Puerto Rico--Archives #4

GUILLIGAN ISLAND

Our next day got started a little late, so getting to the south-western part of the island was a bit of a push.  I did a bit of driving on this day.  I love driving.  Maybe not so much in Puerto Rico though.  Especially not through any towns. Driving in PR has its own vibe.  In PR, police cars drive around with the lights flashing and their sirens blaring, just because.  As Bill and Kim explained it, the folks of PR like having fun.  They like a party.  And a police car without the noise and lights is just, well, boring.  So back to Tunie behind the wheel, Kim likened it to being on a race track. :) Although for the record, she said I never made her feel nervous.  Our goal was twofold on this day.   First, we needed to get to this ferry location to be able to sink our teeth into some empanadas.  Second, we would try to see the sun set at the  Los Morrillos Lighthouse.

So after a bit of searching, we arrived at Guilligan's Island, ordered our empanadas, and sat down to enjoy the music (Island music-upbeat and very lively), and our first good view of the Caribbean.

After spending some time walking around this lovely, colorful, deserted place, our empanadas (isn't that a fun word say?) were ready.  Oh my, oh my!  Hot, heavenly, scrumptious, delectable (just for you Nikki), empanadas were these! Worth every single calorie!  Into the car, and the race against the setting sun was on.  

This place was lovely.  We had not the pleasure of a setting sun, but how could you not stand here and just feel in awe of a Creator who does all things so well?

It was getting a bit dark by this time, and I was feeling a little concerned that we would find our way back to the car in the growing darkness, but the waves were crashing and the wind was a bit wild, and it was rather hard to leave.  Just a note-the cliffs opposite of where we were standing, were the cliffs that we hiked the following day.

A new day was upon us, and we were back at this lovely spot.  If I were to live in PR, I think I would like it to be here.  This is the tip of the island, the Bahia Sucia, the most southern western place you can go.  This was also our play ground for learning the art of snorkeling.  Can you imagine?  What a place to spend a day.

But first, we wanted to do some hiking.  A sure way to really enjoy dipping into the Caribbean.  The lighthouse of the night before.

This coastline was breathtaking.  The relentless sun, the ceaseless wind which pushed and tugged at you so, and the deafening roar of the waves crashing into the cliffs, it was all so magnificent.  Each turn and bend was just a little different from the last, and kept propelling us forward.

I love this picture.

The time always seems to come upon us when we need to eat.  Or as Marc calls it-stoking the smokestack-which would be mine.  As we had no fine dining establishment within many a mile, we packed our own victuals.  We desired a spot of shade.  A rest from the wind.  A hiding from the sun.  And so we crawled into this little place of refuge and ate our fill of fruit and nuts and sandwiches.

You have to keep your eye on Kim.  We were walking along the cliff, and she spotted this hole, or cave below us.  In a wink she was off navigating the cliff to get down to it as Marc, big Bro, was uselessly offering words of concern and caution.  Ha ha.  She was wise and only ventured in a tiny bit.

Seeing this was a surprise, but then that was becoming the norm on this island.  We finished our hike, being quite hot, and looked forward to that beautiful water.  By the time we made it back to the beach, it had filled up considerably.  We found our little stash (which we hid in the brush) of towels and snorkeling gear, and got changed.  Neither Marc or I have ever snorkeled, so this was something quite new to us.  I learned to swim as a child, and can swim fine, but enjoy it, not so much.  And floating?  Ha ha! Not at all.  I sink!  So it was with a little concern that I was going to attempt snorkeling.  But alas! I floated! (thank you salt water)

 And besides that, it was actually fun!  We were ready for Culebra Island in a few days.

              to be continued.....