Tag Archives: Puerto Rico

Maricao Coffee Festival

We took a last minute trip up the mountains to the Maricao Coffee Festival (Fiesta del Acabe de Cafe). Along the way we stopped for the beautiful vistas and some wild plants. We had gone up in years past and things seemed to have been revived since Maria. It’s about an hour drive from Rincon along very curvy roads. We took longer because we made several stops.


Me and Aeden at the Festival


Mountain views along the way


Lots of people


Some info on coffee types and growth


Along the way we met this friendly man who wanted to meet Aeden


He had on a shirt from the coffee festival 30 years ago!


People selling bags of local oranges


Kids playing the traditional game of “gallitos” or little roosters with the seeds of the Algarrobos tree. They hit the seeds at each other until one of them breaks. Sort of a pre-cock fight game for children in the countryside


Family fun!


Vendors selling traditional art


Bomba music and dancing


Beautiful flowers


It’s always a nice change of pace to go up into the mountains of Puerto Rico!


We stopped and briefly checked out Hacienda Juanita, an old restored hacienda turned resort

Overall it was a fun little day trip and we recommend you check out the local festivals if you come to Puerto Rico!

What do you think of this post?
  • WOW (0)
  • Awesome (10)
  • Interesting (0)
  • Useful (0)
  • Bummer (0)
  • Whoa (1)

A Day in Aguada


Britton and Aeden in the plaza of Aguada

The other day we went to Aguada for a doctor’s appointment for Aeden. We were surprised to be in and out quickly, so we decided to wander around the town a little. Although it is right next to it, Aguada is very different from Rincon in so many ways. Whereas Rincon makes me think of Hawaii, Aguada reminds me of Mexico, with lots of little boutique clothing stores, a large plaza, street vendors and a buzz of work. Rincon feels much more like a vacation destination where the beach and hanging out are the central points and swimsuits are often spotted. Aguada feels more like daily life and pants and shoes are common (as are the shops that sell them!). Aguada is also quite a bit bigger with about 50,000 people compared with little Rincon’s 15,000. Because of its size and the tiny roads, the traffic is often a mess, so walking around the downtown makes more sense than driving.


Vendors selling fireworks to celebrate the holidays (yes, it is a loud time of year!)


Bright, colorful buildings


Lots of clothing stores around every corner!


I like to stop in and check stuff out sometimes!


More street vendors and clothing stores


Sometimes feels like you’re walking into the 70s or 80s!


Family photo in the Aguada Plaza


Two soft drinks you don’t see in the states often- Coco Rico and Malta (normally in a glass bottle)


Aguada is known for its horses and horse events too


Aguada, like Rincon, has awesome sunsets

What do you think of this post?
  • WOW (7)
  • Awesome (65)
  • Interesting (7)
  • Useful (0)
  • Bummer (0)
  • Whoa (0)

Yauchromatic: Colorful Yauco, Puerto Rico


Yauco and its vibrancy!

We have had many missions related to creating this baby and one of our most recent ones took us to Hospital San Lucas in Ponce. From the highway whenever we drive to Ponce I have always been curious about the colorful little town of Yauco with its various shades of houses almost glowing in the distance, but I had recently seen that they have invested in even more paint! It is now Yauchromatic!


Welcome to Toon Town with a little toon cat!

We went with our friend who graciously drove us for a loong day and then checked out Yauco’s murals as well as the strange little hilly/stair access-only painted area. I have always said Puerto Rico is like going into Toon Town in the movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit because it is so vibrant and with such strange characters, but the little coffee town of Yauco took it to a whole new level.


Yauchromatic


The main street of Casas Coloridas


After climbing all the stairs, we looked out over the city and ocean


Even though it is very poor and run down, it just seems happier with paint!


When you’re in Toon Town, you sort of feel like a Toon yourself


Indian Statue and more paint!


Even the downtown near the church has been painted up


Brit-toon


Doggie toons


More Murals


The jibaro with his coffee and rooster


Fun in Yauco


Pulpo (Octopus) harvesting coffee of all things

Here’s a short little video we made of our time in Yauco.

What do you think of this post?
  • WOW (7)
  • Awesome (9)
  • Interesting (1)
  • Useful (1)
  • Bummer (0)
  • Whoa (0)

Los Tubos and Mar Chiquita, Manati


Walking the beach of Los Tubos

A couple of weeks ago we had to go to Manati on the north coast of Puerto Rico to get another sonogram done at Manati Medical Center. Since we were out and about already, we decided to stop and see some of the beaches there. We stopped at Los Tubos as well as Mar Chiquita. They are gorgeous beaches, but the water is surprisingly cooler on the Atlantic side than on our Caribbean side!

Gorgeous, long stretches of beach!


Right off the road


Britton at Los Tubos


Balneario of Los Tubos


Fun, strange creatures at the balneario like this shark (can you find Britton?)


You can escape!


Turtle time!


Not exactly sure what this is? A chupacabra?


The beautiful bay of Mar Chiquita was just down the way about 5 minutes from Los Tubos

What do you think of this post?
  • WOW (2)
  • Awesome (9)
  • Interesting (0)
  • Useful (0)
  • Bummer (0)
  • Whoa (0)