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The current weather in Culebra

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New Ferry for Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Michael (---.nyc.res.rr.com)
Date:   08-09-08 12:55

I just learned that the new cargo ferry actually brought a ferry for San Juan on her maiden trip to the Caribbean from Rhode Island. The picture is really cute!

Check it out at:

http://www.marinelog.com/DOCS/NEWSMMVII/2008aug00073.html

Enjoy Culebra!

Michael

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Re: New Ferry for Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Jeannie G3 (---.asm.bellsouth.net)
Date:   08-09-08 23:27

Hola! Of course there will be new boats, it's election year. Let's hope they can maintain it and that it arrives soon before the year is over. Culebra get ready!!! It can carry 300 passengers. There's also news of it in the July 2008 edition of The Culebra Calendar. I hope everything works out considering there has been a request for a moratorium on permits for public vehicles. Transportation to Culebra will get easier and more people will be able to go but, if the moratorium is passed, how will people be able to get around if there is a limit on rental vehicles and publicos??? Just something to think about. Happy travels! J

supergarcia3

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Re: New Ferry for Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Jeannie G3 (---.asm.bellsouth.net)
Date:   08-11-08 14:22

Hola! There is an article today about the new ferry in the PR newspaper El Nuevo Dia, www.endi.com. The new ferry called CAYO LARGO will join the fleet today. It has a capacity to transport 300 passengers and 300 tons of cargo. It will be shared between Culebra and Vieques. The new ferry has space to transport vehicles, cadavers, has a wheelchair accessible ramp and other facilities. Maybe on this ferry, you will be able to transport llamas. LOL!!! I'll keep you posted. All together, the fleet totals 6 ferries for Culebra and Vieques.
Atlantis, another ferry within the fleet, is being renovated at a cost of 1 million $ and has capacity for 290 passengers. Carlos Gonzalez Miranda, Secretary of Transportation and Public Works also announced the addition of another ferry for next year with a capacity of 600 passengers and a cost of 10.5 million $. He also said all of the ferries will undergo maintenance to extend their use.
That's a lot of people going to Culebra. Be prepared Culebrenses! Happy travles! J

supergarcia3

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Re: New Ferry for Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Mort (---.tampabay.res.rr.com)
Date:   08-11-08 16:37

Thanks for the info, Jeannie. Probably all of us have mixed feelings about this.

One of the great things was that the crowds were naturally constrained by the low capacity of the transports (small planes and small ferries).

A few hundred extra people on Culebra can make a huge impact on the island. Ah, well. I wasn't naive enough to think that Culebra would always be an "undiscovered secret".

I've been there on a very crowded holiday (lesson learned), and I just can't imagine it with DOUBLE the amount of visitors.

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Re: New Ferry for Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Jeannie G3 (---.asm.bellsouth.net)
Date:   08-11-08 17:15

Hola! The problem with the extra people on the island is that there is not enough infrastructure to support that many people. The same scenario happened at my hometown of Cabo Rojo almost 20 years ago. The town had many of the most pristine beautiful white sandy beaches, clear waters, almost deserted, then word got out and the masses came. Weekend after weekend of hundreds of people coming to Cabo Rojo to visit the beaches and eat the seafood. Tap water would come and go from Friday night until Sunday night, at times there was none at all. The traffic was horrible and the shelves at the local supermarket (at that time there was only one) would be empty, not to mention how our visitors left the beaches, trash everywhere. I could go on and on... Now, there are new and wider roads, new water plants, more stores, more places to stay, a great economy. My sister told me that there are even plans to build a new baseball park and convention center, but at what price?! Many of the ecosystems have been damaged, the water is murky, noise and trash everywhere, etc. Poor Culebrense!! More people do contribute to the local economy which they are in great need but, at what price. As MJ says, save what's left. Happy travels! J

supergarcia3

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Re: New Ferry for Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Debbie (---.sip.asm.bellsouth.net)
Date:   08-12-08 21:43

While the thought of spankin' new ferries is certainly appealing, I too have mixed feelings about it. I applaud the attempt to put a moratorium on vehicles. Some of the rental vehicles are huge gas guzzlers, and some of them are stinkin' polluters. And, yes, I'm guilty of renting them. One of the charms of Culebra is that it is not easily accessible and its rustic feel does not appeal to most Type A personalities. If they overcrowd the ferries and then run out of cars, most high strung Americans will get ticked off and won't come back -- and then there's more space for those of us that love it. On the other hand, there is the risk of Culebra gaining a bad name/reputation if something like that were to happen. We don't want the world to think it's an unfriendly destination, but there is only so much room for so many people, and I don't care to see they day when 1,500 people pile off the ferry and expect there to be 750 cars waiting for them. Ugh!

Happy Diving!
Debbie

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Re: New Ferry for Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: kerry parsons (---.il-chicago0.sa.earthlink.net)
Date:   08-13-08 00:10

anyone know when this is supposed to start running? anything about schedules? and fares??? thanx

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Re: New Ferry for Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Jeannie G3 (---.aep.bellsouth.net)
Date:   08-13-08 09:19

Hola! We are dealing with Puerto Rico government agencies so, who knows when Fajardo Port Authority will receive the new ferry or complete renovations on the older ones. My guess is that will probably happen close to November elections when government officials can make a big TA DA!!! and fuss over what should have been done a long time ago. Fares will probably stay the same or if they rise, it won't be a huge hike in price. Fares for the public bus (AMA) went up from 25 to 75 cents in over 30 years that it has been functioning and now it's free until the end of the year. As far as the schedules, most of what happens is at Port Authorities discretion. Sometimes the ferries are exchanged to service Vieques or Culebra. The new ferry will provide more cargo transporting opportunities. Interesting enough, there has not been very much of this news in the press when I think it is very important since it has to do with transportation, tourism and the economy of one of the daughter islands. Happy travels! J

supergarcia3

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Re: New Ferry for Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: kerry parsons (---.ca-sanfranc0.sa.earthlink.net)
Date:   08-13-08 13:29

thanx jeannie...maybe i'll get lucky with my arrival date...nov. 5....keep me posted on any news u may find on this...u say the rates will probably be the same, but have no clue as to the old rates....

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Re: New Ferry for Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Jeannie G3 (---.asm.bellsouth.net)
Date:   08-13-08 14:44

Hola! The ferry is super inexpensive, only $2.25 one way. Happy travels! J

supergarcia3

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Re: New Ferry for Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Mort (---.tampabay.res.rr.com)
Date:   08-13-08 16:27

If it goes over $3, I'm going to boycott it. And I'll just find some other beautiful Caribbean island that has a ferry for only $2 and THEY'LL get my business. Let that be a warning, Puerto Rico government!

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Re: New Ferry for Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Michael (---.nyc.res.rr.com)
Date:   08-16-08 11:00

Mort you nailed it!

Enjoy Culebra!

Michael

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