Puerto Rico has such tremendous potential, it's kind of a shame it's not further along than it is. For people who've never been to it, the "feel" of it wouldn't

Puerto Rico has such tremendous potential, it's kind of a shame it's not further along than it is. For people who've never been to it, the "feel" of it wouldn't surprise most Americans who've spent time outside of rich major metro areas. Lots of the really bad crime tends to be isolated to certain areas and groups. There's also a huge mountainous interior that's a world away from the tropical beaches and Spanish colonial towns. Mostly that's the source of the absolutely incredible coffee that comes from the Island. Why it isn't more like Hawaii isn't entirely clear, but I suspect not being fully integrated into the U.S. Federal system is part of it. The local governance of the Island hasn't been fantastic and most of the Puerto Ricans I know who lived there have long ago since moved to the mainland U.S. to find a better life (many of them also then turn around and buy investment vacation property back on the Island they spend time in every summer). Still, if you know where to go, and where not to go, and learn some of the local ways of doing things, it can be a very lovely place, great history, good food, right in the Caribbean so other islands are close by...