Day 7   7/26/09

It’s Sunday, a day of rest, the Lord’s day, but on this party island on this holiday weekend, even the Lord finds time to have a good time. Esperanza is filled with boats over from the main island for the weekend and the ferry is bringing hordes of day trippers over to spend the day, but many spend the night also.

Fun Brothers Rentals are out on the jet skis the kayakers or out from Blue Caribe Kayaks and snorkelers are everywhere enjoying what everyone comes to the island for, the crystal clear waters. Nan-Sea Charters is heading out to one of their special reef locations. Everything here is movement. The cars are in movement up and down the strip, the people are in movement checking out the Artisanos selling their wares and the local food kiosks selling their Puerto Rican street food. There is all manner of food; Octopus Salad, Conch Salad, Papas Rellenos, Acapuria, Piñon, Pastilleos, and the occasional burger from “Burger Queen.” That’s not a misprint, that’s what they call their kiosk.

Of course, all the restaurants are open too; Bananas, Bili, Duffy’s, Lazy Jack’s, Belly Buttons, and Trade Winds. It’s kinda crazy, but everyone’s having a good time, and that’s important. There are also the clothing and gift shops to choose from; the Trade Winds Gift Shop, Kim’s Cabin, Diva’s Closet, Vieques Flowers and Gifts, and all the new stores in the Lazy Jack’s complex of freight container stores.

The beaches are crowded with people today, especially since Green Beach, Garcia Beach, and Red Beach are closed.

My day is a relaxing one, a little coffee with Dottie, off to Roy’s for a little business, Then back to Duffy’s for a little people watching, a regular pastime on the island and back to Trade Winds for Lunch with Dottie. After a lazy afternoon there, I headed back to Hacienda Tamarindo for a dip and a nap, and then head to Isabel Segunda to try out the new restaurant La Reina. It was closed, so back to Esperanza to try El Quenepo, which has great Caribbean Fusion food, but the strip is such a zoo (perpetual happy hour) that there is no parking, so I opted for easy and returned to Trade Winds. I ran into a bunch of old friends I hadn’t seen, so I stayed there and had David’s Sunday Special, Paella. It was excellent; lots of seafood, lots of food. I shouldn’t have had the appetizer, because I couldn’t finish it. I like the atmosphere at Trade Winds. It’s one degree removed from the craziness of the rest of the strip, so it’s quieter, which gives it a better ambience, and it has a fab view of the harbor. What more could I ask for on my last night.

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