It’s apparently Meatless Monday and two of our 22News producers and are a going vegan for a month as an experiment. 

[good thing I stuffed myself with chili and wings during the Super Bowl]

One of our producers is a vegetarian, so this shouldn’t be too much of a change for her, but I’m a meat eater and the idea of giving up all meat and dairy is a bit frightening. 

Tonight, we’re going shopping to get exactly what we’ll need to go meat-free!  We’re on a budget and determined to make this an economical experience.

Find out what happens here and on 22News at 11 tonight.

22News is heading to Ground Zero in New York City. Stay with wwlp.com and 22News on air for updates and reaction to the Osama Bin Laden’s death. If you know of anyone heading to New York, let me know by emailing erodriguez@wwlp.com.

It was an honor for me to follow the Massachusetts Latino Chamber of Commerce on their trade mission to Puerto Rico.  I did have a chance to explore the island and it was amazing! 

I will upload more pictures, but for now you can check out a few of them on my facebook page…

So people back in Western Mass. have been flooding me with questions about why gas prices are so cheap in Puerto Rico.  I saw the sign for less than a dollar gas and I was floored, but our tour guide kindly explained ot me that they sell gas on the island in liters, not gallons.  So, while it looks nice on the sign, at the end of the day, it’s actually about the same or even a bit more expensive than in Massachusetts.

This morning we’re heading to Caguas, considered Springfield’s sister city in Puerto Rico.  It’s a city of about the same size as Springfield and some similar characteristics. 

We’ll meet with the mayor there and the head of the Criollo Center of Science and Technology… both to provide insight on what they do in Caguas that could work for Springfield.

After a long day, I’m feasting on Puerto Rican food and then burning the calories salsa dancing!

Massachusetts Latino Chamber of Commerce President Carlos Gonzalez and Governor Luis Fortuno of Puerto Rico.

It was an early morning here in Puerto Rico.  Breakfast with local officials started at 7:30 a.m. (I’m not a morning person)

However, I would wake up 5:00 a.m. every morning if it meant this waterfront paradise was waiting for me outside every day. 

Unfortunately the beach will have to wait because today is about business.  It’s no secret there is a large Puerto Rican community in the Pioneer Valley.  There are small businesses on almost every street here in San Juan and we’ve seen a growth in Latino-owned businesses in the greater Springfield area as well.  The MA Latino Chamber of Commerce and the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce are hoping to take advantage of the connection to grow businesses. 

People in Western Mass. like Goya and Bacardi, which are based here in Puerto Rico and people in Puerto Rico like many products made stateside. 

Watch my first report coming up in just a few minutes on 22News at Noon.  If you miss it, check out wwlp.com and I will have much more from Puerto Rico starting at 5:00 p.m.

(PS… let me know by commenting here or searching for my page on facebook (Elysia Rodriguez)  or emailing erodriguez@wwlp.com where I should visit!)

Several members of the Massachusetts Latino Chamber of Commerce are in Puerto Rico meeting with business officials here and I’m tagging along! 

I will be speaking with a member of the US Chamber of Commerce, Puerto Rico’s Secretary of State and several others.  With such a large Puerto Rican community in the Pioneer Valley, there is a strong connection between businesses here in Puerto Rico and in the Springfield area.

I have never been to Puerto Rico before so I also hope to soak in some of the sights and culture… I arrived here in San Juan just after 8 p.m., but even in the darkness I can tell there’s a lot to be seen!