Culebra - This Moment In Time

One day I was sitting on the ferry dock waiting for a load of laundry. Usually I read a book or play guitar while I wait, but that day I had only brought with me a note book and a pen. To pass the time I thought "I'll do a 10 minute writing exercise." I looked down at my watch and realized I only had 7 minutes. "Oh well, 7 it is." I looked around for a subject to write about and realized with the beautiful ocean in front of me and the palm trees, I should just write about what I am seeing. I thought "What should I title the page? Hmmm... This Moment In Time." And as sometimes happens... MAGIC! Pen touched paper and this song came forward. I erased and replaced only two words as they flowed un-obstructed from my pen.

Bahia Marina Is OPEN!.

I have been told by no less than four people that Bahia Marina is closed. They didn't ask me what I knew.... They took on those hush, hush tones of a great gossip and spoke with authority!

"Did you hear that Bahia Marina has closed??? Leaning in for effect... Forever!"

"What? When? I was just up there!"

"They have laid off all of their employees and closed the doors!"

"No! I am sure they did not! I was just up there! Josẻ told me he had to ask a bunch of his staff to take their vacations now because it is so slow!"

Even though I tried to act knowledgeable, (beyond my appearance of blond hair,) I don't think any one of them in turn believed me.

I later picked up the phone and called Josẻ... He verified that they were not only still taking guests at the resort but that the bar and restaurant were still open too!

I think he should know... He kind of owns the place.

Tonight at Bahia Marina, The Ship Wreck Bar and Grill is indeed open! The fun begins at 4 pm starting with Tappas and then a simple menu out of the restaurant.

So if you're looking for a good place to
eat tonight, you might consider Bahia Marina.

Please People... Don't kill the Ghost Town. Culebra has just been resting and is starting to stretch and yawn!


Amy Jo

The Boats Are Running!

Today we had a passenger boat!

The first to arrive to Culebra in the three weeks since Hurricane Earl! I would have loved to hoop and holler that the oppression had ended. But I was told that exactly twelve tourists got off the ferry. Eight of them climbed into the gaping yaws of the lined up publico vans... But I am happy to report that we were able to sequester one of them and force him to rent a bike! Yay! Business is up!

So once the morning rush was over and Dan left with his bike. It was time for a little kayak trip!




Yes those are my toes!

We headed down into the channel and I found this beautiful view of Mamacita's, Pasada La Hammocha and the newly restored bridge.




They did a great job on the bridge too. A car drove over it while we were under it and there was no fear involved, for either the driver of the car or for ourselves. This my dear friends is an improvement!

The clearness of the sky and the calmness of the eastern wind, made this an exceptional day for photography for me, and some great sight seeing for those of you who might be following along. I am told there are six of you. For that I am so grateful. Thanks!

Thought I'd try to entice one or more of you into joining me on the island by showing a couple of the water front establishments.

Villa Fulladoza Guest house Villa Boheme Guest House.

With this weeks occupancy I could call them Ghost houses... But the ferry is back and so is my enthusiasm for getting people to come and visit Culebra... Now that you can actually get here.

The water in the bay today was calm and clear. It might look green but your looking at the bottom folks. That's sea grass making it look green.

If you look closely you can see the tarpons laying in the water off the Dinghy Dock Restaurant. (You can double click any photo to blow it up.)

I feel so lucky to get to call this tiny island home!

Amy Jo

Advances on the dock!

I got a phone call from the San Juan Daily Sun. They are using the information in yesterday's blog to write an article for tomorrows paper. They asked if I could send some photo's of the progress. Hmmm... Okay... talked me into it!

I also informed him that the workers told me this dock is expected to be in place for two years.
My concern with that is: We have heavy southern swell periodically that will stop the use of the dock.

Also that we will need his help to let people know that we are back in action. Cancellations are coming in for weeks away.

He said... "Most Definitely!" So I think we have an ali. (uh, how do you spell that? allied yes but alli no. Dang it! ) Just say YEAH!!!

You can see the swell in the photo's even... Of course there is a hurricane in the neighborhood.

Culebra… Hope on the Horizon.

After reading article after article that lumped Culebra into the same problems as Vieques, I wrote the following message to the editor of the San Juan Daily Sun.

It is well known that hurricane Earl ripped a large hole in the port of Culebra, leaving the island without passenger service.

For the past two weeks, the people of Culebra have watched with frustration as the temporary dock to solve the lack of transportation was being built by only three men and given an estimated completion date of 10 weeks.

After September 15th's demonstration and meeting, finally, some improvement in the situation can be seen. 

Today at least 10 men are working, and a fence is already in place, so the changes are easy to see.

A rumor of only one week until completion could be the salvation of Culebra, that is, if the Coast Guard approves it. (now I'm hearing possibly Monday, and a Captain told me he had heard TOMORROW!)

Culebra’s situation is one of crisis.

With no passenger service and only a single cargo boat shared with Vieques, tourism in Culebra became nonexistent.

Since the ferry dock was damaged in Earl. There have been virtually NO TOURISTS to Culebra. We are told there is even a sign on the Fajardo dock that says, "Residents ONLY!" 

Flamenco Air and Vieques Air link's voluntary dismissal of all Scheduled flights due to FAA regulations has acerbated this problem to the point of panic.

This is noon on a Friday!

It’s like walking through a ghost town.

All the resorts and guesthouses report between a guesstimated 80 to 90% decrease from this same time last year. (Remember the economy? Last year was bad!)

Vacation Planners is reporting an 87% decrease, Villa Bohem "At least 80% in decrease." Jose Mayoral, the owner of Bahia Marina, said, "Last year at this time I was running at 30% occupancy, which kept my doors open, at this moment I have 0!" Pasada La Hammoca “ We have no one, we’re at 0% occupancy, and the only phone calls are cancellations for the upcoming weeks!”

Outside of government jobs, the hotels and tourism-related businesses are really the only employment on the island. At the meeting here last week, the largest employers on the island all said the same thing "We can not afford to pay employees much longer!" They have forced their employees to take their vacations now because they have no work for them. Culebra’s economic situation is desperate! 

Ken Ellis, who owns the Culebra Bike Shop, said. “I have had five customers since Earl hit. My wife and I are looking at what is possible to be done to make money to pay the utilities and rent, but on an island this size, there is next to nothing.”

Vieques is suffering too with this situation as there is only one cargo boat available for both islands while usually there are four. 1. The Santa Maria - Status: Non-operational 2. The Cayo Largo - Status: Non-operational 3. The Cayo Norte - Status: Non-operational 4. The Isleña - Status: Operational

The Isleña, although in operation, is operating on three out of four engines and has transmission problems.

The cargo boats usually make two and three trips daily per island. Culebra receives the Isleña while the Cayo Largo goes to Vieques. 

The other two cargo vessels stay on standby. But the fleet is in such a state of disrepair that there is now only one vessel to be shared by both islands. Culebra's normal schedule includes a passenger boat called the Culebra II that can carry up to 500 passengers at a time, making three trips a day. 

Instead of five boats arriving daily carrying tourists, Culebra has received only two boats a day carrying supplies and residents only.

Amy Jo Richards

www.Amyjosings.com

It's about time.

I have been contemplating starting a blog for a while now. I have a large following of friends and fans from all over the world who are... or at least pretend to be... interested in seeing if I have something to say.

I have always been intimidated by the fact that I don't spell non to well and I am a mess when it comes to punctuation. Well that at least is what all my English teachers said next to the C's on my papers.

Seeing that it's late, and I didn't plan ahead, because I didn't intend to come in here and write this. Forgive the meanderings.

Just let me say this.

Welcome to my blog!

Oh and thanks Autumn for inspiring me to actually write something in the space I created years ago!