Category Archives: Puerto Rico

These are posts about Puerto Rico or Puerto Rico culture including music, food, language (Spanish), religion, politics and moving to Puerto Rico.

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

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Colorful Aguadilla

Apparently the artist who painted the town (literally) of Yauco has been going around the island and finding other similar neighborhoods to paint. We had heard that Aguadilla got the touch up as well and just had its grand hurrah a little bit ago. We spent the afternoon wandering around and stopped by Rompeolas by the sea for a bite to eat. It is pretty cool, but I think it would have been a little neater had they changed it up a little (maybe polka dots instead of patchwork?). Still very eye catching and a fun little jaunt up many a flight of stairs.


From the park, El Parterre, in Aguadilla looking up; it’s hard to miss!


The subdued park is such a contrast


El Parterre park was very old European in design

I am still surprised people live in this type of hodge-podge and very poor neighborhood. There is no way this would be allowed to fly in modern building codes, but I think they have been sort of grandfathered in from long ago when these were just squatter shanties during the sugar cane days.


Britton carried Aeden all the way to the top!


Having fun!


Look, we are camouflaged!


In a little side room/casita the residents encouraged us to take pictures


Britton and the little monster


Here fishy, fishy


People hanging out watching all the tourists check out their houses


One guy ran out of his house and chased us down to give us these old calendar photos of how Aguadilla was in the olden days


Cool detailed murals all around


From the road


Some areas up there still hadn’t been repaired since the hurricane


We had a nice lunch seaside at Rompeaolas


Look at that sweet smile!


Near Rompeolas there is a HUGE ceiba tree


It had dropped its petals everywhere!


Some of the real boats of Aguadilla


And Aguadilla’s gorgeous shoreline as we drove home

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How to Deal with Pica Pica

Pica pica (Mucuna pruriens) is one of the plants in Puerto Rico that can cause a lot of discomfort during the winter months. Its vines can grow to 50 feet in length and grow what some call velvet beans or in Nigeria they call them Devil Beans.  Pica pica means itch or burn so there is a double meaning there.

Pica pica velvet beans

I’ve heard all kinds of stories about what causes the itching. Some think it is like poison ivy or carrasco and that it is Urushiol that causes it. That turns out to not be true. I found a study of mucuna pruriens and apparently the fuzzy coating on the beans is the source.  These hairs that grow on the beans are trichomes or spicules that they call cowhage.

I have found that removal of these tiny hairs is the only way to relieve the itch.  I use tape, put it over the affected area then remove the tape.  I guess it works kind of like a lint brush.  We’ve tried baby powder, rubbing alcohol, showers, etc but to really get relief those hairs have to be taken out.

The plant itself is best to just clip before they flower and have the bean pods.  The vines grow out of the ground, you can handle them and just pull the roots out, no problem.  Just be careful of any mature bean pods, stay away from those.  Fairly simple but if you don’t watch out for it they can take over!

They tend to grow in areas that have been recently cleared.

Pica pica Vine / Leaves

During the dry season people will set hillsides on fire to try and eradicate it before the wind spreads the tiny hairs all over the place.  If you leave your laundry out on a line to dry, like many do, you will get the itch when you lie in bed or use your towels!  Picapica!!

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Feliz Navidad and a News Story

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year 2019 full of love and wonder!

This Christmas after some plans fell through, we found ourselves on the beach once more trading snow and cold for sand and sunsets. They moved the annual Pig Roast celebration from Almendros Beach because it was devoid of trees after Maria to Playa Lala. Playa Lala was once just “the beach behind the old Econo” and has now become a popular destination especially with all the little kiosk bars right nearby.


The 3 of us getting into the Christmas Spirit


Playa Lala on Christmas


Driftwood tree


Another unusual tree


Breaking out the Coquito at sunset

What a beautiful sunset it was! Almost watercolor

Britton and Aeden away from the crowd


My silly sweety -my favorite Christmas present ever!

Also, the Newstory about us aired in Colorado on Christmas Eve. Check out more of the story here if you haven’t yet seen it, or watch the video below!

After Maria: The Kauffman Family from KDVR on Vimeo.

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