Man, it's been a long time since I've blogged our adventure. Much has happened, both in the islands as well as after our return to the US. I think I/we will be best served if I give you the "Reader's Digest" version and bring it all back to our current status.
Our Culebran and Monkey Island trip was a prelude to sailing over to and then along the southern coast of Puerto Rico. We met up with our good friends, Herb and Karen in "Aaranda" (Beneteau 361 like ours) at Palmas Del Mar marina to prepare for our buddy-sail with them...we needed to get provisions and do laundry. By the way...how many of you have ever taken your dirty laundry to Walmart to get it cleaned? The Laundromat was inside the store where you would normally see the hairdresser. The lady weighed our bag by lifting it off the counter to estimate the weight/cost. She said it would be done about 9pm, so we headed into the store for our groceries and supplies and then back to the boat to store it all. It was a first for us, also....$9.00 and 3 hours later, the clothes were washed/folded and waiting for our return. Talk about service!
The rental car story was a little interesting...the lady gave us the keys and two complimentary drink cards at the local tiki hut beach bar! We still aren't sure if we were meant to drink our free libations before or after our excursion in the car. Oh, I was just reminded to share with you something wonderful and exciting...just like 4 years ago, we discovered that my driver's license was expired again! Yeah!!! This meant that Karen had to do All of the driving in Puerto Rico...AGAIN!!! Man, I just love being chauffeured with a chance to gawk around.
Our 1st two places we wanted to share with you are Bahia de Jobos (Jobos Bay) and the town of Salinas.
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I just love these stylish hats. They convey to people
that we are real Caribbean turistas! |
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You could easily get lost in the many turns these
mangrove channels make. I tied bright yellow flagging
on the mangrove branches to find our way back out. |
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We kept the dinghy speed low so as to not
spook the manatees...it worked...we didn't
see any! |
No, I didn't tie yellow ribbons on the mangrove tree branches. We spent time here, both on our trip west and then on the return trip back eastward.
Salinas is a small town located along the southern shore of Puerto Rico. We did get to see a manatee here, while entering the anchorage. It swam up and grabbed a quick breath and then re-submerged before we could get a photo. From a distance, it reminded me of a big, grey slug.
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| A monument to the fishermen of Salinas |
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This is what happens to boats when their owners stop paying
slip fees...they are removed from the slip, pulled to shore and
beached. I don't know how long it's been here, but the mangroves
appear to have taken over residence. |
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| Just foolin' around |
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Salinas harbor is a very nice anchorage, if you can avoid all
of the moorings. |
We enjoyed some very nice nights in Salinas, as the water was almost flat-calm the entire time we spent there. We left Salinas for Isla de Caja de Muertos (the Spanish way to say Coffin Island)
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From a distance, Isla Muertos does look a little like a body
laying down, thus "Coffin Island". |
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Here's the greeting we got...a nice little snake, just waiting
for a tasty morsel...or a hand to bite. |
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I found a little snow to lay down in next to some plants
that looked like worms... |
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Actually, they are just cactus and a cloudy sky...sillly!
There's probably never been snow on this island. |
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| The old lighthouse, circa late-1800's, built by the Spanish |
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| Looking up the lighthouse stairway |
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| Looking down... |
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The whole island is set up as a park with covered
pavilions, trails, a nice dock and even a large composting
toilet. We definitely recommend a visit, especially if you want
to wander inside the lighthouse...it's getting pretty rickety inside. |
