Monthly Archives: January 2016

Crashboat Beach and Harry the Pelican Whisperer

Sean liked our Rincón beach day so much we thought we might take him to another nearby beach: Crashboat in Aguadilla. The last time we were there we were just exhausted and didn’t have much time to enjoy it.

Crashboat
Crashboat from the lookout point

This time we came prepared. We brought our cooler full of cold drinks, chairs, swimsuits, towels and snorkel gear. We also stopped in Aguada at the best little pollo al carbon spot for some awesome chicken and mashed viandas.

Crashboat with Sean
Fun times with our friend

We enjoyed eating, drinking and playing on the beach. There are always a lot more people at Crashboat than most beaches, and it added to the social and good-spirited vibe of the place. People are playing music, bouncing volleyballs around, jumping off the piers into the water, surfing the small breaks and laying in the sun.

Crashboat from the pier
Crashboat from the pier looking toward the coastline

As for us, we walked around for a while, swam, snorkeled and laid in the sun. It was a beautiful warm January day.

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Britton snorkeling

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Before I jumped off the pier into the ~80 degree F water with Britton

Britton and Sean palm tree
Britton and Sean on an island in the sun

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Surfers catching small waves

Sandy leg
And me catching some golden rays on golden sand

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“Hey, look over there!” Says Britton as I get pummeled by a wave

One of the coolest things we saw, however, was a man called Harry the Pelican Whisperer and his friendly flock of pelicans. He has trained these wild birds by throwing them fish and shrimp. This was quite the hit with everyone. They will do various tricks for him like spin in circles or jump up on people’s arms. To hold them he just asks for a donation of your choice or to buy something from him. Pretty cool guy. He knows each of them by name and talks to them in both Spanish and English. Bilingual pelicans! To get this up close and personal with the pelicans was a very cool experience. I pet them a little too. Their neck feathers feel almost like fur and their faces up close look like Dr. Seuss characters.

Cassie and Harry the Pelican Whisperer
Harry, Me and a Pelican

Pelican close up
Friendly pelican

Cassie and 2 pelicans
I was able to hold two at a time! Their web feet are so weird to feel

Some people were a little afraid, but I think since we have chickens and turkeys we are less intimidated by birds.


Harry and the Pelicans in action

Crashboat beach
Playa Crashboat

Later on that evening back in Rincón we played music with the band and then at around 11pm stopped by Surfer Spot for The.Best.Cheeseburger. Ever! So, so good. Now I understand why Jimmy Buffett wrote a song about a cheeseburger. Seriously. A fantastic day.

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Rincón Through Tourist Eyes

Our friend Sean is visiting and staying in the unfinished cabin. We decided to show him around some of the Rincón beaches. It’s always such a reminder how beautiful this place is when you have the perspective of a visitor.

Britton and Sean
Britton and Sean at Sandy Beach

Spanish Wall
Spanish Wall

Grassy spot
Our favorite little grassy spot

Rincon faro
Rincón Faro

Lighthouse park
Lighthouse Park

Domes Beach
Looking down at Domes Beach

Sean on the beach
Sean enjoying a little secluded spot of beach

Cassie in a coconut tree
While I climbed a coconut palm tree

Later on we had lunch at Jack’s Shack and took a quick dip at the Marina. It’s always nice to be reminded why we fell in love with Rincón in the first place when we were tourists ourselves.

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End of the Christmas Season in Puerto Rico

Christmas in Puerto Rico is finally winding down after nearly two months. Yesterday was Three Kings Day which marks the official end of the holiday season. Three kings (or Reyes Magos) would more closely translate to the three wisemen. This is the time when kids put grass in a shoe box in the evening for the camels that carry the kings to their houses bringing even more presents and adults go out to party some more.

The season of fireworks and fiestas may be drawing to a close, but the party spirit of the island never truly ends. I’ve never lived somewhere that values happiness, “compartiendo” and “gozando” so much as here!

Felicidades
This time of year you can say “Felicidades”  anywhere you go -Happy Holidays

In the middle of December we were driving home and saw both sirens and lights flashing from the police. Generally the police here are very laid back and you will rarely hear any actual official sirens so we wondered what in the world it could be. Well lo and behold there was a Rincón-wide night parade at 10pm. Every vehicle in the municipality’s fleet came out to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Even the school buses and the trash trucks were on display! They threw out little bags of candy every so often too. It was just so funny and awesome!

We’ve enjoyed the holiday season and getting swept up in all the festivities and parties. Everyone is in a social, happy mood. The tourists are in town and from what we hear it’s a good season for all the businesses that cater to them. Even the car rental agencies are running out of cars! I can see why…this time of year is just amazingly beautiful to be in Puerto Rico.

Sunset wave
Palm trees, waves and 80 degrees in late December

We rang in the New Year with our band making our own noise. Such a fun group of talented people and an amazing creative outlet. I just love it! We even have a gig we’re preparing for coming soon!

New Years Jam
In the Jam Space with La Banda currently sin nombre

Britton sunset
Enjoying Rincon’s famous sunsets at the lighthouse park

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