Spanish Virgins and Fajardo

footprints on the sand of Culebrita

 

We sailed on a beam reach for Culebrita, an uninhabited and eastern most island of the Spanish Virgins.  Reaching the island at about 1400 we had time to explore.  We took a mooring in Turtle cove and set off to snorkel the reef. 

 

 

 

 

Leslie and Lila on pricess floats

The Lighthouse

 

Leslie in the Lighthouse

 Friends on Yachtsman’s Dream invited us for drinks and Leslie and Lela enjoyed the “princess” floats.  Next day we hiked the island and at the top explored the abandoned light house.  Beautiful building, too bad it has been left to fall apart. 

Capt.Sebastian sets up the resort

 

Carl enters the Jacuzzi

 We found a path to a beach on the west side of the island and found Capt. Sebastian setting up a mini resort.  Reminded us of China and how whole shops came off a bicycle, he sets up tents, food, and umbrella’s all out of a small boat. 



Leslie in the "Hot Tub"

 

We hiked to the east side of the island and discovered a “hot” tub and Jacuzzi.  The Jacuzzi was rough so Carl went in and I took pic’s.

Waves enter the Jacuzzi

 

Flamingo Bay Beach

 

The Dighy Dock Resturant

From Culebrita it is a short sail to Culebra and anchoring in Ensenada Honda.  We took the dingy to the Dingy Dock Restaurant, tied up and went exploring knowing there was a cold beer waiting after a hot hike.  A very laid back island with friendly helpful people.  The reefs around this island are some of the most healthy beautiful we’ve seen.  We hiked 3 miles out to Flamingo Bay, a famous beach which on Sat. is very crowded. 

 

Carl with his cold beer



This is the area that was bombed from 1936 to 1976.  Two colorful tanks still remain.  One is careful not to touch anything strange under water as there are still unexploded ordinates here.  The beach has little food kiosks with oversized beer.  You can set up a permanent tent site also and the beach has shower and bathroom facilities.  

 



Bird at the beach area

 





waterfront walk at Vieques

Interesting fence in Vieques

With a weather window we sailed to Vieques to check out the bio bay.  Unfortunately it was so dark we could not get pictures, I got to swim in the bay and I was covered in glowing organisms but no pic from our camera. We anchored in Esperanza and explored the lovely waterfront.

Leslie in Fajardo town square

Church in Fajardo

Sailing back to Culebra on a broad reach we decided to anchor and take the ferry to Fajardo the next day—it is only a dollar.  This gave us the opportunity to go to West Marine and Wal Mart.  The architecture around the town square is very European with fountains and church the central focus. 

 

Capt. Pat at Mother's Day Party

Mayor of Culebra and wife

 Back on Culebra more snorkeling and enjoying and hiking.  On Mother’s Day Leslie was invited to the island wide Mother’s Day party hosted by the Mayor and his wife.  Free food, drinks, music for dancing and raffles made for a fun Sunday esp. since spouses were invited also.  We met Capt. Pat a wonderful women who has made her home on Culebra for 26 yrs.  her deceased husband Capt. Jack and she sailed there via Venezuela and started many day sailing enterprises. 

 

We spent a lovely three weeks in this area but the weather window opened and we heard a party was in the making so we bid good-bye and sailed back to the USVI.

Leslie on Pirate Island