The license plates on the cars in PR call it the "Enchanted Island"....and they are right on. Puerto Rico is truly a bright star in the Caribbean. PR is the opposite of everything we expected. First, the place is amazingly clean, no trash, very little litter and trash barrels everywhere with signs asking to take pride in the island. Second, the Puerto Ricans would give you the proverbial shirt off their back. We couldn't walk down the street near the beach/marina without someone asking if we need a ride. (We sure took advantage of this hospitality) People regularly would ask "are you lost ?....can I help" ? "Need help with Spanish/English translation" ? (often followed by a good natured Spanish lesson). We would refer to ourselves as the "dos gringoes" which always got a big smile or an outright laugh !! Finally, we were told by other cruisers (and in our guidebooks) not to go to the malecon (boardwalk) in Ponce after dark....it is unsafe, as evidenced by the crowds and deafening music. What are they talking about ?? It was a real treat....It featured Puerto Rican food and beer at very reasonable prices, and the crowds are families....often 3 generations just hanging out enjoying the ambiance. As for the "dangerous" music...Puerto Ricans LOVE their loud salsa music...They dance the night away on the malecon....from little kids to the elderly; a street party. I am still trying to find the correlation between loud music, and danger....I remember when the Beatles were considered dangerous too.....go figure !! The stereotypes of the Sharks and Jets in West Side Story are long gone on PR !!
We left the Puerto Rican main island yesterday for a long 40 mile slog to the Spanish Virgin Islands, specifically Vieques. Vieques lies directly to the east of the main island forcing us to go directly into the full force of the trade winds...8+ foot seas with a large ocean swell; all with the wind blowing right on the nose. Regularly entire waves would break over the length of the boat. (Remember old war movies with allied ships crashing through waves in the Battle of the North Atlantic, i.e. "War at Sea" series....that was us) NASTY !!
But we arrived 11 hours later in Ensenada Sun Bay (aptly named); a protected anchorage ringed by a mile long beach....well worth the trip. After arrival, we just hung out for the rest of the afternoon and hit the sack exhausted.
Today, we will be exploring the beach, and dinghying into he little town to our west. We need to purchase a couple of new fishing lures to replace the ones lost to the fish that got away.
It is great to make it to the Virgin Islands !! Mike says "hi" to all....he is having a blast...
THE CREW
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