tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7877919859322310751.post4369125560325099828..comments2023-10-28T20:29:16.937-07:00Comments on Leaf, Twig & Stem: Memorial Day and the Spanish American Wartheailurophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14291353148749332231noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7877919859322310751.post-69293069123227482242016-06-04T04:53:39.243-07:002016-06-04T04:53:39.243-07:00Wow! To our modern eyes this sounds tropical and l...Wow! To our modern eyes this sounds tropical and lovely. Imagine hiking that route in a wool uniform with a heavy pack of equipment and supplies. I hope, after reflection, he was able to remember some of the prettier things you described. Thanks for sharing.theailurophilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14291353148749332231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7877919859322310751.post-23582619576890928852016-06-04T02:47:23.709-07:002016-06-04T02:47:23.709-07:00I have been on that route from Ponce to Utuado. It...I have been on that route from Ponce to Utuado. It was in 1973 and we travelled up the river into the mountains in the central cordillera. As a lowland city, Ponce is near desert, but as you rise in elevation the clouds from the Caribbean begin to rake the hills with moisture. There is a rocky stream most of the way along the modern roadway until you reach the high passes of the interior. The highest spot on the island is on this route, I think about 1400 meters. At the top there is a rain forest with tree ferns an important part of the flora. It does get cold at night. We continued on that route to Utuado where we camped overnight on a broad, shallow stream. The next morning we toured an indigenous Indian site with mock-ups of buildings, and then the radio telescope of Arecebo. Lots of now-defunct coffee plantations were visible as relics on the rougher acreages, while over-exploited farming areas in the valleys where forest would have dominated the terrain in the 1898's. Webbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12919018084471214238noreply@blogger.com