March 3rd, 2014
The snow continues as I write this post. An all day snow event. March has come in like a lion and we are all hoping it will leave like a lamb.
Warmer temperatures, preferably in a Caribbean island would be just the perfect Spring Get-A-Way. That’s what I am thinking about today. Culebra is the island I have just in mind to introduce you to, if you do not know it already.
Puerto Rico owns 2 islands: Vieques and Culebra. Vieques is now a bit more commercialized. Culebra is still just like I remember it so many years ago. Nothing has changed…still that quiet and tranquil atmosphere, with amazing beaches and topography.
There are several ways to get there, including flying from San Juan. But, the majority of people take the ferry. Puerto Rico owns the ferries, but a competitor has a private ferry which as of this writing I have a feeling is not going to be doing the trips unless something changes. The thing is that the private ferry is so much faster than the locally owned ferry. I will leave it at that. I experienced them both.
The ferry leaves from the Port of Fajardo. The local ferry will take almost 2 hours, at $2.25 per person. You also will find other passengers on the trip….local color with the fighting cock.
For the most part the trip is pretty good. But, the sea can get a little rough at times. Don’t worry, the captains are experienced. Leave the “mainland” and heading east, our ferry left at 5 p.m. Culebra is 17 miles east of Puerto Rico.
We arrived in Dewey….yes, there is another Dewey, also named after Admiral George Dewey. This is the center of the island on the west coast. It is where the ferries arrive and also where the airport is located.
Dewey has a handful of streets…the Culebrenses are friendly and are happy to answer questions. Culebra is 7 x 5 miles. The island has cliffs, sandy coral beaches, and mangrove forests.
Culebra has 10 beaches, 4 forests, 8 bays, 4 lagoons and 24 keys. It also has the Luis Pena Natural Reserve one of the best snorkeling spots in Culebra and just across from the private residence I was so lucky to be staying.
One of those beaches is amazing and if you are in Culebra just for the day…then it is a must. It is called Flamenco Beach.
When my husband and I used to visit Culebra so many years ago, it was just the beach. Now, you can find places to eat, like the Puertorican kiosks, shops and even a camping site.
Roosters and hens roam around the island…part of the local color. Following the path to beach….
Flamenco Beach is ranked among the best beaches in the Caribbean. It is the only beach in Culebra with lifeguards, showers, bathrooms and changing rooms.
Walking its coastline, you will come face to face with one of the 2 tanks on this beach. In 1939 the U.S. Navy began to use Culebra as a gunnery and bombing practice site. This ended in 1975 when the operations moved to the other island…Vieques. A lot of controversy never to be forgotten.
Near this tank…a great place for snorkeling.
The posts on Culebra do not end here…..lodging is next! Stay warm!! Spring is around the corner.
February 16th, 2014
When I was younger Sundays, did not mean a thing. As I matured, I found that Sundays are magical. It is that day of the week where you can just relax, cook outdoors, read a good book….it is your own time. No worries. Monday is the next day, and you will worry about that when it gets there.
Visiting the Island of Culebra off Puerto Rico….Laid back Caribbean Island. There is a slower time. It is so scenic. The sounds of the waves is all it takes to put you to sleep under a palm tree.
When visiting Culebra, and I will tell you more about it in a later post…..lunch at the Dinghy Dock is very relaxing. At dockside. It is located outside the Dewey Draw Bridge on Calle Fulladoza. Tel. 787-742-0233. Locals mingle and Dinghy Dock serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Entering Dinghy Dock and sitting at dockside….it is an open air restaurant with full bar, serving American and Puertorican food.
The view of the anchored boats and of the fish expecting a treat from your table.
A full bar and grab a table, please. Remember, you are on island time…..no rush.
It was the perfect place to stop for lunch after touring the island with family. On our table the following was ordered.
Beef Fajitas
Two orders of the local bean burritos.
And after I had been eating lechon asado (roasted pig), morcillas (blood sausages), pastelillos (turnovers), plantains….it was time to eat fish. So, my sushi grade seared tuna hit the spot!!
No dessert for us….we were completely satisfied.
Visiting Culebra….priceless!!
February 12th, 2014
The setting? A private home in the island of Culebra, Puerto Rico. The view? A million dollar one.
The dining room? Comfortable, beautiful…island style.
On the table? Arroz con Pollo Puertorican style (chicken with rice).
Also on the table, a very simple Spinach Pie. One bite, and I had to have the recipe.
Back at the Delaware Beaches….it is cold, probably snow tonight and defnitely, rain tomorrow. After my own tasting….I had to share it.
SPINACH PIE – 4 Ingredients
Please note that to make this pie Gluten Free grate the parmesan cheese yourself.
1 package of frozen spinach – 10 ounces
1 block of cream cheese, 8 ounces (I bought the one with less fat.)
4 eggs
1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese (or more, if you like)
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease lightly a pie dish.
Let the spinach defrost and squeeze to get all the water out or as much as you can.
In a blender, put the 4 eggs, spinach, and cream cheese. If you want to add salt and pepper, please do so, but I did not. Blend and pour into a pie dish.
Place in the pre-heated oven for about 10 minutes and then sprinkle the parmesan cheese on top. The cheese will make a crust and add a delicious taste to the pie. There is no other crust. It will take another 15 to 20 minutes to be ready. You want it to look like the one on the photo.
Take it out of the oven and cut it in wedges.
Enjoy!! The pie can be eaten hot, at room temperature, or cold. You can also serve it as an appetizer. I thought you could probably make it in a rectagular glass baking dish and cut into bars if you have guests over. You know what to do now right?
NOTE: I stand corrected…..an immediate call came in from Puerto Rico….it seems that I forgot that a chopped onion was to be included in the ingredients going into the blender. Oops!! It still tasted delish!
February 10th, 2014
I think it probably was like 38 years ago when my husband and I attended a cockfight in San Juan at the Club Gallistico de Puerto Rico. Once was enough. Not into it and just like I don’t like bullfights…it is the same with cockfighting.
I heard today, February 10th, that a raid took place in New York State….called “Operation Angry Birds”. It was the largest cockfighting bust in the history of the state.
University of Delaware, where one of my sons graduated from, is one of the oldest universities in the U.S. Their mascot is the Fighting Blue Hens. That’s right, there is a lot of history why they became a symbol for the university. If you want to know more, please visit http://www.udel.edu/aboutus/history.html.
Gamecocks, gallos, fighting cocks are bred to fight. These fights can get very bloody. I was taking the ferry from Fajardo to Culebra, which is one of the islands owned by Puerto Rico. The other one is Vieques. These islands are between Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Beautiful and getting more popular every year.
The sound of the rooster….it was 5 p.m. Was he ready to go to sleep? So, I went down to see what all that racket was about. There I saw him. He was beautiful. I am sure he was coming from San Juan after a fight. He was probably a winner. The owners let me take their photo and told me they had 6 more in their cages going back to Culebra.
Puertoricans are used to de Peleas de Gallos or Cockfighting….it is part of a heritage. That does not mean that everyone goes or approves of it, but I think it is there to stay.
In the meantime roosters roam the islands too. They are free and continue to be part of the local color.
Talk to you later.
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