Positive Island Vibes

We are finding Vieques much to our liking, and it’s sad to say goodbye as this is our last day. The place has an excellent island feel, very laid back with a warm weather groove. The people are nice, and the island is not so rustic as to make life that much more challenging than back home, the beaches are some of the best we’ve seen, and there is a lot to do. Add in the use of dollars and the English language, and I for one am sold. Oh yeah, I heard they surf here, too, and have seen some boards pass us by.

We have been to several islands in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Pacific, and I have to say, Vieques rates high up on the list. The beaches were really pretty, not crowded at all, and the water was beautiful and very warm. The swimming was great, and we got some great snorkeling in. It was just right for a family vacation because the kids could do all they wanted on the beach without having to worry too much. The snorkeling was pretty good, in my opinion, but I’m not an experienced snorkeler. According to R, who has done it all over the world, it was good, so that’s good enough for me.

We lucked out with the weather, it was warm and sunny, with a few patches of heavy rain that lasted less than half and hour. That’s what keeps the island so green. The two drawbacks that I found were that it was hard to find healthy food, everything is fried, and there must be some sort of crime element because everyone has bars on their windows and we’ve been told not to leave valuables in the car and to leave the windows open and doors unlocked. It’s not unlike many tourist places, maybe with just a touch of urban concern.

Either way, I give the island two big thumbs up, and as I’ve said many time before, have positive vibes overall about Puerto Rico in general. I think PR suffers from some image problems, but it’s a really nice island, in some parts. There are ugly parts, no question, but that applies to everywhere.

Anyway, we are leaving today, catching a plane to the big island, where we’ll make our way to the capital and then head home. Stay tuned for more details about Vieques.

Until then, thanks for reading.