Liv'n Large in Puerto Rico

The Dog’s Blog 1st Anniversary & Slide Show!

Its been a year since this blog went public. In that time, I’ve put up 60+ posts, a dozen YouTube videos and several hundreds of images. The first 14 posts were from Alaska. My way of introducing myself. Back then, I had no clue I would be moving to PR. It was just a thought.

So I’m taking the opportunity to pause and reflect.

The Push to Publish…

4 years had elapsed since building my last Web Site.. many things had changed. CSS, Blogs and Social Media have become the “rule of the day”. A conventional HTML Web site was just not gonna cut it. Especially if my goal was to build traffic and maybe, just maybe make money at it down the road. I’m still working on that, but I do have “presence” and that’s step one. Gotta have presence before you can generate income. I’m not in denial about my site. Its a vertical market with limited appeal.

I simply intend to be the best damned travel blog dedicated to Puerto Rico for older English speaking folks like me.

Yes, my vacation to Puerto Rico was as much a fact finding trip as it was for fun, but it turned out to be much more. I did meet my new ‘partner in crime’ the 1st week I was in San Juan and its been great ever since. I feel very fortunate to be where I am. The most stress-free I can ever remember.

Its not perfect, but perfect would be boring. ARRGGGG!!!!!

Transportation Issues..

I have previously reported on my dilemma with buying and maintaining a used car in Puerto Rico. After having had the transmission rebuilt, replacing the exhaust manifold bolts myself, and having the engine overhauled (last week) along with replacing the radiator, I can say my Isuzu runs pretty darn good now. I’m most fortunate to have found a mechanic familiar with the Isuzu Rodeo… Eric drives the very same make, model and year. Out of pocket has cost me a little over $2K to date, for everything. Had this work been done in Alaska, it would have been closer to $5K. A special thanx to Eric for all his hard work!

Because of the issues with the Isuzu, Its been difficult to stay on a schedule with posts not to mention the hit it’s taken on my pocketbook (no new camera for now).

The Dog’s Blog..

It was always my goal to share what ever I discovered…
the good and the bad.

The “Scurvy Dog” persona was/is done strictly for fun. I don’t take it seriously.

There is still plenty to explore and report on. Plus I’ll be revisiting a few places I only skimmed over. Someday I might actually finish the list I made of places to visit in PR while doing my research back in Alaska.

I’ll be spending more time exploring things like auto and 4 track racing, sport and recreation shows, local fairs, other popular outdoor activities and where the locals go on the weekend. I’m still very budget conscience so it will be stuff that can be done on the cheap. It’s worth mentioning, there are lots of major concerts staged here in Puerto Rico. Heineken sponsors an annual JazzFest in San Juan, I hope to eventually catch.

I still have to get out to the other PR islands- Mona, Vieques, Culebra and Desecheo. Then there are the 3 or 4 smaller, lesser known islands like Coffin Island, Gilligan’s Island – so many unexplored places!.

As for the future, there are a few specific ‘topics’ I want to develop. More about all that later. If there is something you would like to see featured here, let me know. I’m always open to ideas.

I want your input!

There is also the IPSO FACTO PHOTO site I’m working on. A place to preview my fine art images and stock photography. It’s out of beta now and has a different look.

Hazards..

In the 6 plus months I’ve been here, I’ve seen exactly one tarantula and one small snake. I have not seen any scorpions yet, but they do exist. I only stumbled onto the tarantula while outside sorting through a pile of boxes for burning. Otherwise, most of these creatures are nocturnal. The snake was spotted separately while watering the garden. Both were gone in a flash so no shots. As mentioned before, lizards are everywhere, but they are harmless.

“I feel like I’m on vacation 24/seven”

I’ve had a lot of folks asking about what its like to “retire” to PR so there will be more about that. Living here is a mixed-blessing, but its worth it. The ‘Paradise Tax’ (issues you have to put up with) is reasonable compared to places like Mexico, Panama or Costa Rica. Puerto Rico IS a territory of the good ol’ USA, they are not. Overall, PR is the cheapest place to live and still live in the US.

As to if or when Puerto Rico will become a state, that’s anyone’s guess. If it does, I expect to see a surge in retirement to PR. Things will change, that’s a given. Once the dust settles in 5 or 6 years (after statehood), it will feel just like any other state in the Union. Less Spanish, more English, simply by default. Not all the locals will be happy with that.

Things change… Its the only constant in the universe.

First Anniversary PR Blog Slide Show

Last, but not least, I have prepared a fat 4 minute YouTube slide show of images taken from the Blog. The music is courtesy of Dan-O Songs. A Great guy and a great selection of Royalty Free, FREE music. Its copyright protected by Creative Commons 3, just like my site. That’s basically share and share alike, but no commercial use please. Free to download and share with friends, though as with any creative resource – donations are most definitely welcome! The slide show was created with FinalCut ExpressV4.0. There are easier solutions I guess.

In Closing..

I’m sure most of you have come to realize this is pretty much a one man show, a labor of love. A friend in Alaska, Connie (aka- ChiChi Consuelo) helped with the first “intro video” and the stills of me dressed as a pirate. I did get some ‘behind the scene’ help with site mechanics and security from my buddy here in PR. She also helps proofread my stories before I post them up. Thanx Nancy (aka- First Mate).

A Fine Art Photographer’s Dream Come True

Have Camera, Will Travel, With Due Diligence.

This Post is for all you photographers out there. Pro or not.

The photo opportunities on the isle of Puerto Rico are ripe and all around, no matter what time of the year you visit. In fact, vegetation is at its best during the summer and fall, not the winter months when most folks want to come here. My first visit was in late August/early September. It was beautiful then, very lush and green. The Flamboyans were in full bloom and covered the countryside.. now its early March and things look a little shabby. Some plants are showing early buds.. especially the Mango and Lemon trees. This is considered the Dry Season, though we have had a fair amount of rain. You cannot second-guess when it will rain in PR. But I see that as an opportunity as well. It is part of the Tropics.

Fine Art images, those suitable for large display prints can be had almost anywhere. Subjects like old dilapidated brick buildings lay in ruin all over PR. 500 years of Spanish and American history can be seen in the rubble. [Read more…] about A Fine Art Photographer’s Dream Come True

Real Estate and the Cost of Living in PR.. My 2¢

In the end, it was an easy decision to make… moving to PR

As it relates to groceries and consumables, things are on a par cost-wise with most of the US. Especially if you are used to shopping in places like Walmart, Sears or JC Penney. The cost of shipping goods to PR is no cheaper than anywhere else. Imported produce is high so I try to buy local when ever I can (or grow some of my own). On the other hand, fresh milk at $6 a gallon and eggs at $3.50 a dozen are way higher than I paid, even in Alaska.

The Twin Peaks Above Salinas, Puerto Rico

Something else that sticks in my craw is the lack of ‘generic’ branding. Real Coke, Pepsi and Doritos are no more expensive than the local brands. But they are cheaper here than I’m used to paying for the same name brand products at Safeway or Fred Meyer. So that’s good. If you shop sales fresh meat can be reasonable, but again, things are different than back in the states… the cuts are different and of course its all in Spanish. No big deal as far as I’m concerned. It just takes some getting used to is all. [Read more…] about Real Estate and the Cost of Living in PR.. My 2¢

Fireworks in Puerto Rico, Oh My!

As had been previously stated, I have a long standing interest with fireworks, both for fun and profit. This info is for my “PYRO” friends out there.

The good news is, they do sell ‘fireworks’ on the island. The bad news is, the only thing I saw much of were fountains, fountains and more kinds of fountains. The only exception were some large-ish skyrocket shaped fountains (at Walmart) and Morning Glory sparklers, but those don’t count.

Good thing I like fountains, huh?

Fireworks Stand in the Parking Lot of A Mall in Coamo, Puerto Rico Fireworks are legally sold 2 times a year (per Title 25, Subtitle 1, Part V, Chapter 53 of the Laws of Puerto Rico, 2007). June 1st through July 31st and November 15th through January 10th. I never saw any signs of ‘illegal’ sales. These are very liberal periods of sale for most places. This applies island wide, but local laws would take precedence. In Alaska, it depends on where you live.. they are banned outright in Anchorage and completely legal year round in Houston, AK (where they sell them, duh).

The only retail brand I saw was ‘TNT’. It was available in Walmart, Walgreens and Grande, the island wide grocery chain. Prices seemed somewhat high for the market and lightly charged, though they did put on a nice, but brief display. The only fireworks stand I visited was in Coamo (made from a 40 foot Connex box). It was ALL TNT branded product and at 2 for 1, it was still slightly more expensive than Walmart. They did sell a fountain in the form of an oversized Roman Candle they said you could hold in your hand. I have an old acquaintance who lost 2 fingers to a Roman Candle so I don’t hand hold anything with the exception of Morning Glories. I never made it to Kmart where they are supposed to sell the ‘Phantom’ brand.

The locals do like to celebrate with fireworks at organized events so there are commercial presentations going on all the time.

I could see the Coamo New Years Fireworks Show from the house. I stayed home New Years just to avoid the crazies, but I could hear guns being fired into the air and ‘devices’ I know to be louder than firecrackers. The noise started right after it got dark around 7PM and lasted until the wee hours of the New Year. I LOVE THIS PLACE!

An update will be added as more info becomes available… Arrg!

Black Friday, Puerto Rico Style!

Or how I survived the 6AM Crush at Walmart

I had planned to score a new TV, once I got back to PR. I figured “Black Friday” would be the best time to do it. I got to the Walmart near Coamo, right at 6AM. I’ve been to this particular Walmart about a half a dozen times and I have NEVER seen it as packed as it was on Friday morning. [Read more…] about Black Friday, Puerto Rico Style!