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Puerto Rico

The current weather in Culebra

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Dear John Saje
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Debbie (---.asm.bellsouth.net)
Date:   03-06-06 21:06

Thank you for your informative post on Casa de Helado, the insights into the taxi service and warning about the filth on Culebra.

It is exactly your type that I am happy to hear from. The fact that you hated it so much means you will never be back, and those of us that love Culebra so much will never have to cross your path. I find a certain amount of comfort in that, as others who frequent this board must also.

Contrary to one of your posts, this board is not largely populated with locals; I would wager that it's mostly populated with people who have visited Culebra (some multiple times like myself) that want to educate others on the island before they visit so that they won't be disappointed. A few years ago, I was bound to meet at least one person/couple/family per trip that hated it. When I became aware of this board, I made a concerted effort to reach out and answer any and all questions that I could, so that I wouldn't have to hear one more person tell me on-island that they hated it and would never come back. For every one of those, there's 10 other people that can peer beneath the dirt, the guesthouses with no views, and the slightly inebriated taxi drivers and see the charm and the beauty that exists. For instance, I find it charming that you can drive around with an open beer as long as you have your seatbelt on.

I've gone back through the board posts and it appears that you did not do your research! You made only three posts in the week before you left. In one of those posts, you said "We're at the mercy of the locals there and would like some helpful advice on how to get to and from San Juan to Fajardo without being robbed blind." So apparently, you already had something against Puertoricans before you even stepped on their soil. Sad, but insightful into what we should have expected to hear from you upon your return.

Had you done your research, you would have found some good views and some bad views about Casa de Helado. From that, maybe you would have had a better idea of the place that you had rented given all the controversy/publicity it received a few months ago. I don't know the owners, but I know which house they own, and I take issue with your calling it the slums. According to you, the whole island must be a slum. What consitutes a slum anyway? According to dictionary.com, "A heavily populated urban area characterized by substandard housing and squalor. Often used in the plural." Okay, so Culebra is not heavily populated, not urban by any means; it does not have substandard housing as compared to other small, but largely undeveloped islands and squalor is a subjective term. It's definition, just so you don't have to bother to look it up is "a filthy and wretched condition or quality". Let's attack that like we did "slum." If a place has mainly dirt roads with very little pavement (and lots of potholes where there is pavement), lots of wind, and periods of no rainfall, gee, seems like it would be a bit dirty. It is impossible to keep anything clean there, including houses on dirt roads. Quality? Culebrense don't have an issue with the quality of their living quarters nor their idyllic life on the island. Did you even know that a local is called a "Culebrense?" No, because you didn't give them a snowball's chance in hell to welcome you with open arms like they do most strangers/tourists/visitors.

As for taxis, I'm assuming by about the second day you were there, all of them knew your name. Who can blame them for charging more for having to listen to you? I'm a gringo, and caucasian at that, and I've NEVER paid more than $2 for a taxi ride to anywhere on the island.

Where DID you hear about Culebra? What were your expectations? Did you think you were going to be staying in a beachside resort, playing mini golf and drinking daquiris with umbrellas? If so, then you kind of deserve the experience you got.

I'm glad you're home and settling back into your life. Enjoy the barren *whiteness* of Canada, while the rest of us dream about our beloved Culebra.

Debbie

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Re: Dear John Saje
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Sean Rankin (---.cae.bellsouth.net)
Date:   03-06-06 22:26

please remind me not to piss Debbie off...

Debbie, I will have a Medela in your honor Thursday night....

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Re: Dear John Saje
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Sharon DiLorenzo (---.nycap.res.rr.com)
Date:   03-07-06 07:47

Right on, Debbie! I agree .... one less "person" who'll take up precious space on this beautiful island. One less person to leave their trash behind on Culebra. Looking back on old posts, sounds like John was expecting to be ripped off and abused by the "Mexicans" on the island before he had even arrived. How interesting that he's dealt with people from all over the world yet he's calling the Culebrense Mexicans??? That pretty much says it all. Sounds like John doesn't have a lot to work with.

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Re: Dear John Saje
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Tami (---.hsd1.pa.comcast.net)
Date:   03-07-06 07:57

Amen.....................

Tami

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Re: Dear John Saje
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Christian Lind (166.77.6.---)
Date:   03-07-06 15:25

Debbie...

Haha...love your post here. I never thanked you for the link to your awesome dive pics...I was very impressed w/ the #'s of fish/corals you have there and your knowledge of the names...gotta love those Paul Humann books. I am psyched to dive there now, especially after your photos...so thanks.

And again...after this post I am even more psyched to get to Culebra. I am of the variety that loves a good "dirty" island...I have been for years traveling to Mexico and one of my favorite spots is Isla Mujeres which has been called a "dirty little scorpion infested island" on a message board I frequent...stay in Cancun (or Can'tcun as I call it) we tell those people and save Isla for it's fans who can appreciate it's charms. Culebra sounds right up my alley!!!

So again...thanks for the pics.

Cheers,

Christian

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Re: Dear John Saje
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Sharon DiLorenzo (---.nycap.res.rr.com)
Date:   03-07-06 18:44

Christian,

Thought you might want to check out some more Culebra pictures to help get you more psyched for your trip. Culebra is a delightful island; Vieques
is too! You're going to have a blast.

http://www.pbase.com/peterb/culebra05

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Re: Dear John Saje
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: shawke (---.lyncva.east.verizon.net)
Date:   03-07-06 19:56

Bye bye Johnny boy..........don't think we'll hear much from you anymore.

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Re: Dear John Saje
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Christian Lind (166.77.6.---)
Date:   03-08-06 12:31

Oh you are such a tease...Looks great...where is that tank? Anything like that underwater? Reminds me of pics I have seen from the Truuk Lagoon in the Pacific.

Am i there yet?

Thanks!!!

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Re: Dear John Saje
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: JOHN SAJE (---.fm.shawcable.net)
Date:   03-08-06 21:00

That's what you think.............. video footage will expose..............

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Re: Dear John Saje
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: JOHN SAJE (---.fm.shawcable.net)
Date:   03-08-06 21:13

As far as the taxi drivers on the island getting to know your name through passing, because you squack too much, fyi, this experience on the banging on the back of a van (taxi) happened the first day we were there. Get your facts straight! Second of all, Debbie, where I come from, drinking & driving is against the law, seat belt or no seat belt, when I travel half way around the world ( and have two children of my own), my safety is in that driver's hands.

Seatbelts don't save lives, especially on your roads! Ever heard of MADD! you could have a very serious law suit with how you relax the rules at your expense. I chose safety over open beers or whatever from a drunk "taxi" driver

Debbie,

I understand that you live on the island, and you will do anything possible to lure travellers to your island so you can survive financiallly at the risk of their expense.

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Re: Dear John Saje
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: elena (---.hsd1.ut.comcast.net)
Date:   03-08-06 23:09

in reading your entries i can't help to feel trully sorry for you john. hope you children grow up to be more open minded, accepting and just plain happier that you.

elena

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Re: Dear John Saje
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: casablancacondo.com (---.tc.faa.gov)
Date:   03-09-06 08:21

John, I am not sure if you were able to take a look at our Virtual Culebra site (http://www.virtualculebra.com) during your planning stage to visit the island. We started this web site in order to assist visitors view the island prior to arriving on the island (you can see “the good, the bad and the ugly”); as mentioned by many people on this forum, Culebra is not for everyone; some people enjoy the island as is, but others enjoy a different type of setting (manicured properties, higher end, etc.). On this web site, you will find a collection of 360 degrees panoramas of the island, including streets, properties, restaurants, etc. Some of the panoramas are free (sponsored by a business), while others are available for a nominal fee. I hope that other potential visitors take advantage of this site so that they have a better sense of where they will be vacationing and truly enjoy themselves. Enjoy Culebra!

John

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Re: Dear John Saje
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Jim (---.client.insightbb.com)
Date:   03-10-06 09:23

I enjoy reading Debbie's posts and respect all she does to promote Culebra but I have to take issue with the drinking and driving reference. If you ever have a family member or loved one killed by a drunk driver you probably won't find driving around with an open beer quite so "charming".

Jim Johnson

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