Fajardo, Puerto Rico

In the afternoon of April 18th, we hopped on the ferry from Isleta Marina to the mainland of Puerto Rico. We rented a car in Fajardo, and we drove to Luquillo for dinner at Boardriders Restaurant. After dinner, we walked along the Playa Luquillo. Warwick, Justin, Anthony, and Mireille played jousting and cricket with coconuts and bamboo logs. We traveled to Cabezas to find out about the bioluminescent bay of Laguna Grande, but all the excursions were fully booked. So we booked an excursion for the next day.

Mireille, Warwick, and Anthony "jousting"

Justin, Warwick, and Anthony playing cricket

Justin, Anthony, and I got up early the next day and drove to Arecibo Observatory, which was featured in the James Bond film Goldeneye. It was the world's largest radio telescope up until last year. The telescope was a totally unique and awesome experience. Mireille and Warwick stayed on the boat and caught up on rest. They cleaned the outside of the boat (obviously they are welcome on the boat anytime) and wondered around Fajardo. Justin, Anthony, and I also visited the Parque Nacional las Cavernas del Rio Camuy. We took a trolley down to Cueva Clara ("Daylight Cave"). We saw stalactites and stalagmites in the 170 ft cave. The cave ended with a sinkhole where an underground river emerges. We returned to Fajardo to pick up Mireille and Warwick, and then we went to Cabezas to kayak through a mangrove canal to the bioluminescent bay, Laguna Grande.

Arecibo Observatory

Arecibo radio telescope

Anthony and I at the Arecibo Observatory Museum

Justin beside a rock from the moon

Justin and I at the Arecibo Observatory Museum

Justin and I just outside of Cueva Clara in Parque Nacional las Cavernas del Rio Camuy

Entrance to Cueva Clara

Myself in the cave at Parque Nacional las Cavernas del Rio Camuy

Anthony at the Parque Nacional las Cavernas del Rio Camuy

Where the underground river emerges in the Cueva Clara sinkhole

Myself and Justin the sinkhole at the end of Cueva Clara

Myself, Justin,Warwick, Anthony, and Mireille, ready to go kayaking on the bioluminescent bay

Mireille and Warwick kayaking to Laguna Grande

Kayak pile up in the mangroves, or as Warwick said, a total gong show

Anthony kayaking through the mangrove canal

On April 20th, all five of us went to customs to check out of Puerto Rico. We then drove to San Juan, and we visited Fuerte San Cristobal. We walked the cobblestone streets of Viejo San Juan, grabbed lunch, and walked to the Cathedral de San Juan and the Puerta de San Juan. We headed back to Fajardo. Warwick dropped Mireille and I off at the grocery store, and then dropped Anthony and Justin off at ferry so they could return to boat and check out of the Marina. While Justin and Anthony prepared the boat for departure, Warwick picked up Mireille and I. We returned the rental car, and brought the groceries back to the boat. After picking up pizza to go, we headed out to Turks and Caicos at sunset.