This was the mother of all New Years. Lots of parties
and celebrations, fireworks, and noisemakers. At the Town Square the beverage of
choice was divided between champagne and Medalla. It was the warmest and most
engaging of all the New Years festivities. Residents and tourists danced,
kissed and made merry until the late hours, with spectacular fireworks
punctuating the sky at midnight. There is no place else to be on NYE; the Town
Square has it all.
While it is true that the base beaches are closed, nobody
seemed to mind very much, and people went to Sun Bay, Navio, Media Luna and
Gringo beach. Charter boats are available for tourists who want to go the base
beaches, as well as both deep sea and fly-fishing. In addition to the Dive shop
in Esperanza, we now have fabulous Kayaking tours (not to be missed). Call Blue
Lagoon Kayak Shop 741 0025; you will get the Kayak ride of your life (for all
ages). Also not to be missed is Captain Richards sea and or land tour. The
ocean tour is a snorkeling tour (no experience necessary)_ and will open your
eyes to underwater sights you never dreamed of. The land tour is equally
fascinating. Captain Richard can be reached at 741 1980.
For fishing call Franco at 741 1337. Mountain Biking has been added to
the activities on our island, if youre a beginner they will teach you. Try
this for an exciting way to see Vieques, call 617-BIKE.
Almost all Vieques activities are ecologically oriented, as
it should be in our island paradise. If you love nature, this is the place for
you; from bird watching to collecting sea glass, youll find Vieques a most
hospitable host.
What is not so ecological is our fabulous food. Roberto
Cacho is opening three new restaurants in Isabelle, an Italian restaurant, a
steak place and, what was originally thought to be our first topless bar. At the
recent Chamber of Commerce meeting, we discovered that it is in fact, Tapas bar,
that wonderful Spanish tradition of grazing on appetizers.
The Chamber of Commerce has a new brochure, the first
generic Vieques Brochure describing the beauty and pleasures of Vieques. If you
would like one (or more, if you are in the business) let me know and Ill send
them out to you.
We did have a cold spell last week, dropped to 70 degrees
one night. Brrr! Its all done now, and things are back to a normal of 85.
Thats for those of you shivering in the snow and cold.
On the quieter side, the sunsets have been particularly
spectacular and massage therapists abound for stress and muscle relief.
Hope to see you down here,
Living and working in Vieques Part
1
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We get so many requests from individuals who want to explore the possibilities of opening a business in Vieques, working in Vieques or retiring in Vieques that we intend to devote this column and the next to this subject.
Whether you are planning to retire here, open a business or get a job, there are some basic common denominators that may be helpful for you to learn about. We will assume that you have visited Vieques, hopefully several times, so that you know the terrain and the fundamental services.
You will know that basic services are available, although it is not uncommon for electric and water interruption, and sometimes telephone problems. There is not much one can do about electric outage (candles, flashlights, small generator) but it is essential to prepare for water stoppage. This means an independent supply of water, whether by water tank or a simple barrel. Cell phones are a good back up for interrupted phone service.
Places to live: Real Estate is a seller's market right now. Inventory is down from a year ago, in part due to the expectations of the opening of the new 5 star Rosewood resort, Martineau Bay. With so many affluent people coming to our island, the feeling is that real estate can only go up. Buying a house is certainly possible, but the selection is less and the prices are marginally higher.
Titled and untitled: There is considerable misunderstanding about titled and untitled land. Many people are fearful of buying untitled land, and rumors abound. Here is what it means: Titled land is registered with the government of Puerto Rico, is assessed for taxesUntitled land is transferable, but not registered. One can not get a mortgage on untitled land. Is it dangerous? Although there may be some difficulty about obtaining water and electric on untitled land, there have been no instances when untitled homes have been returned to the government. If you do buy an untitled house, there will come a time when you will have to purchase your title from the government. That process is going on, barrio by barrio, and gradually title is being transferred to owners.
Renting: Long term rentals have also become scarcer as staff from Martineau Bay and the restaurants have already settled into rentals. But they are still available. One can expect to pay between$350-900/mo. for rental property.
All the comforts of homethis is, of course, quite subjective. What is available, however, is a range of home comforts, from satellite TV (not cheap), to dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, VCR's (and two video stores on the island ($1.00 and $2.00), cleaning help, air conditioning, good food, including meat, cheese and, veggies in the markets. There is a health food store, pharmacy (one more on the way) several physicians, hospital, mail services, bank and ATM, 3 gasoline stations, many restaurants offering everything from gourmet meals to pizza. We have boutiques, a second hand store, terrific carpenters, furniture store, everything required for infants and children, bakeries, catering, pool help, landscaping and gardening help and several places for book exchanges.
What we do not have is a movie theatre, a bowling alley, tennis courts (although several are planned on the site of private resorts or homes, golf course, take out (the pizza place does deliver), food stands on the beach, or discos. There are no chain stores on the island, but Fajardo has plenty.
*ed:(Fajardo is the land connector by ferry)
Building: We estimate building costs at about $100 per sq. ft. Land is now selling for $40,000 and up for a good acre. Most land is sold in multi acre plots. There are several excellent general contractors on the island, as well as cement workers, carpenters, electricians, and plumbers. In short, everything you need to build. However, building without personal oversight is not recommended.
The intangible benefits in Vieques speak at the integrity and spirit of the island and its people. There is no violent crime, although there are break-ins and petty theft. People here are helpful, friendly and good neighbors. Despite the cultural differences between the gringo community and the local community, there have, to date, been no overt hostile interactions. During times of stress, hurricanes, for example, there has never been any looting and the cooperation among all residents can be depended upon.
The political problems in respect of the Navy Base have been difficult. Almost everyone agrees that the Navy land must be preserved and not commercialized when it is returned. How that will be accomplished is the single greatest challenge facing residents of Vieques.
In future articles we will discuss starting a business in Vieques. Please email me and let me know if any specific information about Vieques most interests you.
July 2000
By Sheila Levin
Summer slowly slips by in Vieques. In the early hours, there is often a short burst of rain. The sky darkens and one thinks it may be an all day rain. But a moment later, the sun drifts out from behind the cloud and we are blessed, once again, with a perfect day.
The temperature hovers around 89 degrees, afternoon siestas are desirable. The flamboyan
trees are in gorgeous bloom, something the winter tourist never sees.
The water is warm, not bath like, but warm. It is tempting to pull one's car off the road and dive right in - and
many of us do just that. One big difference is that there are more full time residents now. Dinner parties, bridge, boat
trips, and meetings of both the Vieques Conservation and Historical Trust are well attended. In previous years after Easter, when the snowbirds left, the island felt slightly bereft. No more. The building activity on the Island seems not to be slowed at all, the lines are as long as ever at Morales Supermarket and while restaurants are not as full as in season, they are respectably busy. Captain's Richard's glass bottom boat is available for parties, as well as regular trips and Island Adventures continues night tours to wondrous phosphorescent Bay.
The Vieques Chamber of Commerce elected a new President, James Weis, one of the owners of the Inn on the Blue Horizon. James has been working closely with Burr Vail, the outgoing President who remains on the board. He is developing a major public relations plan for Vieques with the Tourism Department and others in San Juan. Burr, owner of Hacienda
Tamarindo, has done a magnificent job as President. He brought the Chamber from the fledging organization it was, to a powerful and effective tool for Vieques tourism. If you would like a Vieques pamphlet, one of Burr's major projects, just write or email me and I'll send you one.
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To continue on the thread of my last column, living and working in Vieques, people often know what the Island needs. Craftsmen of all stripes are always
welcome; carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and refrigerator repairmen are in demand. Experienced wait staff is also needed. Want to open a B&B? Good idea. Once Martineau Bay opens in the fall, we will have an influx of approximately 200 more people more a week. That is a lot of people who may look around and want to buy or build here. So, if you are thinking about it, let me know. There is no Internet caf, no movie theatre,
and no really terrific Chinese, Japanese or Thai restaurants. Although several people consult, we have no interior design
businesses. Creating a place for yourself here is not hard, if the skills you bring are compatible. If you have a question, please let me know.
Summer here is, in my opinion, the best of times. It is quieter to be sure, but not so quiet that one becomes bored. We are all curious about what changes the large increase of business will bring to Vieques. When the island gets its first traffic light, I'll start to worry. But for now, the lazy, sweet days of summer set the mood.
* You can also view it online at www.enchanted-isle.com/chamber
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Webmaster's Note * Sheila has many hats and is Co-owner of Crow's Nest Realty with El Belendez.