During our time in Salinas, Puerto Rico, we made a habit of visiting the local bakery for their delicious cafe con leche and pastries. One day, we’re sitting on the stoop of the bakery, enjoying our coffees with Wade & Kim, and this guy drives up in a car covered with shells.

Out came its driver, Jimmy, who said we were welcome to take pictures of the car, or even get in it if we wanted to. Such care was taken in affixing the shells, that everything still functioned. The doors and gas tank flap opened and closed with ease; no lights or license plates were obstructed. He showed us copies of the photos he submitted to the Guiness Book of World Records, then went into the bakery to get his own coffee and pastries.

A local guy enjoying his coffee on the stoop with us said “If you think his car is impressive, you should see his house.”.

So we drove to his house (after an invitation from Jimmy himself), and it was indeed impressive. We talked with Jimmy (as he had just returned from the bakery), and he offered to give us the grand tour, but we took a rain check as we were in a hurry to get to Rincon. We said our goodbyes and promised to return.

We returned with Ela & Andrew, and these photos are from that visit.

If you zoom in, you might be able to see the little shell-birds and bird’s nests placed here and there amongst the rest of the shells. It took Jimmy four months to complete the car’s shell-treatment, and that doesn’t inlcude the time it took to find the shells.

It took him six years to complete the house!

And it’s still a work in progress. He continues to embellish various parts of his property, like fence posts and mailboxes.

Check out the wall that surrounds Jimmy’s property!

He was very enthusiastic about the photos we took. He had several suggestions for poses…

We were ready to leave, then Jimmy also insited Ela and I each accept a sample of his art.

We appreciated Jimmy’s amazing tour, and his generosity with his art, and hope it works out with the Guiness Book of World Records.

P.S.: all the photos above are from Ela & Andrew’s camera…here are a few from mine (I lost it a couple of weeks ago, and just found it again)