Category Archives: Tropical

Pools Beach Rincón Puerto Rico

The guys finished up a little early on Friday, so we took the rest of the afternoon for a well-deserved break at the beach. This time of year, you can find many of the beaches completely empty.

Pools beach from above
Pools Beach is just on the other side of the rocks from Sandy Beach down in Puntas.

I climbed up the rocks and enjoyed the view all the way down the beach on both sides.

Cassie on a rock at pools beach
 I even climbed the rocks barefoot!

It was a great break from building and a lovely day to spend at the beach.

Cassie at pools beach

On our way back to the truck we even spotted a great little wood house.

wood house by beach
So cute and similar to our cabin!

We were admiring it when the owners came out and talked with us about it. The house is all wood and has been there, right across the beach for over 30 years! Who says you can’t have a wooden house in the tropics?! We asked them a lot of questions about the construction and they graciously gave us a short tour inside, even with our sandy toes.

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Easter Time in Puerto Rico

Variety Eggs
A variety of egg colors from our chickens and turkeys: no need to dye them for Easter!

There is always something to celebrate in Puerto Rico with holidays large and small in addition to personal parties for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, etc. All of Holy Week (Semana Santa) is a busy time that culminates in Viernes Santo (Good Friday), Sábado de Gloria (Saturday of Glory), and Pascua (Easter). Nearly everything closes down on Good Friday so do not even  attempt to do any grocery or other shopping. There are processions around the plazas of each city near the churches and then many people head to the beach to party.

Easter

As for us, we joined some friends (thanks guys!) for a nice party at their house complete with slip n slide and an egg hunt for all the children.

RainbowGorgeous rainbows are back

Easter time in the tropics is a wonderful moment as it signals that the shift has begun. The tourists have their final hurrah and then our little town of Rincón begins to get a little rainier and sleepier once again. While the excitement of having people in town is fun, I much prefer the slower pace of spring and summer.

Bright hibiscus
Flowers are blooming!

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A Tour Around Rincón in Pictures

As requested, I have compiled some pictures of Rincón, Puerto Rico. Rincón is surrounded by water on three sides, so there is good reason that most pictures of the town show the beach and/or ocean. However, to get a better sense of this area, here is a pictorial display. I hope this shows both the inner workings of Rincón as well as “slice of life” scenes.

First on the tour: The Lighthouse or Faro the farthest west you can possibly go on the main island of Puerto Rico.

Faro
Lighthouse/Faro

From the lighthouse park you can overlook one of the most popular surfing beaches:Domes named after the globular now defunct nuclear power station

Domes Beach      Corona Pro from Lighthouse
Domes Beach on a quiet day and during the Corona Competition

Next is the downtown plaza area that is bustling with activity.

Alcaldia Rincon
Alcaldia/Town Hall

Downtown on Thursday night is the place with the best night life because of the Art Walk! You can check out great artisanal work as well as have a beer at the hugely popular Rincón Beer Company.

RBC
Rincón Beer Company from the road on a Thursday night

Sipping coco
Enjoying a coco frío from the farmer’s market

Downtown Rincón is great on Sunday mornings for the organic farmer’s market where you can find fresh fruits and vegetables

Center at Rincon
Fountain in Downtown Plaza

Cerro los pobres
Strange name for a neighborhood near downtown: Cerro los Pobres -Hill of the Poor People

Around the corner from downtown is the cemetery, public works (trash and recycling), an indoor skate park (Skate Town) and the rarely utilized public library.

Skate Park
Mural at the skate park

Obras publicas
Public works: Trash and recycling

There are also lots of little shops, doctors, dentists and pharmacies near downtown as well as a medical center/emergency center.

Emergencia small
Costa Salud Medical Center

Going in the other direction from the plaza you’ll find the police station and further down the road, the post office.

Post office
Rincón Post Office

There are many little fruit stands and food shacks all over town.

Store1
La Placita

And plenty of restaurants too!

La Cambija
La Cambija Restaurant

Besides the immediate downtown area, most of Rincón is pretty rural and it gets pretty steep quickly. If you drive up the hills of Rincón/Aguada/Añasco for about 3-5 miles as the crow flies or about 20 minutes you can look out at some incredible vistas!

Viewatalaya

However, down a little lower the views are pretty spectacular as well!

Beach House Sunset  english rose view
View from the Beach House and the English Rose

Mainly because of the gradation of the slopes, houses are mostly right on the road and about 80% of them are simple rectangular concrete construction, though occasionally you’ll see a wood house too.

Typical concrete house Concrete House

IMG_2742 woodenExamples of houses in Rincón

 Kayak 10 BlogRincón from a different perspective: on the water

Because Rincón IS a beach town, it is really hard to describe it in pictures without the beach! You must literally try to avoid the beach since it is surrounded on 3 sides by it! There are so many activities, businesses and events that are beach centered. And in some ways it is just the background of life here. Right behind the Econo grocery store not 50 paces away is the beach! The beaches in Rincón are phenomenal and each one is a little different. While Rincón is mainly known as a surf town, there are beaches for everything: boating, snorkeling, surfing, swimming, bonfires, camping, secluded beaches and beaches to party with restaurants and bars!

Surfer Xing
Beware! Surfer Crossing!

steps(small)

Relaxing on the grass Cassie Sunset small

IMG_0825 Paddle Out bonfire

Welcome to Rincón in photos! I hope you enjoyed the picture tour!

bienvenidos-a-rincon
Nos vemos pronto, espero!

 

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And New Baby Turkeys!

Today we found two baby turkey poults. They had been separated from their mom by the fence, so Britton went over and helped them over.

Britton and the turkey mom and babies
Britton helping out the turkey mom and babies

The mom seems very proud of these two little ones and they look as if they have just hatched. There are 4 other turkeys in the jungle, and probably more eggs on the nest that these came from, so we may soon be overrun by turkeys! Yay!

Turkey mom and chicks
The poults are so small compared to the mom

It is springtime here in the tropics. The birds and the bees are doing their thing. The next generation is in full swing.

Parcha
Big black bee pollinating a passionfruit flower

Mama turkey and her babes

 

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