Yes we were in the news again at the beginning of May. And yet again the press made it sound like the majority of the Viequenses are out of control and hate Americans. Don’t believe everything you read. A group of protesters entered the former Camp Garcia area did indeed destroy a gate house and several vehicles belonging to US Fish and Wildlife. Police are still investigating and no arrests have been made at this point. People from the main island were involved as well as some residents of Vieques. The incidence lasted a short time and the rest of the weekend party continued as planned. After I heard about the destruction at the gate following the opening ceremonies, I decided to avoid the area at all costs. I did not attend any of the activities however was told that thousands of people were in attendance and that it was a lot of fun. Some people braved the crowds just to get back to Red and Blue Beaches, which they had not been able to visit for almost 4 years. Everyone that has visited those beaches remark on their beauty, the remoteness of the beaches and their pristine condition. I have not gotten out there yet but have a friend coming to visit this month and will spend a lot of time out there soon!
I finally have ridden a Paso Fino! My friend Denise is breaking her “fiery” 3 year-old filly and wanted some company while she rode over to the Equestrian Center. She called me and asked if I would ride “Great Grandma” who is 25 years old! I jumped at the chance as I have not been in the saddle for at least 8 years! Denise knew that I used to train hunters and lower-level dressage horses and that I would not panic if the filly acted up and started bouncing against the “baby-sitter.” Gran is still in good shape and obviously I did not ride her hard. Interesting though is the walk that the Paso Fino does, it is similar to the “jig” that we all tried to prevent our horses from doing! They have a really comfortable gait (walk and trot) and it was fun to finally ride one. Hopefully I will get to accompany Denise a few more times while she trains her filly. Amazingly enough there must be some truth in muscle memory because I really was not sore at all after my adventure! I imagine that if I had ridden for a longer time or tried to post the trot the outcome might have been different! For those of you that might be interested in riding I believe Penny Miller has a few horses that she rents out with a guide. Penny can be reached at Sea Gate Hotel.
I had an interesting experience the other night. Chef Michael had invited me to his home for a wonderful dinner. Luckily we are both experimenting with the
“Atkin’s Diet” so did not drink a lot of wine. As I was driving home I got to an intersection near the fort and there was a truck that had stopped in the middle of the road. I could not get around the truck so waited patiently for him to move. All of a sudden the truck backed up into the side road where I was waiting and smashed into my car. He pulled ahead and then stopped as I jumped out of my car with a pen and paper to record his license number and try and get his name. The gentleman had obviously been drinking and acted like he did nothing wrong, not sure if he even knew he had hit me or not. Basically when I said to him that he did some damage to my car he told me to deal with it. I said that I was going to the police station to report it and he told me he was going to bed! When you register a car in PR it automatically comes with some insurance, damages up to $3000 are supposedly covered. The police never went to check to see if this man went home or was still out driving around. I asked the police officer if the man denied having an accident the next day, if they even went to ask him, would there be a problem. I was told, it doesn’t matter, you recorded the information and now get an estimate and you will get a check to pay for the damages. I am amazed yet not surprised at the lack of concern about a drunk driver on the road that has already hit one car that night! About half an hour after I returned home from the police department I got a call from a really nice police officer (he spoke perfect English thank goodness) and he came to my house to get all the information again. For those that drink and drive (it is a common practice here), the breathalyzer here is broken! No idea when they will get another one or this one fixed. I guess they can still haul you to the hospital for a blood test but who knows. This week I will take my car to the auto-body shop and get an estimate for repairing the broken headlight, the little hood that covers the headlike also broken, the hood being sprung and damaged, the fender damaged, etc. I will then get to find out how long it takes for this process to issue the money for getting the car repaired! Okay so my car is 14 years old and has a couple of other dents, it is still my car and I don’t appreciate people backing into me and not even saying “I’m sorry.” Just another of the interesting experiences I have had since living here! I guess I should be happy that nothing worse happened and hopefully the man that hit me did return home “to Bed” safely without doing damage anywhere else on the island!
Now here is a really cute story! Maritza, the office manager at Inn on the Blue Hoizon, scheduled a dinner for members of her church’s Pathfinders Club. It seems that at Valentine’s Day one young member had wanted to impress his girlfriend with a nice dinner out. Only problem is that he really knew very little about table manners and ordering dinner at a restaurant. Maritza worked with the club, about 16 youths, and taught them about manners, which silverware to use, etc. so that they could earn the appropriate badge. I guess Pathfinders is similar to boy and girl scouts. I happened to be having dinner at the Blue Macaw when they all arrived. The girls were in formal attire, most of them in long dresses, and the boys in suits and ties. They looked smashing and a bit nervous, most had never eaten out in a more formal type of atmosphere! Maritza said that the young men had to open the car doors for the girls, escort them on their arm to the restaurant and then pull out their chairs for them in the dining room. It was all lovely to watch! Blue Macaw came up with a special menu for the group and treated them like honored guests! There was only one rule for the night – they were not allowed to make a face if they tasted something they did not like! What a great experience for these kids.
Baseball season has started and the home games are played on Saturday nights and Sunday mornings. There are always a lot of people in attendance at the games and lots of enthusiasm when the Caribes are at bat. The team is pretty good this year and it is a fun way to hang with the local folks here in Vieques. Everyone has always been really friendly when I have gone to games.
Keep in mind that we are going into our summer season and many of the restaurants close a few nights a week. You want to be sure that you call ahead to make sure your favorite is open when you want to go. All restaurants appreciate reservations as many do not hold more than 30 people or so. It is really difficult when a restaurant fills up at 7:30 and guests have to wait for service. Keep in mind also that many restaurants or rather the kitchens close at 9pm if there are no reservations. People that do Bio-Bay at night don’t realize this and are often disappointed when they can’t get a nice meal late at night. Most restaurants will keep the kitchen open if they know people are coming late. If you are coming to Vieques this summer be sure to check out the
new Island Steak House at the Crow’s Nest. The steaks are amazing! Roberto is making the best “churrasco” on the island. Churrasco is a marinated skirt steak that is served with
Chimichurri (parsley, garlic and olive oil) and it is fabulous! There are other things on the menu if you are not a big beef fan! Barry and Diane have gone
Italian with Posada Vista Mar and I hear that the food has been delicious!
Mamasonga’s Café is a great place to get breakfast or lunch, be sure to try Ute’s pancakes! As I have said before it is getting hard to get a bad meal on Vieques, the quality of the food and choices offered are improving all the time!
Chef Michael’s also is offering salads and sandwiches that you can order to take to the beach or home, his deli meats are the best! He is enjoying success with the wonderful assortment of goods he offers in his little grocery store. For those of you looking for
Mary Alice (former Oasis owner), be sure to visit her Saturday nights at Blue
Macaw. She will be hosting an informal wine tasting, basically sampling new wines each week that are not on the wine list. What could be more fun than “Wining” with Mary Alice!
Although I have not yet eaten at Martineau Bay, make sure you visit it at least for a
drink. The place is amazing and again I have heard good things about the food, both in the dining room and poolside. Sitting on the veranda gazing across to PR is stunning at sunset, you feel like you really are in paradise!
Most of us are expecting a busy summer as main islanders rediscover Vieques, they too stayed away due to bad publicity. Many other people are making reservations to get to the much talked about beaches on the former Camp Garcia.
The gift shops, including Kim’s Cabin and the shop at Trade Winds, both have new merchandise arriving all summer long!
Tom at Vieques Flowers and Gifts has really gone all out and now has an 800 number (476-4197) for those of you that would like to have flowers in your room upon arrival!
June Calendar |
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| Sunday, June 1st | Caribes vs. San Lorenzo, 10am Florida Ballpark |
| Thursday, June 5th | Movie “Key largo” with Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson and Lauren Bacall. El Sombrero Viejo 7pm |
| Thursday/Friday, June 5 & 6 | Verizon Wireless selling cellular phones at Centro Commercial |
| Saturday, June 7th | Bike The West End (Free) Call 617-BIKE for details |
| Saturday/Sunday June 7 & 8 | Caribes Vs. Ceiba, Florida Ballpark. 7pm Saturday, 10am Sunday |
| Thursday, June 12th | Movie Benny Hill’s “One Night Video Stand.” El sombrero Viejo 7pm |
| Saturday, June 14th | Flag Day |
| Sunday, June 15th | Happy Father’s Day Inauguration of “El Puente de la Peregrina”, Scupture/Time Capsule. The Chapel at Playa del Almendro, Western End |
| Thursday, June 19th | Movie “Utopia” with Laurel and Hardy. El Sombrero Viejo 7pm |
| Sunday, June 22nd | Caribes Away to La Playa. Call 741-2999 for information |
| Thursday, June 26th | Movie “One Eyed Jacks” with Marlon Brando and Karl Malden. El Sombrero Viejo 7pm |
| Saturday, June 28th | Health for Vieques Free Clinic at the Hospital from 10am Posada Vistamar closed for private party Blue Macaw closed for private party |
Weekly |
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| Sundays | Brunch at Tropical Baby, 10-3 Paella Special at Trade Winds |
| Monday – Friday | Ferry to Culebra, leaves Vieques 6am, leaves Culebra 5pm Live Music Nightly at La Sirena |
| Mondays | $1 Medalla night at Banana’s, plus taco salads and nachos |
| Tuesdays | Happy Hour at The Island Steak House at Crow’s Nest, chance to win bar tab!
5-7 pm Lucky Card Draw at El Sombrero Viejo, pull card for free or discounted drinks |
| Wednesdays |
Ribs at Tropico, great ribs Ladies Night, Happy Hour prices to ladies 5pm-closing at Amapola Sponge Bob Square Pants Night at Amapola, 10pm-12am, prizes |
| Thursdays | Mexican Food at Tropico Old Movie Night at El Sombrero Viejo 7pm Oldies Night at Mar Azul |
| Fridays | Shrimp Festival at Tropico Fiesta Langosta (lobster) at Trade Winds |
| Saturdays | Flea Market at Mamasonga’s Paella and Seafood Specials at Tropico “Wining With Mary Alice” – Try new wines at Blue Macaw from 5pm Cockfights at Gallera Puerto Real |
| Saturdays/Sundays | Breakfast Specials and Bloody Mary Bar at Bananas, from 8:30am Live Music at La Sirena |
Thanks for visiting,
Judy
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