Well we are within a week of our departure. We are getting everything taken care of that we need to so we can be gone for a few weeks in Puerto Rico!
We need to pack for swimming, caving, house closing, hanging out, hiking our 4 acres, going out to restaurants, repairing / fixing the house, rain, sun and of course the unknown of which there are many in Puerto Rico.
We need to make sure our animals are taken care of. In preparation for this we got a mega feeder and a mega waterer for the chickens (all 6 now).
5 gallons of water 15lbs of feed
We figure that should make it easier for us to take care of them all the time, and pretty easy for someone to chicken sit while we are away (hey, free eggs! Thanks Charlotte).
We’ve been listening to more reggae lately, I guess it’s part of the whole tropical theme..lol. I am not much for reggaeton scene yet, but some of it I do like. We also really enjoy old salsa music (oye Hector!).
It’s coming up quick! In less than one week, we’ll be in Puerto Rico ready to close on our house!
you can do laundry at our house or just buy cheap clothes (they are cheaply made and priced) in PR and leave them here! Buy a rubbermaid tub to store stuff in or leave them in a closet ready for your next vacation!
Life in Puerto Rico is difficult enough. There is no reason to make it more difficult by getting into the reggaetón scene. 😛
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=caco
There are many alternatives to caco music in the island. Since you posted a reggae video lets start with some reggae of the Puerto Rican variety.
Cultura profética: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIAA7NAf5Yw
Los Goyos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZYHSkO9vKk
If you feel a little more energetic you could speed up the beat a bit and listen to some Ska.
Negros Vivos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAOZBiF8z2Y
Skapulario: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5kRraBKYwI
Since the last one was more Rock than Ska lets just go ahead and listen to some local rock music.
Los Petardos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ07KMbpUIM
El manjar de los dioses: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh7WMp_iy5o
But lets not get you too worked up on your first listen. Lets tone it down a bit with some bohemian experimental pop and some nova trova.
Ardnaxela: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Mse3SEtlCM
Mima: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtM2lkHyW60
Superaquello: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U98J8H80xwA
Mikie Rivera: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5p370G_wM4&feature=related
That is, unless you want to dance.
Logo Beat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzQXLlaiSIQ
And since we’re talking about dancing, how about something with a little more of an Afro-Caribbean flavor.
Los Hermanos Ayala: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWFbuvMmJlQ
Do you know what happened when the Africans and the Spaniards started jamming together? Plena was born.
Plena Libre: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II_c6r17IuA
And for a little horizontal experimentation, lets see what came out of the diaspora of Puerto Ricans and Cubans in New York.
Orquesta el Macabeo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5dIVMfp0Pc (Yes, this is hipster salsa)
And because there are as many Dominicans in PR as there are Puerto Ricans in NY (slight hyperbole), lets listen to some Dominican music too.
A medley of Merengue, Salsa’s Dominican cousin that is both faster and easier to dance to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1SgJKI5HQk
Monchy y Alexandra: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0eYnn32k_I
And last, but not least, some Jíbaro music. Did you know that our great grandparents perfected the art of the acoustic guitar solo?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRYMoG3fOqk
Puerto Rican music, like its culture, is a mix of many things over many years. Sadly, a lot of the music that I posted here is never played on the radio because Puerto Rican radio is ruled by the decree of a few big music labels. (They even tried to unload their Norteña hits on us. Fortunately, they weren’t successful in that endeavor.)
I hope that you guys find Puerto Rico to be not completely unlike what you expect it to be. And if you’re flying on the 21st… well… lets hope that the pilot has lived a life of sin. 😛