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Vieques- August 2005
Living and Working in Vieques..
The death of two long time Vieques residents has prompted me to reflect on the old timers in Vieques, on what Vieques used to be. Peter Courtney and Lee Darrow died this past week. Both of them gentle and kind men who belong to a small cadre of people who came here years ago. Those of you who are coming now, see the fruits of their early discovery.
Imagine, say thirty years ago, when Vieques was undeveloped, when there were virtually no restaurants, when the food was of poor quality, no air conditioning, no satellite TV, no swimming pools in short, there were none of the comforts we all now take for granted. Even 20 years ago, when I first came here, there was no malecon, no cold room at the super market, no variety in food, no decent medical care.
What these early settlers saw in Vieques was only its natural beauty, and that, of course, still obtains. Many of them miraculously caused roads to be built in the mountains and materials to be transported up and built homes. It couldnt have been easy; it must have been discouraging and very hard. That they persevered is not only a testimony to Vieques and its attractions, but to those people, unique individuals who saw in Vieques a true paradise.
Land was a fraction of what it costs now; building costs as well were low. No one imagined that one day a real estate boom such as we have experienced would occur. There was no financial motive for building in Vieques. It was an innocent time.
We have lost that innocence, investment is now commonplace here. We have good restaurants and Morales sells all manner of exotic foodstuffs in an attempt to please the North American palate. Land, houses, building costs are now pretty high; the restaurants are not inexpensive either.
The generation that started Vieques for North Americans are nearly their eighties now. Many of you will never meet them; never hear the marvelous stories of those early days. But for this moment, I want to raise a glass to people like Marian and Bill, Min, Barbara and Jeffrey, Jeffrey and Senya, Edith, Ray and to those who have already passed on as well.
To Liz Courtney and Jane Darrow I extend my deepest sympathy. You and your husbands were pioneers and we all owe a debt of gratitude to you for beginning this odyssey.
As some of you know, our friend Judy Leach is ill. Judy has been one of the most stalwart supporters of Vieques initiating and editing Vieques Events. Hurry back, Judy, it is just not the same without you.
Regards,Sheila
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Webmaster's Note * Sheila has many hats and is Co-owner of Crow's Nest Realty with Eli Belendez.
Sheila can be reached for a brochure through her web page at http://www.crowsnestrealty.com