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Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Robert T. (---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date:   10-01-08 11:01

Went to Culebra on the 24th of September. Planned to spend 2 nights there. The first thing upon arrival was to rent a Jeep. We stopped at the Carlos Jeep rental in the airport, we begin to head somewhere to get breakfast. And ding, the gas light came on, so we tried for about 10 minutes to find a gas station. When we found it, it wasn't open for another hour. Growing increasingly frustrated as we waited, the station opened about 810, filled up, and off to find food. We spoke to a local who directed us to a restaurant, upon arriving it was closed, then we spoke to a firefighter who directed us to another restaurant, also closed. We then went back to the airport to see if the cafe was open yet. But apparently it was closed that day, we finally made it to La Pista, which was simple, but okay. Then before we could check into our guest house it was off to the beach. WOW, the most amazing beach I have ever laid eyes on. And we had it completely to ourselves. We hung out there for about 2-3 hours before heading to town to find out accommodations. One thing that was awful in the town was the amount of trash, litter and animals everywhere. It seemed like a 3rd world country. Anyways, we find our guest house, Casa Ensenada, and it was better than the outside would lead you to believe. It was very lightly stocked. We then rested for a while and decided to get some groceries since we were a little hungry. The grocery store was small and reeked. We then go back to our guest house and hung out for a while, we decided not to chance trying to find a place open for dinner, and had our meal there. We were not prepared for the amount of mosquitoes and bugs that we faced that night, we decided we had enough. We weren't staying there 2 nights, thankfully Air Flamenco allowed us to move up our return flight at no charge. We spent the night there and got eaten alive by mosquitoes, ever hear of a mosquito net? The next morning we headed to the beach again, the only redeeming quality of the island. So the trash, the impoverished atmosphere, dirty and loose animals everywhere, tremendous pot holes were not our idea of a vacation and these things were not mentioned in the reviews I had previously read while planning the trip. My only advice to others planning a trip here is to take a daytrip to the beach and do not stay on the island.

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Michael (---.netvisao.pt)
Date:   10-01-08 11:35

Robert, it seems to me you were a little too impatient to find the atmosphere (your words). Culebra is a very special place and maybe if you would have given it a little more time (and some bug spray ;)) you would have found what you were looking for. Did Luquillo turn out what you thought it would be?

Enjoy Culebra!

Michael

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Robert T. (---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date:   10-01-08 12:00

We found Luquillo to be very nice, a nice small sized town with several very nice and clean restaurants. And a short drive to Fajardo, which has quite a few more services than Luquillo. We stayed in a penthouse in Luquillo, and our only complaint was the ants, but that seemed to be typical of anywhere in PR. Otherwise it was a perfect time in Luquillo.

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Debbie (---.ms.com)
Date:   10-01-08 14:16

Sorry you didn't like it; it is an extremely special place to the people that appreciate it for what it is. Maybe we have the ability to see through the trash, litter and amimals everywhere and the impoverished atmosphere, because there is plenty of beauty beyond that. Had you gone out to dinner or even for a quick drink, you would have met the beautiful people of the island (and their dogs). . . You arrived right after a major (major is not even an apt description) rain storm sat over the island for three days. It washed a lot of mud into the streets and it brought out hordes of mosquitoes. Such is life in the Caribbean.

Hope your honeymoon was nice overall.

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Frank (---.static.gwi.net)
Date:   10-01-08 16:46

"We stopped at the Carlos Jeep rental in the airport, we begin to head somewhere to get breakfast. And ding, the gas light came on, so we tried for about 10 minutes to find a gas station. When we found it, it wasn't open for another hour. Growing increasingly frustrated as we waited, the station opened about 810, filled up, and off to find food. We spoke to a local who directed us to a restaurant, upon arriving it was closed, then we spoke to a firefighter who directed us to another restaurant, also closed. We then went back to the airport to see if the cafe was open yet. But apparently it was closed that day, we finally made it to La Pista, which was simple, but okay."

This paragraph ought to be required reading for every person who is thinking about visiting Culebra. If you will find these types of situations stressful or frustrating, Culebra is not for you. And that's okay! This is not an indictment of Robert T., as we all have different circumstances that make us happy, whether on vacation or every day living. Culebra is what it is and there are days it is EXACTLY as Robert T. has described it.

My week has been consumed with thoughts of Culebra as I'll be there Saturday night. Bringing one newcomer and one friend that has only been there during the so-called high season for Americanos: President's Week in February. Have dutifully warned them that Culebra in October is ... well ... a little different. Can't wait!

Frank

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: richard (---.hsd1.dc.comcast.net)
Date:   10-01-08 23:31

ok I have to ask, was returning to Carlos' for an explanation/fill/exchange not an option?

sorry the visit crapped out for you, I always describe the place as rustic and glitchy to put it nicely.

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Sphinx (---.maine.res.rr.com)
Date:   10-02-08 09:48

I'd be greatly disappointed if it WEREN'T different in October versus February, Frank. As long as the Medalla is still cold. I'm good.

One thing though: if the gas light goes on right away in John's Trooper, then I'm outta there!

; - )

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Jeannie G3 (---.asm.bellsouth.net)
Date:   10-02-08 09:57

Hola! Sorry that Robert's and Frank's expectations weren't met when visiting Culebra. You have to take the good and the bad with positive attitude when visiting new places and learn from your experiences. I've been to places like Culebra and worse where there are potholes everywhere, trash, transportation delays, can't get gas anywhere (which is our problem now in North Atlanta, was able to finally fill my car with gas yesterday after a week), stray dogs, people insistently trying to sell you their goods and all sorts of things, the list is endless. The beauty of traveling is to better understand and contribute to the world in which we live. Whether it's Napoli, Italy or Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, which in my opinion looked so similar, they have the same problems. There was trash everywhere, run down streets and buildings, high crime, contamination problems, to list a few. There were visitors that arrived to Atlanta, USA this past weekend and couldn't fill their gas tanks anywhere when we are surrounded by gas distribution centers. In Spain, places close in the middle of the day for nap/rest time; if you were planning a late lunch, you may have to wait for early dinner to eat. When you're given lemons, make lemonade. Take those moments of delay or dilemma and turn it into a cultural exchange, even if there are language barriers, I assure you, your difficulties are probably the same as the locals. The locals have it harder because at the end of the day, you leave and they stay. Plan ahead now that you have experienced life on the island and return prepared with flexible attitude. This applies for your travels everywhere. Pack a lemon juicer, LOL!!! Happy travels! J

supergarcia3

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Frank (---.static.gwi.net)
Date:   10-02-08 11:46

Sphinx-
Sorry, October is "Enjoy A Warm Medalla" Month in the island. And for the record, John's Isuzu Trooper has a broken gas gauge, so you never really know how much gas you have. :-)

Jeannie-
Hey wait a minute! :-) Don't lump me in with those that find Culebra's idiosyncracies frustrating. My message is this: I love Culebra as it is and wouldn't change anything about it. Nothing. In fact, I'd like to take it back a few years and have it be more rustic and unreliable.

Richard-
Word History: Although "glitch" seems a word that people would always have found useful, it is first recorded in English in 1962 in the writing of John Glenn: "Another term we adopted to describe some of our problems was 'glitch.' " Since then glitch has passed beyond technical use and now covers a wide variety of malfunctions and mishaps. And the usage of "glitchy" is, well, accurate!!

Frank

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Doug (---.dsl.stlsmo.swbell.net)
Date:   10-02-08 12:23

This is all about natural selection of visitors. If everyone saw the place as some of us do, it would be overrun. Tourista Darwinism. It'll grow on you. We should bump this thread as often as needed to make sure the Cancun dune buggy, high rise, fast food crowd have a look.

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: richard (---.hsd1.dc.comcast.net)
Date:   10-02-08 23:23

Frank, according to our occasionally reliable Wiki, glitch is defined as:

"Some reference books, including Random House's American Slang, say it comes from the German word glitschen ("to slip") and the Yiddish word gletshn ("to slide or skid"). Either way it's fairly new...on July 23, 1965, Time magazine felt it necessary to define it in an article: "Glitches — a spaceman's word for irritating disturbances."

I like the last one - as if Major Tom had crabs or chronic skidmarks.

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Mort (---.tampabay.res.rr.com)
Date:   10-03-08 09:34

Doug, Frank, Jeannie... All great points.

If Culebra weren't very rough around the edges, it would be overrun by people and would be three times as expensive.

Wait a second, let me rephrase that... It IS beautiful around the edges but rough in the middle! LOL.

The ones who complain about Culebra or are disappointed are those who are expecting a cute and charming place at a bargain price, with perfect beaches, convenient services, clean environment, and no crowds. And with easy, cheap access by plane or ferry. Yet uncommercialized.

Many of these things are mutually exclusive.

So, this just ain't going to be found anywhere in the Caribbean anymore. Not at Culebra's prices... not even close.

I'm always amused when people write a critical review yet throw in a line about the beaches being spectacular, as if it's just a side note. Yet the beaches are WHY WE GO! The beauty of the beaches and the water are 90% of the reason we love Culebra. The other 10% is gratitude that we can get groceries or services of any kind!

If beaches and affordability aren't 90% of one's priorities, one shouldn't go to Culebra. There are an infinite amount of alternatives. But only one Culebra.

(Robert T, I don't mean to single you out. Your post is not at all unusual, and it certainly represents the views and priorities of the majority of Caribbean travelers. Threads like this are very educational to new visitors to this forum.)

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: R. Emmett (---.nys.biz.rr.com)
Date:   10-04-08 14:29

Here's some Reality about feral cats in the campground - Lots of them are very sick. Last year one male cat sprayed his stinky stuff all over camp-sites, mine included - and the water tank near the bathroom - had to throw some gear and food away; also btw keep your shoes on too 'cause in the night those piles of cat feces in the sand cannot be avoided.....

Owlihoot2

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Culebra MJ (---.prtc.net)
Date:   10-04-08 18:35

Culebra is never as expected, that is for sure (lucky for those of us who like it that way, even if slightly worrisome).

Luckily, the world is full of wonderful places for people who don't find Culebra to their liking. One person's impoverished, trashy, stinky animals, lack of reliable services disappointment with a beautiful beach is another person's impoverished, trashy, stinky animals, lack of reliable services with beautiful beaches slice of heaven on earth. Some even call it home. Go figure!

Save What's Left!

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Mort (---.tampabay.res.rr.com)
Date:   10-04-08 21:01

LOL, MJ! You have a way with words!

And I've got to add... R. Emmett, it's your own fault for not marking your own territory! You'll notice that the male cat touched NONE of the hard-partying sites in Sections A and B!

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: R. Emmett (---.nys.biz.rr.com)
Date:   10-06-08 10:09

Whoa - how would you know that for sure Mort - that folks in A & B didn't get hit by spray?

However - marking my territory. Hmmmm - that's a tip for me on my trip this year since I find absolutely all exceptional with Culebra residents, venders and the beaches - that's for sure.

I will say that the stinky male cat also tried to join in with the singing of Maine and Massachusetts folks early one evening - his pitch and emotional tone cannot be faulted (by me).

Owlihoot2

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Detlef (---.pat.wvnet.edu)
Date:   10-06-08 11:20

Last January John Evans definately got his tent sprayed by the tom cat he was feeding... Mmmm. He was in Area B... He claimed he could not smell it though. I sure could! I think he may be brain damaged.

Sorry I missed the gang last winter, the singing, etc. (not the spraying)

When I'm this next week, I'll give try marking off our territory. I'll post whether or not it's a success. I'm actually a bit more concerned with the possiblity of mosquitos, due to all the recent rain a little over a week ago.

Detlef

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Arroz (---.direcpc.com)
Date:   10-06-08 18:48

With all these guys marking off their territory I expect to see headlines about campers being arrested for voiding in public (or whatever the legal term is.)

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: R. Emmett (---.nys.biz.rr.com)
Date:   10-07-08 10:49

Hey Detlef - we missed you and your music too last year - have a blast this time - if he's there now, perhaps ole' TOM will be good harmony for your music if you 'do'some .....

Owlihoot2

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: DaGenester (---.tc.ph.cox.net)
Date:   10-07-08 13:03

This post just makes me want to get there sooner!!! If you have ever been to Mexico - and not the touristy sections of Mexico, and certainly not the border towns - you'll see that it's the same way. Rough around the edges, a little less "pristine" in town, yet the people are pretty nice.


--DaGenester, from Sunny Tucson, AZ!

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Vicki moore (---.dhcp.jcsn.tn.charter.com)
Date:   10-07-08 13:39

We spent 2 weeks on the large island, at Playa Azul in Loquillo, in 2006. We flew over to Vieques for 2 nights and took a powercat out of Fajardo for a day of snorkeling off Culebra. We were not happy with where we stayed in Loquillo. The back gates to Playa Azul were locked at 7 nightly for safety. The sidewalks lining the beach were disgustingly filthy & overun with stray cats and dogs. My adult daughter was bitten by one of the dogs in in the parking lot of Playa Azul. Even though we were on the 15th floor, the loud screaming and cursing from the beach as well as music from the beach that shook our condo at all hours of the night, did not make for the vacation we were seeking. Going onto some of the side streets off the square in Loquillo for dinner, after dark was questionable. There were many young men loitering and staring you down. Although we loved the diving out of Fajardo, our visit to Old San Juan and El Yunuque', we chose to spend our 2 weeks this summer equally split between Culebra and Vieques and could not be happier. We were able to overlook some of the things you cited as annoyances, and focus in on the beaches,quaint grocery stores, potholes in the roads to some of the more beautiful beaches, and view them as part of the quaintness of the outer islands. Yes, I did take mosquito spray, but never used it. It takes all types, thank God, otherwise Culebra would have large resorts on those magnificant beaches, cruise ships docking with tourists clogging the island,etc. We loved Culebra for her beaches,seas,views, people and DIVING. Our plan is to return to Culebra/Vieques for 2 weeks every other year and spend our 2 weeks on the alternating years at our favorite "Beachbums Hideaway' at Okaloosa Island/Ft. Walton Beach FL................. JMHO

Vicki in Tennessee

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Tammy (---.br1.sho.az.frontiernet.net)
Date:   10-10-08 18:55

Hmmmm... My reaction to this post is the same as it is when I take my son to a birthday party and he hands his plate of cake and ice cream over to me, saying that he doesn't like cake and ice cream. Part of me wants to tell him he's crazy, and explain just how delicious and wonderful cake and ice cream are, but instead I just smile and nod because that means more yummy cake and ice cream for me. Or in this case, more wonderful vacations without crowds and resorts.

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Doug (---.dsl.stlsmo.swbell.net)
Date:   10-12-08 10:24

Tammy,

The kid stays healthier, too!

;-0

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Tammy Ledden (---.nwrknj.fios.verizon.net)
Date:   04-08-10 15:37

Culebra is the most amazing place i have ever been too....never seen trash anywhere in the streets or beaches. The animals are not dirty and r loved by everyone on the island. This simply just wasnt a vacation for u two.

The beauty of the island and the people are the luxury here. Wish more people understood that.

Tammy *Fishgirl*

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: DAVID BREWBAKER (---.sub-97-186-48.myvzw.com)
Date:   04-10-10 08:08

The trippy prople wanted the Grand Caymen vacation @ Culebra prices. Good riddance.Doc

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Marty (---.PURCHASING.UPENN.EDU)
Date:   04-19-10 12:12

we've been coming to Culebra for the past 4 years now and have enjoyed ourselves every time. In the OPs defense the trash is ridiculous. If y'all have so much pride in the island why wouldn't you organize some sort of clean-up?

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Linda H (---.dhcp.mrqt.mi.charter.com)
Date:   04-19-10 12:39

I didn't find the trash any worse than most places in the US. In fact, in town I often saw people sweeping the streets and picking up trash, and I thought the amount of trash in town was pretty negligible. I just walked 3-4 miles in my suburban neighborhood this morning and on the busier through street saw just as much trash as I saw walking into town in Culebra. And yes, before someone says it, I do my share of taking along a bag and picking up other people's trash. There was a lot of trash washed into the vegetation along Resaca Beach, but I'm sure most if not all of it came from somewhere else. And organizing a trash pickup there would be a challenge! Flamenco had more trash than last year, but it was Holy Week and much busier than last year too.

The feral cats generally looked pretty unhealthy and inbred, but generally inoffensive.

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Arroz (---.eastlink.ca)
Date:   04-19-10 13:26

As far as I know, many of the feral cats have been spayed. They serve a useful function, keeping the mice and rat population down. I heard that they have a similar program in Old San Juan and it was quite effective at keeping down the rat population. The only problem was that when the feral cat population started to decline (because of the sterilization program) the rat population started to increase again.

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Culebra MJ (---.prtc.net)
Date:   04-19-10 13:34

Marty, we do have clean ups. We also have trash men who work pretty much every day all year long. When the island gets overwhelmed with people who toss trash everywhere, it can get out of hand for sure. Did you do a trash bag pick up while you were here? Or did you think (and I use 'you' in a general sense) 'Not my job'?

I would love to have a 'trash fee' mandated for non-local ferry riders and trash bags handed out at the ferry dock...who knows, maybe one day we'll get that. In the meantime, if everyone would pick up trash when they see it, especially plastics, even if it's only one or two things, it would help a lot!

Save What's Left!

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Marty (---.PURCHASING.UPENN.EDU)
Date:   04-19-10 13:39

Culebra MJ - I picked up whatever I could. Especially when I was on the beach. I witnessed one woman, a local Culebrense, order a slice of pizza from Heathers only to take the paper plate and napkins and just toss them onto the street when she exited.

I don't think it's a matter of "the island being overwhelmed with people who toss trash everywhere", I highly doubt people are coming to Culebra with the purpose to throw trash around. Look at peoples yards - cars on cinder blocks, boats dry-docked for as long as you could imagine, washingm achines sitting in front lawns - These are the types of things that an outsider, with no experience of Culebra, would mistake for a third world-esque atmosphere.

It would be great if the local government organized a massive haul and got rid of a lot of that crap. Because that's what it is....crap.

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Marty (---.PURCHASING.UPENN.EDU)
Date:   04-19-10 13:41

Culebra MJ - I also noticed a lot of positives this year - recycling being one of them. The potholes are a pain in the ass but potholes are everywhere - I live in Philadelphia - if you want to talk potholes take a ride through West Philly - there are some here that will put that crater on the way to Zoni to shame!

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Culebra MJ (---.prtc.net)
Date:   04-19-10 13:54

Thanks for the positive coda, Marty. I can only say, yep, we have some third world issues, in fact I always call it Third World with a Gloss. I had a friend who said the coin of the Caribbean has the good side, that we all love, a looseness of life that isn't experienced in many places, and the bad side, which is the same thing.
Which is why I say...welcome to Paradox...or not! Thanks for picking up trash while you were here (and while not everyone who lives here is trash aware, believe me, the island DOES get overrun and trashed on regular occasions). There are big trash days, when cars get taken away etc etc but just to put this thought in your mind...those vehicles, etc. have to be loaded on trucks and taken off island by ferry, very expensive...so it doesn't happen very often. Our landfill can only take so much. So part of the problem is logistics and it's easy to say Well do this or do that but not so simple to make happen. Why? As that same friend, who'd lived in the islands many more years than my five minutes, used to say to me when I came up with brilliant solutions that seemed so simple and logical, to issues like trash (and a zillion more) ...'Where the f*** do you think you are?' Oh. Yeah. Funny thing is, after about sixteen years of island life (here and elsewhere) I love it more every year, even when I want to tear my hair out. Just how it is...

Save What's Left!

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Re: Culebra not as expected - Trip Review
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: DaGenester (66.162.41.---)
Date:   04-19-10 18:55

Ah, I miss this thread. Thanks for resurrecting it! :) It has been a couple years since my wife and I visited Culebra, and I am Itchin' to get back! :) the idiosyncracies were what made the island - that, and Mamacita's AWESOME FOOD! :)


--DaGenester, from Sunny Tucson, AZ!

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