A while ago, when we left the states, our original plan was to visit Haiti, Jamaica, and San Blas Islands before we cross the Panama Canal in spring 2016. Later, we found about ‘Heavy Lightning Activities’ in San Blas Islands in Panama. Changing our plan, we decided to sail from Puerto Rico to Bonaire (South), not to Haiti (West). I was disappointed about not visiting Haiti and Jamaica. We will be spending the summer in the Dutch Islands; Bonaire, Curacao, and Aruba, and in Colombia which are all south of the hurricane zone.

We stayed in Puerto Rico way longer than we thought.

…

Continue Reading >>

Ponce is the second biggest city in Puerto Rico. There are many museums and Spanish influenced buildings to see. One day we walked from the harbor to downtown (about 7 miles each way) and found many abandoned buildings and houses. Locals told us that people leave Ponce for better opportunities somewhere, especially in the states. John described current Ponce as similar to ‘City of Detroit’ in the U.S. It needs a good two or three (including a Ferry Trip to Coffin Island) days to tour in Ponce and enjoy the nice weather.Puerto Ricans seem to love their music a lot.

…

Continue Reading >>

Caja de Muertos (Coffin Island) is an uninhabited nature reserve offering clear blue water, beautiful beaches, colorful fish, and a short hiking trail to the lighthouse.

According to history, it was used by pirates to stash their booty and also Freemasons to hold secret meetings. There is a Cave (Almeida Cave) named for a pirate who laid his newlywed bride to rest after she was killed at sea and he returned every year to line his bride’s coffin with treasure.

Salinas is a good place to be stuck but staying at Salinas for a month was unexpected.

…

Continue Reading >>

Puerto Rico presents itself as a Nation for the Olympic Games and the Arts but is otherwise a part of the U.S. It doesn’t have a president, instead there is a governor. Puerto Ricans don’t vote for the president of United States but it is much like another state of America. The U.S. Federal Income tax doesn’t apply but the U.S. Postal service does. Speed signs on the highways are in miles per hour but road markers go by kilometers.

The official languages are Spanish and English. Most of the younger generation is bilingual in English/Spanish while the older people will speak only Spanish.

…

Continue Reading >>

Vieques is the biggest Spanish Virgin Island also known as ‘Unspoiled’! I quickly realized the meaning of ‘Unspoiled’ at an anchorage where there was only us, ‘Bad Bunny’. The tranquil enjoyment of watching the sun, moon, stars, trees, wild horses, fish, sharks, cool breezes was a real thrill after the relatively hectic life (?) in Culebra.At night, many fish jumped behind the boat attracted by the lights in the dinghy arch. There were so many fish they banged the boat hull by trying to eat the even smaller fish. Sometimes, bats flying over the water looking for insects came by the lights.

…

Continue Reading >>

Culebra is close to Fajardo and east of Puerto Rico. A ferry runs from main land Puerto Rico to Culebra, three trips a day each way. (One Way $2.25 per person) The population in Culebra is about 2000 people.

Culebra is known for its ‘Flamenco Beach’. According to a brochure, ‘it is named the second most beautiful in the world by the Discovery Channel and the second best in the Caribbean by TripAdvisor in 2014.’

Because of heavy rain and strong wind, when we visited, we found lots of seaweed washed on the beach.

…

Continue Reading >>

Until recently, I didn’t know of the existence of the Spanish Virgin Islands. The islands (Culebrita, Culebra, and Vieques) belong to Puerto Rico. They are located between the USVIs and Puerto Rico, about 15-20 miles west from St. Thomas or east from Fajardo, Puerto Rico. Nobody lives on Culebrita. There are no stores or bars/restaurants. Accessible only by a private boat or a day tour boat from Culebra, an adjacent island. Culebrita is unspoiled and undeveloped YET! It offers beautiful beaches, an old lighthouse, Jacuzzi pools from the ocean, and nature itself. The hiking trail to the lighthouse is well maintained.

…

Continue Reading >>

A Real early “Happy Hour” even before noon! St. Croix is the home of Cruzan Rum, “The Don’t Hurry” rum. We took a rum factory tour in the morning at a cost $8/person. The tour included four shots of rum and two cocktails. According to the tour guide, Jim Beam Whiskey bought Cruzan rum several years ago (*Now, it is owned by Beam Suntory; I found out later Japanese Suntory bought Jim Beam in 2014.), but Cruzan rum is produced only in St. Croix.

Cruzan ships the pure rum (Ethanol) to Florida by boat then to Jim Beam by trucks.

…

Continue Reading >>

Steep green hills and turquoise water! BVIs look like Disney World with many yachts! We saw a mega yacht with a huge inflated water slide coming directly to the ocean. Necker Island, privately owned by Sir Richard Branson (The founder of Virgin Group, which comprises more than 400 companies), is available for $62,000 per night, up to 30 people all inclusive. We were told that he paid $15 million to buy the island and now selling it off for $20 million piece by piece.One day, we got invaded by a ‘Drone’, filming above us, real close. It must have been a kid from a mega yacht.

…

Continue Reading >>