Day 3   7/22/09

The specials at the Hacienda once again keep me here for breakfast; raisin bread French toast is one of my favorites. Burr and I talked about the island a little and then we were off to the airport, so he could fly back to Vermont for a wedding, and then I’m back in my office, Roy’s, for lunch with Dawn and Dave. It seems that I mostly just eat when I return to Vieques, but that’s because there is so much good food, and partially because to me the beaches are always there and always beautiful. Speaking with Dawn I find out Red Beach is closed indefinitely. They are paving the road and the parking lot there, and aren’t allowing access to it until it’s completed. It started two months ago and isn’t done yet. Ah, Vieques. Change is slow, and if you can’t live with that, you won’t live here long.

Lunch is simple and light at Roy’s and revolves around chicken, beef and cheese, quesadillas, burritos, and burgers. Their breakfast burrito, which they serve all day is great too. On my way home I stopped to see an old friend in Pilon, Duffy of Chez Shack, Duffy’s and too many other places to mention here. It’s good to see him always, and he, although he would probably contest this, is always a bright spot of my visit. His son, Mike, owner/operator of Duffy’s Esperanza, is one of his father’ biggest competitors on the island.

After a couple hours with Duffy, I headed into Esperanza and stopped at Duffy’s for a little afternoon ambience. It is the happening place, and the bar was full, and it was still early. I ran into a few more clients there. One was Mimi Popp is Jaime's Escondite. And now it’s time to head back and regroup before, yes, that’s it, Dinner!

By the time I head out around 6-ish, the strip in Esperanza is already crowded with people drinking and eating. Because Kim’s Cabin was closed now, I was able to park in his “no parking” zone entrance to his driveway. It was the only spot I found on two passes.

So, I’m back at Duffy’s where the menu looked great and there was still bar space for a single person to enjoy a repast. On the way in I ran into another old friend, Pooch, owner of Blue Caribe Kayaks. It’s good to see him and that his hard work keeps his business going even through the slow months.

Ah, dinner at Duffy’s! I had blackened mahi sandwich and potato salad. It was almost more than I could eat. It was a huge piece of mahi, and the potato salad was very tasty. I topped it off with a little of Mike’s own house West Indian Hot Sauce! It’s the best hot sauce on the island, as good as the West Indian Sauce, and as hot as the one that used to be made by Isla Vieques Condiment Co. years ago. I should know, I made it. Not only is it very hot, it has flavor beyond salt or sweet. A little of the right Caribbean spices adds the perfect savory to the heat. Thanks Mike. I hope you start producing it for home use.

NEXT DAY 4