Liv'n Large in Puerto Rico

Tuesday After Lunch- Another Day in Paradise

Good News, Bad News…

The Good- I finally scored a Puerto Rican Drivers License! I got mine today. I had been fretting over this for quite some time. When I first moved to PR, not all States had ‘reciprocity’ with Puerto Rico. That is, only certain States DL’s could be traded across for a new PR license. Alaska was not one of those States.

To add insult to injury, the written test is in Spanish only, as is the Drivers Manual.

My time was running out as my Alaska license expires the middle of December.

Departamento de Transportacion y Obras Publicas (DTOP)

The rules are the same as the mainland, but with a slight ‘local twist’. All the sign shapes are the same, but in Spanish. They drive on the same side of the road as the rest of the US… Speed Limit signs are in miles, but the green ‘distance to’ signs are in kilometers. It’s also important to watch for the yellow stripe going across the road to identify a school zone… those are 15 mph if not marked, some are posted even lower. They are easy to miss. I’m only glossing over a few key details… there are others.

So early last week we decided to check and see what I would need to get a PR License.

Besides surrendering my old license, I was going to need a medical form I downloaded from the net, signed off by my doctor who charged me $15 for ‘document fees’, MY Passport for proof of where I was born (otherwise, I would have needed a certified copy of my Birth Certificate), MY Social Security Card, Proof of residence based on a bill showing our street address in MY name which is a kilometer mark on a highway and made more difficult because bills are mailed to our PO Box (the Post Office does not deliver mail house to house in rural areas where there are no house numbers) AND 2 stamps- of $1 and $10 denomination we got from the Departamento de Hacienda (the State Revenue Office). [Read more…] about Tuesday After Lunch- Another Day in Paradise

Coffee & Chocolate Expo- Sept 22 – 23, 2012

As last year, the ‘Expo’ was held at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in
Isla Grande.

To get there, you literally take Highway 1, Expreso Luis Muñoz Rivera like you are going into Old San Juan, but right after you cross the bridge next to the lagoon on your right, you take a hard left and loop back across another bridge (with the small boat harbor on your right) to get to the Convention Center. Stay to the right to get to the paid parking. It’s hiding behind the Sheraton Hotel.

This is the most popular route to take.. it’s way too convoluted for me.

Since this was our 3rd or 4th trip to the area, I made all the correct turns without error… That was not true, the first time I tried it.

The Convention Center is one of the most beautiful structures in Puerto Rico. The fountains, the pools and manicured grounds are worth checking out. [Read more…] about Coffee & Chocolate Expo- Sept 22 – 23, 2012

Arrg! ’tis Talk Like a Pirate Day, ye Scurvy Dogs..

As is befit’n September 19th, we be honoring thee scalawags that survived the Seven Seas and lived to tell about it. Tales to send shivers up yer spine. ’tis a tradition now, on the Scurvy Dog’s PR Blog so sit back ‘n ponder what it is to be truly ‘Piratical’

Special credit goes to the two guys that started the whole ‘Talk Like a Pirate’ thing, you should check out their website. It rates a major ARRGG!!!

Since ‘strong drink’ is part o’ the lifestyle, I’ve featured it in both previous posts. In 2010, I featured a review of 12 Rums found in Puerto Rico and in 2011 I featured a local drink known as ‘Pitorro’. There is even a ‘legit’ version of it now.

Well, I got two new ones to run past ya.

On the high end, I finally scored a bottle DonQ Gran Añejo. A Puerto Rican Rum made by Serralles. The label sez it’s a blend of their best aged rums, some as old as 12 years… nice. At $48, it’s the most expensive bottle of rum I have ever tried… comes in a nice gift box too. There are more exotic, expensive rums and hard liquors like tequila, brandy or scotch that can cost way more, but those hold no interest for me.

This añejo is strictly for sipping… it will never, ever get used in a Cuba Libre. I’ll be work’n on this one for a long time to come. As far as flavor and taste goes, it is the smoothest of any rum I have ever tasted, including my old favorite, Ron Barcelo Añejo. [Read more…] about Arrg! ’tis Talk Like a Pirate Day, ye Scurvy Dogs..

3 Years to the Day…

I set foot in Puerto Rico for the very first time.

I did not know then, I would move to PR before the year’s end. I deliberately picked the middle of the Hurricane Season so I would know what Puerto Rico was like at it’s worst.

It was also the cheapest time to fly!

The trip was a springboard for a travel blog about Puerto Rico.

A fun way to keep track of my experiences.

I figured 5 weeks running around the island would give me a good idea as to whether I might want to retire here. As it worked out, I only saw about a quarter of what I had ‘planned’. That’s not a bad thing and I’ve still not seen everything I had in mind for that first trip.

On that first visit, I met 3 people from the mainland who had come here on vacation and never left. That amazed me. [Read more…] about 3 Years to the Day…

Video Part 1- Parade of 50th San Blas Marathon

There was Heavy Attendance for the 50th Annual Marathon

Once I started editing the video, I realized I had too much stuff.

So I split it into two. This first one shows the passing parade of traffic and activity near the 15th Kilometer mark on Highway 150, prior to the Marathon run. 8 minutes, 29 seconds run time. It has an upbeat music score too! Shot using me trusty VadoHD from a good tripod.

After you watch this pre-event parade, be sure to watch the video showing the runners or read about the big 50th Annual Half Marathon San Blas of Coamo after this parade.