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The current weather in Culebra

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I'm new...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Jen Lawrence (64.122.72.---)
Date:   02-14-08 15:30

Hi Everyone!
I just ran across this website...I have never looked into Puerto Rico much however it looks like I have possibly stumbled across a very much loved Island such as the one I fell in love with in Mexico that we have watched change so much over the past 7 years....

Is this the best place to find out more about Culebra? I would really love to hear from some of you that have been going to this Island for a long time...is it "touristy"? We love being able to go somewhere beautiful but be able to be safe...have a small apartment or something where we can do alot of cooking in as we aren't really the typical tourist...we love finding out the culture of the island..we aren't timeshare people....we love for our typical vacation day to exist of waking up to watch the sun rise...have a nice breakfast in our own room...lay in the sun till about an hour before sunset...go to a nice beach for sunset...mill thru the town...follow our nose to supper... mill thru town again...stop at a grocery store and get things for breakfast...head back and go to bed...

some of you may know the island that we have been going to which is Isla Mujeres Mexico...is there any comparisons that anyone knows of...we are looking for some place new that is truly laid back, safe & someplace we would feel like we are home when we are there.

Any recommendations of where to look for info is so much appreciated..I look forward to getting to know more about Culebra!!!

Jen in MN

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Re: I'm new...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: richard (---.hsd1.dc.comcast.net)
Date:   02-14-08 16:09

sorry, the grocery stores close too early to fit your schedule...

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Re: I'm new...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Jen Lawrence (64.122.72.---)
Date:   02-14-08 16:21

so things close early...even better....we don't keep a "schedule" really...schedules are to be left at home :o)...would love any and all advice..thanks!!..one thing about the beaches...we haven't ever stayed where we have had trouble with sand fleas, etc...is the same true of the beaches at Culebra?

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Re: I'm new...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Culebra (---.dfw1.dsl.speakeasy.net)
Date:   02-14-08 16:41

You can find lots of great info about Culebra on this website. This forum has a lot of really good answers to peoples questions. Search through the website and the forum and I'm sure you will find anything you want to know!

Bugs can get bad at certain times and beaches. Nothing a little bug spray can't prevent!

Good Luck!

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Re: I'm new...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: richard (---.hsd1.dc.comcast.net)
Date:   02-14-08 17:44

I was just gently pulling your leg. (but they do close early)

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Re: I'm new...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Mort (---.tampabay.res.rr.com)
Date:   02-14-08 20:12

Richard, that made me laugh. But she's new to the board and doesn't yet know your (our) humor. Not that she should necessarily! LOL.

Jen, what I'm curious about is what you will look like after laying in the sun from breakfast til an hour before sunset! Are you sure you're doing the right thing?

Other than that, and of course the whole grocery store thing, you are traveling to the perfect place!

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Re: I'm new...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Doug (---.dsl.stlsmo.swbell.net)
Date:   02-14-08 23:02

I've kicked around the idea of a vaca on Isla Mujeres. Jen, after you try Culebra, will you kindly grace us with a compare and contrast missive?
Gracias. The guys are right. You'll need to get the shopping done a tad earlier. Other than that, enjoy.

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Re: I'm new...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Jen Lawrence (64.122.72.---)
Date:   02-15-08 09:51

I love it...I think I have found something really special here!! You are all very welcoming which is so awesome....and..I'll keep my mouth shut! LOL...
Mort...I guess I worded that wrong...in all reality I am lucky if we have breakfast done and our morning coffee done by noon or so! I know better than laying out all day after my first year in the tropical sun as to what it does to skin!

Doug...Isla isn't what it used to be...I haven't been in the last 2 years and honestly I dont know if it would be what I am accustomed to there anymore...it has gotten so built up...it has become the island that now everyone knows about and everything that comes along with that is happening....great big resorts being built, etc...it is beautiful....I fell in love with it before we ever set foot on the ferry dock...a main thing that I worry about is the crime level there now...I haven't been hearing good things about that...but the people, food and atmosphere...I will miss the way it used to be and that is what we are looking for now...

speaking of which...how is the crime level on Culebra? We ofcourse take the normal precautions but is there anything serious going on on this Island...breakins while sleeping, etc?

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Re: I'm new...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: R (---.hvc.res.rr.com)
Date:   02-15-08 10:54

Hi Jen,
I'm not a Culebra "regular", last month was our first trip to Culebra but my family and I were looking for the exact type of vacation you described and we definitely found it.

I found this website and forum to be extremely helpful when planning our trip and since we've been back there's something that keeps drawing me back to this site...I guess just trying to get some vicarious sun and relaxation : )

As for walking through town, it's pretty small..not a ton to see, and stores did seem to close early or at different hours depending on the day, but there are fun restaurants to hang out at and lots of great people to meet and talk to. We felt perfectly safe there. We were completely comfortable walking through town at night with our young son, we kept running into the same people over and over and everyone was so nice.

We didn't have any problems with bugs...a few mosquitoes here and there. We had more trouble with roosters and stray cats harassing us for our food..but that's all part of the experience. I have a great picture of a rooster challanging my husband for dominance.

I hope you enjoy Culebra...I'm jealous I wish I was going back soon.
-R

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Re: I'm new...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Herb (67.65.139.---)
Date:   02-15-08 13:01

Yeah, I spend as much time on this site post vaca as I did pre vaca. I think the medical term is "Culebraitis". There is only one known cure, and only a few medications work.

This is definitely a low key island....exactly what we were looking for and can not wait for our next trip.

While we did have somewhat of a learning curve on certain aspects of our trip, this forum was incredibly helpful in reducing the pain of such. Your efforts will be well rewarded if you just sit back and start reading the threads AND cutting and pasting information as you see it and save it. (I did not do that, but wished I had)

We camped at Flamenco and so roosters did not bother us. We did leave a papya on our picnic table one day and to our dismay a bird or two helped themselves to a nice little feast. Bugs were not an issue, but that was probably a function of the time of year (late Jan, early Feb).

We did not have a "lock" on our tent. No one bothered our stuff. As on any trip, don't do anything stupid that makes you an easy target. That having been said, I carried my camera in my backpack and when we were snorkeling for an extended period of time, no one ever bothered my bag.

Given the time of year, it was not very crowded. In talking with the locals, it is apparent that tourism as it is, is down from previous years.

Regards
Herb

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Re: I'm new...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: R (---.hvc.res.rr.com)
Date:   02-15-08 14:45

"Culebraitis" yeah that's it...I have an acute case...any 12-step programs out there for this?

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Re: I'm new...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: bosie (---.ulmer.com)
Date:   02-15-08 15:43

Modified slightly from Wikipedia:

admitting that one cannot control one's addiction or compulsion; (to Culebra)

recognizing a greater power that can give strength; (again, Culebra) no disrespect for the higher power..

examining past errors with the help of a sponsor (experienced member);(past errors, like going to Disneyland, sponsor? I'll take MJ)

making amends for these errors; (only way to do this is follow up visits to Culebra)

learning to live a new life with a new code of behavior; (Sun and sand in Culebra, behavior uh help me out Mort)

helping others that suffer from the same addictions or compulsions (would you like to borrow my sunscreen, can I buy ya a beer?)

only 6 steps...

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Re: I'm new...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: MJ (---.prtc.net)
Date:   02-15-08 19:25

Since I never was asked to be a sponsor (and trust me, I haven't), I am proud the first time is for The 6 Step program.
Thankfully...you all know I can't help you as I'm busy helping myself with my higher power (called my friends) in the meeting place (called the my yard, the beach, the sea, the cart, the bar). But I can say, welcome, enjoy and my only real advice...and I stole this from when I lived in the VI's...ya gotta go to come back.

Well done, I'm still laughing.

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Re: I'm new...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Mort (---.tampabay.res.rr.com)
Date:   02-15-08 19:42

Great stuff, Bosie!

I am not sure about your choice of MJ as a sponsor, though. Mighty risky. She is not your average person. You have all your affairs in order, right? And you've been doing your cardio religiously? Keeping up with MJ is not unlike training to climb Everest. Preparation is the key.

You can find a lot more information at: www.mjisabadinfluencewhydidntilistentothewarnings.com

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Re: I'm new...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: MJ (---.prtc.net)
Date:   02-15-08 19:47

Mort!!! I feel like I've gotten rid of all my cellulite just reading your words. Thank you - and as they say...fair warning.

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Re: I'm new...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Michael (190.166.19.---)
Date:   02-17-08 12:15

I made the URL live :)

Enjoy Culebra!

Michael

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Re: I'm new...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: MJ (---.prtc.net)
Date:   02-17-08 17:39

Good lord, Michael!!! Make it go away, it scares me! Ok, I scare me sometimes...this would be one of them...that stuff is supposed to fade away...isn't it?

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Re: I'm new...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: June Moncrief (---.greenmountainaccess.net)
Date:   02-17-08 19:30

This forum is wonderful. When I'm up to my elbows in deadlines and the stress is starting to close in, I tune in to read what everyone is talking about. You all crack me up to no end. I have to be careful though, someone in a nearby cubicle wondered why I was laughing so loud the other day!!!!
Looking sooooo forward to my stay in Culebra in a little more than a week.
And Jen, yes, you will fall in love again!
June

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Re: I'm new...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: beachbound (---.197.40.69.ip.alltel.net)
Date:   02-21-08 10:11

Hi Jen,

We are doing kind of the opposite. We have been going to Culebra for about 2 years now and for spring break this year we are taking the kids to Isla Mujeres. So, not having been to Isla before, but having researched it for our trip, I think I can say that it might be similar to what IM used to be like. Culebra is bigger and hillier, so it will take longer to get around the island (though if you compare cars on Culebra to bikes or golf carts on IM, then it might come out to similar total times). You will not have nearly as much selection in Culebra for stores, restaurants, bars, lodging, etc. as IM, but the payoff is that it is going to more quiet, peaceful, easy going and safer. You shouldn't have any problem with the type of vacation you are looking for, other than "Open Some Days, Closed Others". Stores close early and some places aren't open everyday, and if they are they may not have the same things they did the day before. If you see something you want, buy it----it may be your only chance!!

I, too, would be curious to see how you think the island compare after your visit to Culebra---maybe we could compare notes?? We are looking forward to seeing another little part of the world, but our hearts ache to be back on Culebra. Hopefully we can get back there soon (sans kids : ).

Sue

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Re: I'm new...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Debbie (---.sip.asm.bellsouth.net)
Date:   02-21-08 17:59

Sue,

You traitor! :)

Happy Diving!
Debbie

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Re: I'm new...
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: beachbound (---.197.40.69.ip.alltel.net)
Date:   02-22-08 07:44

Crap. Busted. I plead guilty.......what's my sentence?

Sue

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