Gringo’s Travels

Puerto Rico viewed from a gringo’s perspective

Archive for April, 2008

“Island Time” is Good and Bad

When my job gave me the opportunity to move to Puerto Rico they told me “Make sure you don’t do things on island time and make sure you give them some Texas.”  I really didn’t know what they meant.  I just said “OK, don’t worry.”

I now understand why the Texas facility treats the Puerto Rico facility the way they do.  Nothing ever gets… Continue reading

Satellite Dishes are Everywhere

One thing that you will notice driving down the residential streets of Puerto Rico are the satellite dishes.  Everyone has them.  Let me take that back, I mean everyone has 2 to 3 of them.  For the longest time I had no idea why.  When I asked people most of them would tell me “because we get a bad signal”.

Then one day one… Continue reading

  • 3 Comments
  • Filed under: Daily Life
  • ATMs Are Not Where They Should Be

    If you are visiting Puerto Rico from the States, this could be an important issue.  ATM machines are not in the spots that you are used to.

    In the States we are used to having ATM machines anywhere and everywhere you go.  Gas station’s machine down?  No problem, go to the ATM machine in the corner of the store to get the money.  Court… Continue reading

  • 0 Comments
  • Filed under: Daily Life
  • School Buses in Puerto Rico

    I was driving home from work the other day, and while stopped at a stop light I heard this huge sound system.  I kept getting louder.  Finally a school bus with police lights flashing pulls up next to me.  At this point the base was so loud, I couldn’t see out of any mirror because the mirror was shaking to much.  I looked… Continue reading

  • 3 Comments
  • Filed under: Daily Life
  • Getting Pulled Over in Puerto Rico

    In Puerto Rico there are what seems like a million cops driving around.  On very rare occasions you will see people pulled over.  I have often wondered what it takes to get pulled over because the driving here is so chaotic.

    So far what I have learned, cops only seem to care about speeding if you are on a long stretch of road that has no stop lights.  What they… Continue reading

  • 2 Comments
  • Filed under: Driving, Government
  • Bars on the Windows in Puerto Rico

     

    I have had a few emails come in asking me “Is it true that all houses in Puerto Rico have bars over the windows and doors?”

    The answer is yes, and it is probably for the reason you would expect – crime.  But don’t take that wrong…  The crime isn’t all that bad; keep on reading.

    Well it’s mainly… Continue reading

  • 0 Comments
  • Filed under: Daily Life
  • Sponsors



    Recent Comments

    • DarK SouL: Are you still alive?? :(
    • DarK SouL: Well, since its not your fault I guess you can discount the postage/gas/hassle expenses :), I know I would.
    • The Gringo: it does seem like the DNS. Not sure what the deal is… My connection has been really pretty fast...
    • DarK SouL: Hmmm, could be your connection because I have not had any problems with google today. Maybe DNS related?
    • The Gringo: @Speaking: Well I don’t really know why that is what I expected… But I did… I had never...

    PhotoStream

      Last Rays (color)Lost PinkMore flowers...NisperosOLd balconyOld housing building

    Waves