Isle of Enchantment Read Free Page B

packed with people gazing at the stage. A guitarist strummed a few chords in the corner. A tall woman in a red ruffled dress stood in the center of the stage.
    â€œJust in time,” Carmen said. “She hasn’t started the dance yet.”
    As the guitar played slowly, the dancer waved her arms in the air, keeping pace with the guitar.
    â€œWhat is she doing?” I asked.
    â€œShe’s a Flamenco dancer,” Carmen said.
    â€œA what?” Tomas asked, puzzled.
    â€œFlamenco. It is a dance from Spain. People all over the Caribbean love Flamenco,” Carmen said breathlessly.
    The guitar played faster. The dancer arched her back and stomped her high heels to the beat. She spun, arched, and dipped to the rhythm of the music. Instead of slowing down, the music went faster. The dancer pounded the floor with her feet. She grasped the edge of her dress and dipped to the music.
    â€œIsn’t Flamenco beautiful?” Carmen asked us.
    â€œIncredible,” I answered.
    â€œCome on, let’s dance!” Carmen pulled me to the corner of the stage. Soon other women came to the stage to dance, too.
    â€œI don’t know how,” I shouted over the music.
    â€œWatch me.” Carmen arched her back. “Now feel the music.” I mimicked her moves, stomping and waving my arms to the rhythm of the song.
    â€œLoosen up and have fun,” Carmen laughed.
    I was self-conscious but I tried to forget that a hundred people were watching us.
    When the song ended, we left the stage.
    â€œThat’s a little harder than salsa dancing,” I laughed to Tomas. “It’s intense.”
    Tomas smiled at Carmen.
    â€œYou looked great up there,” he said shyly.
    â€œThanks,” she answered. “I should. That dancer is my mom. "
    Tomas and I were stunned.
    â€œI’ve been dancing since I could walk. Music is in my blood.”
    Carmen wiped the sweat off her forehead. “We’d better head back. Your parents will wonder what happened to you.”
    We strolled through the Puerto Rican streets. On our way, Carmen shared stories about the island. She’d been to the mainland once but missed the sunny, happy Puerto Rican beaches and the music filled nights.
    â€œI hope you enjoy Puerto Rico,” Carmen said to us when we returned to the cafe. She leaned toward Tomas and kissed him again. “You better keep in touch, Tomas. Do not forget about me.” Tomas blushed. Carmen dashed off to return to the restaurant.

Arecibo
Observatory

    â€œThe night life in San Juan is wild,” Dad said. We only danced until midnight but many people dance until two or three in the morning on the weekends, he told us. Dancing is the nation’s favorite pastime. Mom let us sleep in and catch up on our rest the next morning. We’d had a few busy days and she didn’t want grouchy kids.
    Mom wanted to see the Arecibo Observatory, home of the world’s largest radio telescope.
    Since it was a science thing, Mom was completely excited.
    â€œDo you kids realize how awesome the radio telescope is?” Mom asked.
    â€œUm, hum, sure,” I replied.
    â€œI don’t think you do.” Mom turned on her professor mode.
    Mom held up her hand and pointed her finger,“Number one, it discovered the rotating rate of the planet Mercury. Number two, it made the first radar surface maps of Venus. Number three, it discovered the first planets outside of our solar system. Number four, it discovered ice on Mercury’s north and south poles. Number five —”
    â€œHoney, we get it. The radio telescope helped scientists make big discoveries. Now can we take the guided tour?” Dad interrupted.
    Mom looked irritated but she agreed to let the tour guide teach us this time.
    I have to admit the tour was cool. But Mom found a group of scientists who were beginning new research with the telescope. She waved us away. That was her signal that she would be a