Random Shots

A small juice bar. I got a burrito and
Annie got coconut water and ate the flesh of her coconut.
A view of Ensenada Honda.
Ensenanda Honda and the lucky sailors.
lovely colours
This driver even had brightly coloured hair.
Hotel Kokomo
a house of many colours
I don't know what that fruit is.

The morning was overcast and then about noon we had a real tro_ical down_our for about 40 minutes.

It was not the best day, but here are a few shots from this afternoon. The bright colours make even an overcast day good.

Busy

It sure didn't take long for the new sitting area to receive the first guests. A grou_ of local men sat there for at least five hours today. Of course they were quenching their thirst with several Medellas. They were very tidy and _ut the em_y cans in a bag and took it to the designated garbage dis_osal barrel at the side of Susie's. They had a good day and I did t00, watching them.

It is not quiet anymore. There were actually three vehicles _arked out front, all day. Together with the boats and autos at the gas station, life has eru_ted on this side of the bridge.

A lovely woman came to rent one of the units. She is from France and is here for the winter with her two children. They come every winter. The kids get their studies from their school in France and while here on the island they study at Abbie's School (_rivate). If they do rent here for the next two months mom would like me to work with the children after school.........old teachers never truly retire.

New Sitting Area

The sitting area along the canal is ready now. It was not Tommy who ordered this table and we don't know who did, but it is nice to have. I sus_ect it was the folks who own the gas station and new mini mart. They are also the owners of the "big" grocery store we go to out by the air_ort.

Something Different

I told you that I had been "commanded" to go to Annie's at 7:00 this evening to _artici_ate in a Mass. Yes, the _riest Father Luis was doing a Mass at her home.

We, in Canada, have never heard of this.

I told you how wonderful the Christmas Eve Mass was and the drama by the children etc.

Well, tonight I ex_erienced something I have never before. It was the same living room that I have been in many times, but the dining table was out front and centre and it served as the altar. Father Luis welcomed us all and did introductions because I was the newcomer (although he said he remembered me from Christmas). This man is wonderful. As you all know I am not a church goer, but he could make one of me.

There were two nuns in attendance, as well.

I did not dare take any _hotos during the Mass, but did get one after. Unfortunately, he had already taken off his outer vestment.

Mass today, even in Canada, is not what I remember. But, here in Culebra it is still more intimate and informal than anything I could imagine. After Mass, I told him that in my days the congregation did not sing, only the _riest and he res_onded with many of the old Latin verses that I remember so well. I thank him for that because it is not _art of the "modern" church, however, he touched a tiny _lace in my heart and s_irit that has been dormant for years. Thank you Father Luis.

I only have one _hoto of him and one of Annie who was hosting this Mass. Also, one of the "altar" after the Mass.

Tommy and Annie cooked a traditional dish for us to share after.

What a wonderful ex_erience.

Hub of Activity

Dear readers,

I am sure you are not the least bit interested in the extra gas _um_ on the island or the fact that there has been a continuous stream of cars since 7:00 a.m. and it is now 4:16 or that a huge truck just _ulled u_ in front of my balcony and has been unloading a beautiful table and chair set. They are calling for Tommy, so I think they ordered it. It is to be set u_ alongside of the canal outside my unit. But, this is also the journal of my time on the island and these things are big changes in my tiny world, and also for the island. It is ex_eriencing how the island works. Yes, yes, I know I need to get to town more and eat and drink with some tourists, boaters, and ex_ats and I will, but not until next week.

BTW, I have new neighbours, once again.

So far I have had Ron and Jenna USA

Family from the Big island

Two young women from Finland

An older cou_le from ??

Another cou_le from ??

Now a young cou_le from Tennessee.

There are only two units on this side, but the one unit on the backside has had many guests, as well.

Monique is still u_stairs staying in a room in Annie and Tommy's s_ace and her friend from New York is arriving today.

I have been invited, no they said it was mandatory, to attend a function at 7:00 this evening. More later.

WOW-Change

My little world as been turned u_side down. This morning at 7:00 the gas station o_ened and there has been a line u_ ever since. This means noise from cars and sometimes radios. There is a little sign on one back door of Susie's which says Dakiti Gas Station and MiniMart. I was on my way to Milka's that early!!!!

These _hotos, taken from the far end of my balcony which is about forty feet long, show the statioin and the back of Susie's. Oh, and there are two _um_s, but only one is working. Medalla is the beer of choice locally. The location, directly on the canal, will also mean a lot more boat traffic, on this side of the mangrove island, which will be nice.

We are now officially on a two _um_ island. This is news indeed and came over the island email news -

Subject: other gas station abierto!!

new gas station open! YES IT IS TRUE< they are pumping over behind Milka!

AND a second annoucement -

Date: Fri, Jan 27, 2012 at 10:30 AM
Subject: gasolina!!!!!
To:

The 2nd gas station

is pumping gas

Yipeeeeee

Remember when I was u_set having neighbours move in!!!!!!!

Rumours

Remember I told you there was only one gas station with one _um_ on the island and that the other one has been closed for years.

Ever since I wrote those words there has been a beehive of action out front of my room just to the right. Yes, right on the canal behind Susie's and almost in front of me is where the old Gulf Station is. In the last two weeks it has been _ainted in new colours, not Gulf's red and blue. For the last few days several men have been working full time doing whatever it is they are doing with a line that runs u_ to Annie's driveway???? At this very moment they are all having a beer break, including the boss. Canada, it isn't.

From what the fellow who was _ainting told me, the owners from a sister island, Viesques, are indeed going to o_en in the next week or two. Yes, I know I wrote about the mayor owning the other station etc. That mayor died in December, so maybe the new mayor doesn't share the same views. I don't know and will not ask because I sure don't want to get mixed u_ in island _olitics. It is amazing to me that a small island with about 1500 and only 800 registered voters can be so divisive. Then again, the smaller the more at stake.

Anyway, my small quiet little s_ace has changed a lot in the last six weeks. All of my neighbours have been lovely, es_ecially Jeanna and Ron. Now when the gas station o_ens there will be tons of cars as well as boaters. All I have to do is look the other way and ignore them all, but I think I am ready for a little more action.

Let's see how long it takes for ins_ections and o_ening day.

OMG five weeks from this coming Saturday I fly home. Time does fly when you are doing nothing. Is that because it is fun or does it have anything to do with getting older. Youngsters think that a two month summer break is an eternity. Seniors think five of six months snowbirding is just about right. Hmmmmmm?

Oh my, the boss just came over to talk to me. The tanker of gas is coming this evening and they are o_ening on Friday. After a few beers he was really talkative telling me about himself - a country boy from the big island here to oversee this job. His nickname is Chino because his friends thought he looked Chinese. When he told me I thought he was saying Gino and ke_t telling him that was Italian until he told me the China as_ect. Anyway he is a really friendly fellow and it is true a second gas station with two _um_s on Culebra (if both _um_s work).

A BLACK night.

Yesterday afternoon all electricity to the island went out and that included the tower where the internet connection comes from. About 5:00 I decided that I was not going to be left alone downstairs. I went u_ to Annie's. They were about to begin cooking dinner and had invited a lovely young cou_le here on vacation. He is from the Lake Como area of Italy and she just over the border in Switzerland. We all had a glass of wine and talked some and then they left. Where they are staying they must negotiate a stee_ hill with more than 100 stairs - not in darkness. There were some lights on the other side of the canal (generators).

Shortly after, Luisa called and said that out her way it was black and scary. Tommy went and brought her over. Now our grou_ consisted of Annie, Tommy, Luisa, Monique, and me.

We sat and chatted in the candlelight - no dinner, but really feeling sorry for folks coming in on the ferry and getting hit with this unex_ectedly. A big bonus was that without so much light _ollution the stars were more visible and such a beautiful sight.

We then all retired to our res_ective slee_ing s_ots for the night.

I was slee_ing on the sofa and Luisa on the loveseat. I heard Monique leave her room and ti_toe through the living room and out the o_en door. I got u_ to see what was going on and it was so funny to see her almost running, one flashlight in back and one in front of her, in the _itch dark. I su_ _ose she went out to find a restaurant/store with a generator.

Around 1:00 a.m. the hydro came back on and I made my way to my unit.

We all go through _ower outages at home and it is annoying at best, but this seemed very different because my whole universe was black and totally disconnected from the rest of the world. It feels quite isolated here at the best of times because the ferry is so very unreliable and the little _lanes don't fly if the weather is too bad, so coming and going _lans must be flexible.

Another of the evening activities offered on the island and this one was FREE.

Today is another hot, sunny day and life goes on with the many little tasks that become big ones on such a tiny island reliant on the ferry.

Earlier, a _rivate boat tied u_ by me and I watched them take off some boxes and bags and a new mattress and box s_ring set. A truck showed u_ to take them to their new home. Isn't our life easy - Sears, The Bay, etc.

Just down the jetty another man in his Tilley hat had a wood container that had been delivered earlier and he had o_ened it and was un_acking items for the car ride to their new home.

And that is the kind of day it's been, Lloyd.

Fish for the New Year

I just got home from an unex-ected dinner invitation from Annie and Tommy.

Tommy did steamed whole fish. I was so amazed because being Chinese New Year it was so fitting. To the Chinese the fish symbolizes abundance. It is always a whole fish that is -lated. My friend Li Juan always had a whole steamed fish on the table whenever I ate there. And, tonight each of us had a whole steamed fish. I took the o--ortunity to tell them about this Chinese custom and they were thrilled to hear about it because they knew how much this meant to me. Wow, how lucky I am. A Canadian gal with an ado-ted Chinese family on vacation in Culebra celebrating Chinese New Year. I am with my Chinese friends and ado-ted family in s-irit.

I truly wish that my and your Chinese New Year is filled with abundance - abundance of friends, love, health, and enough wealth.

Welcome in The Year of the Dragon

Yes, today is the Chinese New Year and the most im-ortant festival in Chinese culture. It usually lasts for fifteen days and ends with the Lantern Festival.

Gong Hei Fat Choy

On this most aus-icious day Kam will be making the drive from Waterloo to -earson International Air-ort to bring home his wife, Sue, and his baby son, Haotian.

What a great New Year gift for Kam.

Ah, dolce far niente!

Yes, I know that is Italian and I am on a S-anish s-eaking island, but there is no translation for * the sweetness of doing nothing * quite like the Italian. Many years ago, along the Cinque Terre coast, I heard it for the first time and to this day it just has a certain je ne sais quoi about it.

Today I am sitting on the balcony and enjoying doing nothing (again). It is a beautiful, breezy, blue sky day.

.

Lobster - If you are sensitive, DO NOT view this

Yesterday Monique, Luisa, and I were getting ready to go to the "big" grocery store with Annie in her car. As I was going towards the car I heard Annie yelling at me - lobster, lobster. She said to go to the boat beside the black car and call out for _edro. I did. Annie went to tell Monique. I had asked Annie a few weeks ago when I could buy fresh lobster and she said that one day I will.

A--arently about every two weeks -edro goes out to bring in his lobsters and yesterday was the day. Both Annie and Tommy are used to the different sounds of each fisherman's boat motors and this day they heard the lobster boat!!!

Unfortunately, because I was only going to the store I didn't have my camera with me. I told them to shoot me dead if I ever go out without my camera again. They all laughed, but agreed.

What a great sight it was. Two tourist families drove u_ and were there to buy lobster, as well. Also, many are sent to St. Thomas and others are sold to the few local dining establishments (frozen, thawed, reheated and sold 'as fresh caught'). I was a little concerned that there wouldn't be any for us, as I just could not jum_ down to the first boat and then ho_ to the next one. Thankfully Monique arrived in time and without hesitation did the jum_s. Annie arrived shortly thereafter to oversee the transaction.

Monique and I each bought two lobsters for the four of us (good _rice $7.00 lb.) The catch was _ut in _lastic bags the same as we get at any grocery store. I have no idea where Tommy ke_t them at home.

Tommy and Annie cooked and had the veggies and salad. Tommy usually does all the cooking, but last night it was Annie who did the lobsters. (I asked Tommy a few weeks ago if he had any single brothers - no, oh so sad.)

I did take several _hotos, but will only show these two. You know it is too cruel to show those guys in the sink alive and kicking and the next minute being lowered into the boiling water. I didn't look at this much because it is distressing.

I have had many east coast lobsters while visiting and also Australian lobster while wintering in Fiji in 1980 (which are truly delectable and sweet), but these s_iny Caribbean lobsters just an hour out of the sea, were delicious. I am sure that a good reason was the family cooking and hos_itable com_any.

Relief

Let me tell you that Monique, who was here at New Year's and is back again, suggested I try to mix half and half alcohol and water in a s_ray bottle and use it from time to time.

Well, let me say that either the Raid is finally working or Monique's reci_e is. My dollar goes on Moniques reci_e. I have had nothing come near me nor bite for the last five hours.

Forget Deet and Woods Off and all the others. Try this formula first.

This does not hold true if you are going to a resort where they do a fogging every night when most are slee_ing. That takes care of the critters, but if you are renting _rivately, this is something to consider.

Thank God for this reci_e. It not only sto_s them biting me, but seems to rid the room of them.

I'll let you more know in the days to come. Maybe they will develo_e a taste for this and learn to delight on it?????????????

Erin -

Erin came over for a short visit today. She came in on her dinghy and as she was leaving I managed to get a few shots. She tied u_ just next to me behind Susie's. What fun this is com_ared to a snow filled driveway. I know, I know there is very little snow at home this winter.

Mmmmmmm Good

Tito with his machete.
Annie holding one which is ready to drink.
Tito cutting them.
Oh, what a lovely bunch of coconuts.
Tito, the man!
About twenty minutes ago Tito cut down about twenty coconuts from the tree outside my door. We drank coconut water and ate the flesh.

Some Thoughts

I have been home a few hours now and am still thinking about that beautiful scene at the seaside today. But, I know that I want to see and _hoto some of the incredible sunrises and sunsets. The sunset I can do. The sunrise is questionable. I do wake early, but then I need my morning routine of coffee, cigarette, bread/toast and _eanut butter, and then my Cayenne ca_sule. Before this routine I am just good for nothing. However, I will attem_t to awake way before dawn so that I can do both. That is on my To Do list.

Cotton tree

On the way home I saw a lonely cotton tree growing in the dense bush.

A Beautiful Day

I finally have all those nasty bites under control so I thought it would be a good day to go to the beach. It was quite windy and there were stunning white clouds in the sky. Both the wind and the clouds offered relief from the burning hot sun.

My first view of the sea today and it looked as if millions of diamonds were floating on the surface.

How thankful I am for being able to see this in a "free zone". This free zone, to me, is a location free from distracting stimuli.