc. Pick up a
      "Que Pasa" magazine (free) when you arrive at the airport: it
      lists many options, and is hard to come by outside of San Juan.

      <p>Except in San Juan, the food in Puerto Rico is all much the
      same. You have "fast food" (Burger King and the like---don't use
      the drive-through unless you are truly fluent in Spanish). "El
      Meson" is a decent local sandwich chain. Next come Mesones
      Gastronomicos, which are fine, but mostly all the same, and
      approximately what we will be having at the meeting for
      dinner. Last is stuff you get from trucks on the side of the
      road. I recommend these latter, though the food won't be
      fat-free (nor vegetarian). Pinchos and Empanedillas are favorite
      "light-bulb foods", and worth a try. "Empanedillas de Pizza"
      might even be meatless. If you are a serious vegetarian, be
      aware that "No meat" means to a Puerto Rican "No anatomically
      identifiable lumps of muscle tissue." You will be offered
      sausage with no ill intention, and lard is used abundantly.