Gran Meliá Puerto Rico Offers Star Tours Without Leaving the Beach
Clear skies above the Gran Meliá resort offer ideal conditions for stargazing
You say Ursa Major, I say Ursa Minor; let's call the whole thing off. Actually, don't, especially not if you're stargazing in Puerto Rico. The country's Gran Meliá resort is capitalizing on its remote location to push a vacation activity that Copernicus would have approved of: star spotting (and we're not talking the Hollywood variety) and astronomy lessons on the beach with an expert to point out everything from Cassiopeia to Orion, and everything in between.
Gran Meliá is a decidedly anti-urban resort that has largely built its reputation on being "green." Located a short drive away from San Juan, the hotel has banned motorized water sports, has trained staff to keep the beach pristine, and they have instituted a conservation program for said beaches. Without towering skyscrapers, apartment complexes, and city smog polluting (pun intended) sky views, spotting constellations is markedly easier than in San Juan proper.
Call their new astronomy program Star Tours-lite for adults: With the help of local astronomer Gregory Garcia Morales, guests can gather every Saturday night for a free star-gazing "tour," when Morales guides them through basic concepts, points out different constellations, planets, and also holds a discussion about the effects of global warming.
No need to BYOB or BYOT (Bring Your Own Telescope); Gran Meliá has covered the concessions front with cocktails and canapés accompanying the mini-astronomy class. Somehow we don't think that even Kepler or Galileo had it that good.
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