Central Mountains - Puerto Rico - page 429

( 857-4909; 21 Calle Muños Rivera; 9am-9pm) Situated a block from the plaza,
this is a classic Puerto Rican ice-cream joint. Milkshakes and 100% natural ice creams are
concocted from strawberry, papaya, tamarind and bizcocho (sweet pastry). It also serves
nachos, tostados and coffee.
Getting There & Away
Públicos to and from surrounding towns stop on Calle Padre Berrios, three blocks south of
the plaza past the Mausoleo Familia Muñoz Rivera. You'll pay $1 to go to Aibonito, or $8
for the long (plan on four hours) roller-coaster ride to/from San Juan (Río Piedras termin-
al).
Getting Around
Streets are poorly marked and the general populace only uses descriptive addresses, but
navigating Barranquitas is pretty easy. Rte 162 becomes Calle Rivera, the main street, and
then after passing the plaza it becomes Rte 156 headed east (incidentally, downhill is al-
ways east).
CASA BAVARIA
Although a tour through the Central Mountains makes travelers expect the unexpec-
ted, you might not believe your eyes when you stumble on Casa Bavaria(
862-7818; www.casabavaria.com ; Carr 155 Km 38.3, Barrio Perchas, Morovis;
lunch-dinner Mon-Sat) , a German Creole restaurant. The restaurant is perched
2105ft high in the mountains near Morovis in the center of the island. Something of
an off-beat institution, the menu mixes typical cuisine from the Bavarian region of
Germany with meaty specialties of Puerto Rico. The outdoor seating and misty views
draw bikers and road-trippers galore, and fans include President Bill Clinton, who
stopped by in 2008 to order the schnitzel.