Category Archives: Tropical

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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Quick Stop at the Cabo Rojo Lighthouse

I’ve been wanting to stop by and see the Cabo Rojo lighthouse (Los Morillos) and Playuela for some time. We haven’t been since our honeymoon over 10 years ago! So we decided spur of the moment to go check it out. Unfortunately we got there just a little too late to go inside (it closes at 5pm), so we’ll have to come out another day. But because we arrived later, it wasn’t nearly as crowded and we got to see a beautiful sunset and the stars glow as dark descended. Southwestern Puerto Rico is a much harsher and drier environment compared with most of the rest of the island. When we were there the wind was pretty intense but the views were just incredible.

Cabo Rojo BK CK
In front of Faro Los Morillos in Cabo Rojo. I love the green shutters

Playuela
Looking down at La Playuela at dusk. During the day it is a hugely popular beach. Just behind are the sea salt flats

Cabo Rojo Lighthouse
Faro

Cliff at the end of the world
Cliff at the end of the world

Cabo Rojo Lighthouse Sunset
Sunset and the faro

 

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Season’s Greetings: 2015 Christmas in Puerto Rico

We hope everyone has been enjoying the holidays. Here in Puerto Rico we have been hanging out on the property and with friends.

Cassie in the plants
Enjoying outdoors in our tropical garden on Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve we stopped by the grocery store and saw Santa sweating outside in his fur suit and hat. I think the tropical version of Santa should be able to wear shorts.

Cassie and Santa

Papo was working nearby so he stopped by for lunch and brought us a bunch of delicious Puerto Rican Christmas food and some just-picked oranges from his farm. What a great friend he has become. Then that evening we played music with the band at Shampoo’s place.

Noche Buena con papo
A beautiful Noche Buena

Christmas Day we went to the pig roast on the beach and spent time with awesome people, swam in the sea, and even played a little music barefoot in the sand. Another wonderful tropical Christmas here in Puerto Rico.

Christmas on the beach
A fun big group of people at the pig roast

Bonfire
Bonfire Xmas magic

Merry Christmas and Feliz Navidad! We are so thankful to live so richly in moments more than things.

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