Artifacts

Artifacts 

By Taylor Porchey 

The Museums in Caguas were quite interesting, not only for their historical and cultural content, but because of the role they played in the community. While at the tourism office, the sweet women in the office said that because they do not have beaches or rainforests to attract tourists like other places in Puerto Rico, they use their rich and deep culture, which they work hard to preserve, to attract tourists. They have been very successful at this endeavor and continue to look for ways to improve strategies to reach tourists and make guests’ experience in Caguas the best possible. The eleven museums in Caguas surround the central plaza and are connected by beautiful mosaic tiles in the sidewalk helping to guide guests from museum to museum. Additionally, each museum is color-coded a different color corresponding to a different color on the map so even if you are directionally challenged or do not speak Spanish well, you can match the colors and ensure that you are at the right museum that you desire to visit.

While in Caguas, we visited the Museo de Arte, Museo del Tabaco and Casa del Trovador Luis Miranda “Pico de Oro.” My favorite memory from the museums was walking into the Art Museum and being overwhelmed by the effervescent scent of lavender. It truly made the art museum feel special and separate from the outside world. Each museum encapsulated a part of culture and history from the island that could not be experienced in any other way. It is truly a special and significant experience.

 This is the mosaic tile found right outside the tourist center in Caguas. Many others are found throughout the city denoting other museums and important locations. 

Traditional dolls in the Art Museum representing the many ethnicities and races found on the island. 

Making cigars typically involves a number of steps, but this special lady makes it look like one fluid motion.  

Check Out: 

http://visitcaguas.com/route.htm

http://visitcaguas.com

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g147319-Activities-c49-Puerto_Rico.html

http://www.fourpointscaguas.com/things-to-do-in-caguas

http://www.expedia.com/Caguas-Hotels.d6047341.Travel-Guide-Hotels

Music, Puerto Rico, and the Trovador

By J. Schlasner
Music is as much a part of the Puerto Rican experience as bright colors, rice and beans, and dropping the S at the ends of words.  

Don Chema with a mural of Trovador legends.

According to Marta who works at the The House of the Composer Héctor Flores Osuna in Caguas, music is so integrated into the Puerto Rican culture that jukeboxes used to stand outside the buildings for public use, and men would use them to serenade their sweethearts.

Though this tradition has gone the way of the jukebox, the streets of Puerto Rico remain constantly filled with music.  Puerto Rican music is the most played Caribbean music in the US, according to Welcome to Puerto Rico.  And Puerto Rican music isn’t just Salsa.  From the harder drum beats and brass of Bomba y Plena to the newer Reggaeton, Puerto Rican music is as diverse as the people who created it.

The twangy folk music of the Trovadors, similar to the old European Troubadours, has especially impressed me with its complexity.  The level of creativity and both musical and lyrical knowledge required of the Trovador artist to pull of a successful performance is exceptionally high. 

Rhyme and meter scheme of a Trovador song.

“[Trovador] is very difficult because the people don’t write the song [down].  They use their imagination,” said our guide to Puerto Rico, Jose Pereira.  He went on to explain that a Trovador show begins with the audience submitting a first line of sorts.  And from that line, the artist must come up with a full song following the Trovador rhythm, meter, and rhyme scheme (see photo) on the spot.

According to Jose, a lot of people try to make the song even more difficult by submitting challenging first lines.  But even without a difficult first line to rhyme, a fully impromptu Trovador song following a specific rhyme structure takes a creative musician with a quick mind and a mastery of language to pull off.

For more information on Puerto Rican music, check out any of the links above or stop by the Casa del Trovador Luis Miranda in Caguas, Puerto Rico and have Don Chema show you around!

Photos by J. Schlasner (2013).