Local specialties & handmade items?

[Joby]

I am in the midst of reading/researching about local specialties and handmade items from the ports on our upcoming cruise (Aruba, Curacao, Grenada, Barbados, St. Lucia, Dominica, St. Kitts, Tortola). I love to buy local, unique, reasonably priced things from untouristy shops.

 

Examples might include: small paintings, jewelry, foods, cloth art, pottery, music...

 

I've read that San Juan's uniques might include santos, Don "Q" rum.

 

Any other suggestions and/or places to shop?

[countryside]

A stretched out gourd, is a used as a musical instrument.....artisnas by pier in old san Juan have it.......walk down to pier #2 and you`ll find the DONQ rum store across the street gourmet coffee..........

[orquidia]

You can find all of these things around the historic district:

-Wood Saints "Santos"

-Loiza carnival masks made with Maché paper

-Puerto Rican coffee - Yaucono, Cafe Crema, Adjuntas and many more brands

-Rum Don Q

-Coquito - get a bottle of this! It is served specially during christmas time.Delicious!

-Musical Instruments - Guiro and also a 4 string cord guitar called Cuatro.

-Art - Paintings from many artists, try the Cajiga Gallery in old san juan (Cajiga Estudio de Arte , located in Calle Justo, 205) sometimes you will find the artist Jose Cajiga there or his lovely wife, he is a wonderful resource that can give you many tips about Puerto Rican art and where to buy them in old san juan since there are so many stores that also sell latin american artcraft and people get confused.

 

Books - Puerto Rican food, national cuisine recipes, books at Cronopios bookstore.

 

there also many more stuff, artcrafts are beautiful there.

[Joby]

Thanks countryside and orquidia. Do either one of you happen to have guesses on the prices of the things you mentioned?