Puerto Rico 11th February 2013

Coffee in Mayageuz

Puerto Rico

We arrived around 05.30 and waited for the Marina staff to arrive and allow us to berth.  Customs and Immigration then duly arrived in the shape of three Homeland Security Officials.  They were VERY polite and interested in our travels and the boat.  They told us there had been no rain here for 2 months so no fresh shower for ’Piano’...  They made the most rigorous search of the boat yet! But all done in an interested way (Note to self : I must get the polish out again some of those cupboards are showing a slight film of growth…) Passports stamped they left us in peace!  We bunkered with fuel and water then went to anchor.  “Waterman” and “Nautilus”  are here too.
Around lunchtime the heavens opened!  So Piano DID get her wash! Later we got a lift into town to Plaza Las Delicias for the Grand Ball of the Carnival together with Orchestra.  At 7 o’clock it was still pouring so we asked the tourist Police for help.  They gave us fliers for restaurants etc so we went to eat.  WOW ! What a menu maybe we will have to stay for a couple of weeks! OOOps  it’s within the Ramada Hotel and Called “LOLA” - eclectic cuisine.  Awesome!

  The rain was till pouring at 20.30 so a quick look round the empty Square with fast food and souvenir stalls then we expect the entertainment will start at midnight as usual- so a taxi home and an early night.
   Tuesday 12th, we sailed back to Gillican’s Island. A perfect day apart from Malcolm bashing his head and third finger while lifting the anchor ! I ought to start a first aid log. Not to mention all the black clay dirtying the topsides!

  No rain overnight so a pleasant lie in, until 8 ish, then bread and cake to bake before we went snorkelling at a spot Malcolm had been out to while I baked. Our first time amongst the Mangrove trees, and the sea was decidedly cooler than usual… Re loaded the Rib before cooking Coq –au-Vin which we haven’t had for a few years.

S/Y Waterman

Thursday, sailed to Coffin Island for an overnight stay, then on to Salinas, which now has wi- fi at the bar!  I had sufficient battery to download all emails including the Yahoo address– which had three from some distant ancestors on my fathers side.  We caught up with S/Y Waterman and after a skinful of Rum cocktail and red wine we all tucked into spare ribs chips and salad.
   Back aboard I began to write back to the family and check out other emails.  Saturday we had a car for 3 days so took Bep & Hidda (Waterman) shopping with us. Then did the first half of a tourist route around to Ponce and home. Sunday we all took a trip to Mayaguez on the Western end of the Island.  It was a 6 hour drive along the next part of the tourist trail but we took a few wrong turns which delayed us.

Still we enjoyed a quick lunch of Pizza (with enough to have lunch another day) Then completed the trip with a coffee in the town centre before a rather quicker trip home on the autopista.  Sundowners aboard ‘Waterman’.
Monday we drove to Fajardo on the western tip and had lunch beside the sea overlooking some dozen Tarpon fish which were almost a metre long!  Yet more shopping and then we had Bep & Hidda over for sundowners.  They remembered ‘Piano’ from their times with Jan &; Ghislaine and seemed overjoyed to be back aboard.  They also sang the praises of the reconstructive work done by the shipyard.
Tuesday just the emails to send of and what a surprise another 25 to read– more work for the next stop...