December 20, 2013. Culebra

 Taking the ferry from Fajardo to Culebra is a great way to get to what has been described as one of the best beaches in the Caribbean. The round trip fare (over an hour each way) is a mere $5. However we were warned that lineups to buy tickets are often long and that many have been disappointed to find out that they waited in line for hours and couldn't get on the boat. Although we did stand in line for about 45 minutes, once we had our tickets we were pleasantly surprised to be ushered to a very short boarding lane for the 9 am ferry. We discovered that we were moved to the first line to board because there is a special line for those traveling with small children and for those over 60 and their party. Sometimes it pays to be over 60 and this time it worked out well for the five of us. I am not saying who the agent thought was over 60. 

Boarding with the first group allowed us to get good seats on deck. These were very important seats to have on the trip as many people, especially those in the cabin, got seasick. The crew was busy handing out "barf" bags, selling seasickness pills and cleaning up after those who were sick. It was really quite funny to those of us who kept our breakfast. As he offered up "barf bags" one crew member called out, "happy meals, get your happy meals here" while another tossed a full bag in the trash while saying, "pizza sauce." 

After we landed we took one of the many buses that were taking passengers to Flamenco Beach, a absolutely beautiful beach. The water was warm, the sand was soft and white, and the temperature was just right for swimming, sunning and walking on this pristine beach. The 2,200 people who call Culebra home like to keep it this way.

   

A walk to one end of the beach revealed part of Culebra's past. A derelict US army tank sits on the beach as if ready to head out.                                                                                                                           

Lunch at one of the park entrance small concession stands was inexpensive, Puerto Rican and still remains a mystery. Although we ordered what we thought were crab and shrimp turnovers, we are still not sure what we ate.

Leaving the island involved another lineup but we were again able to get good outside seats on the ferry deck. The seas were much calmer at 5 pm and very few barf bags were distributed. Our final lineup for the day was on dry land as we stood for another 30 minutes waiting to pay for our $5 per day parking. 

After the short drive back to our condo we ate a light meal and everyone went to bed early. The sun, sand and sea has a way of using up one's daily allotment of energy. What a great tired!