Brian Fisette Photography

03/22/2026

03/20/2026

The Puerto Rican boa (Chilabothrus inornatus) is the island’s largest native snake, reaching up to 6–7 feet long. It is non-venomous, mostly nocturnal, and found in forested and karst regions of northern Puerto Rico.

One of its most remarkable behaviors occurs at cave systems in northern Puerto Rico, including Mata de Plátano. At dusk, boas position themselves at cave entrances where thousands of bats emerge each evening. The snake anchors part of its body to the cave wall and lunges into the stream of flying bats, grabbing one mid-air with a rapid strike. It then coils around the bat to constrict it before swallowing it whole.

This ambush strategy takes advantage of the predictable nightly bat exodus and makes the Puerto Rican boa one of the few snakes known to regularly capture bats in flight.

03/17/2026

El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest system, located in northeastern Puerto Rico. It’s known for lush green mountains, frequent rain showers, waterfalls, and dense jungle trails.

The forest rises to over 3,500 feet at El Toro Peak, creating a range of ecosystems—from lowland rainforest to cloud forest. It’s home to unique wildlife like the Puerto Rican coquí frog and dozens of endemic plant species.

03/13/2026

Vernazza is one of the five villages of Cinque Terre, built around a natural harbor along the Ligurian coast. Its tightly clustered pastel buildings rise up steep slopes from the waterfront, centered around a small marina and defensive tower. Founded around the 11th century, it developed as a fishing village and maritime outpost.

03/12/2026

Venice is a historic city in northeastern Italy built across a group of small islands within a shallow lagoon of the Adriatic Sea. Instead of roads, the city is organized around canals, with transportation historically carried out by boat. Founded in the early Middle Ages, Venice grew into a powerful maritime republic that controlled major trade routes between Europe and the East. Its layout, architecture, and extensive canal system reflect its origins as a seafaring commercial center.

03/11/2026

Vatican City is an independent city-state located entirely within Rome and serves as the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. Established as a sovereign state in 1929, it is the smallest country in the world. It is centered around St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square, and functions as the residence of the Pope.