Vieques Island Blog

To Boat or Not to Boat

2013-05-09T15:33:00.001-04:00

You think island living is paradise???? Right at the moment, that is not the adjective I would use. Last month the paper reported that a new contract with the private boats had been signed and all was well with the world. Now, with the old contract terminating today, all of a sudden there is no new contract and only one private boat is still in view. Although, from my intel, the next view of it will be the stern as it leaves the Caribbean Sea heading home to Texas. What does that mean for us? For one thing, since the 4:30 boat arrived in Vieques at 7:30 yesterday, it means the airport will be much busier. (good for me on Wednesdays, and good for Lyman every day).

We have put a man on the moon, have telephones that can give us stock quotes and directions simultaneously and have cars that run on ears of corn, so why is it that we can’t seem to have a few boats that go back and forth between Vieques and the main island efficiently. Geez, Columbus did it with a wooden boat and a few yards of canvas. Think he’s available to head up the system? Heard this all before, we have. I would suggest not to boat.

Just to prove that ridiculousness is not confined to Washington, DC, someone in Puerto Rico launched a bill that would put a $1 surcharge on each plastic bag that is used to pack groceries at the store. Laudable in that the premise for this charge is to keep bags out of the landfill and out of the ocean so sea turtles don’t ingest them. (frighteningly, the idea that our trash ends up in the ocean is very real) People start screaming the minute there is a threat to up the $4 ferry ticket, so what makes anyone think people will pay $20 for the grocery bags. How about we make some sense? Set up a reasonable and real price for the ferry that brings in more revenue to keep the boats running which in turn will make people happy. Happy people might bring reusable bags to the grocery store. Happy people might learn how to use the trash can. Or even better, happy people might make an effort to recycle. But wait, I forgot…if it’s starts to make sense here it’s time to move.

Once you get here, however, things are pretty nice. The southside is nice and breezy. We’ve gotten some much needed rain, so things are greening up. Trade Winds now has mint for mojitos just about every night. (and yes, it is imported!!!!) Restaurants have moved onto the summer schedules so you might want to make a phone call before heading out to dinner to double check. Everything is still open, but some days have changed.

Brunch at the Tin Box is excellent. The steak and eggs and lobster benedict are the clear winners thus far. The soft shell crab BLT is also pretty good. Watermelon margaritas and mimosas…not bad either. Bili recently was named the best in broth. That would be an award for the most excellent soup. Evita and her staff have the most excellent food, period.

I have gone back and forth about mentioning the recent string of murders that have occurred on island. In this information age, all you have to do is google Vieques and the news stories will come up, so not talking about it somewhat foolish. The violence stems from the drug trade. The victims are targets. Unless you are involved with the drugs, you are not a target. Unfortunately, several of the victims have been teenagers, which is heartbreaking in any scenario. If this were New York, Boston or Philadelphia, the deaths would be a small blip on the radar, but because we are a small community where everyone knows just about everyone it looms large. Vieques is still a beautiful and fun place to visit. Vieques is still a place where you can enjoy sun and sand along with a really cold beer. Vieques is still a place where I want to be.

Mother’s Day at the Inn

2013-05-07T12:55:00.001-04:00

Full Moon Drum Circle

2013-04-25T12:09:00.001-04:00

Tonight April 25, 2013, Sun Bay, Bring you percussion instrument.

Unplugged

2013-04-12T13:54:00.001-04:00

I am the first one to poke fun at the type A tourist who runs up brandishing their cellphone, screaming, “I have no service!!!!” We all look at each other and in the same breath respond, “Got Verizon, huh?” Type A then goes on and on about how cell service and internet service is vital to their vacation. We all reply that the villa they have chosen does indeed have wi fi and they should get on just fine. They leave in a blaze of overstuffed suitcases still waving their cellphones in the air as if they can capture a signal. Then, someone from further down the bar pipes up and says, “the internet has been down at that house for three weeks”. Everyone laughs.

I confess that now I might not be so quick to laugh. (Well, I’m sure I still will.) I had what we call being in ‘technology hell’. Not too long ago I gave up satellite TV. This was no easy feat, given that a). I still vividly recall how difficult it was to get it in the first place, and b). I am a TV addict. However, the thought of spending $75 a month on 3 million channels that I didn’t watch was getting to me. I went with internet TV. The upside is that anytime you want, you can find the exact episode of some Law and Order or other that you might have missed. The downside is that when your wi fi goes down, the house is really, really silent. And, you are unable to access all that useless information you get from Yahoo News.

So, the internet service was fixed and then my computer decided that it was tired and would not open any programs. Got that straightened out and then the printer decided it was not going to work over the wi fi. Being bested by a some metal parts in a plastic box is not my idea of a good time, so I had to get that sorted out and by the time everything was up and running, I hadn’t written a word in a couple of weeks.

Remember the pizza place that was in the back of Cupa de Oro just down from the Green Store? The pizza was really, really good. That pizza is now available at the Inn on the Blue Horizon on Fridays and Saturdays, 7pm-11pm.

I finally got to Zafra (restaurant in the former Coconuts location) and the food was good. My favorites are the ceviche and calamari. The price is really reasonable. The reasonableness is also directly proportional to amount of alcohol that you normally consume at dinner. Currently, it’s BYOB. A quick stop at Kuhn’s for a bottle (or more) of wine and you are all set.

Blue Beach is going to be closed for a bit. If you remember back about 2 years ago, a piece of ordnance was found on the island. The bomb boys will be doing some work in the area during the midweek and this process will take about six weeks. Starting Monday the 15th, the beach will be closed. It will be open on the weekends as normal, and on May 1, 2,and 3 as well. The building at the entrance to the refuge is now ready. There will be an open house tomorrow (I think it’s tomorrow) to show off the new digs.

Tonight begins the Cultural Festival Weekend up at the fort. This is always a great time, with lots of history, art, music and food.

36th Vieques Cultural Festival

2013-04-10T10:52:00.001-04:00

April 12-14 2013
Museo Fuerte Conde de Mirasol, Vieques

April 12th
Artisans and Vieques books fair; typical food and drink kiosks each night from 6pm
5am Sunrise concert by Municipal Band… Plaza, town and dock
7pm Exhibit opening; Ada Rosa Rivera, Puerto Rican artist on women’s health issues
Exhibit opening: Photos of Vieques 1960’s, Collection G. Carr
9pm Vieques Film on big screen under the stars
Tito and the Manta Ray (120min) Tribute to Andrés Nieves, Vieques filmmaker

April 13th
1pm Workshop: handbags made from recycled materials
5-9pm Troubadours competition Puerto Rican folkloric music
9:30pm Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance Troupe, Guamanique
10.30pm Atabal: Afro Caribbean Dance Ensemble

April 14th
1pm Book presentation: Impact of breast cancer on Puerto Rican women, by Annie Fabián
3pm Puppet theatre and workshop: Puppet World
6pm Youth Steel Band of Vieques
Bomba (Afro Caribbean dance) by OASIS educational center of Vieques
8pm Young peoples string orchestra of Humacao and Vieques
9pm Zambumbia Afro Caribbean “bomba” dance and music
10pm Ricardo Villanueva & Rumba Caribe
Caribbean music and dance; Puerto Rican folkloric dance/music
11pm Orchestra Workshop of Vieques Municipal Band

More Info: 787 741-4688; 787 375-0525
rrabin@icp.gobierno.pr

The Tin Box

2013-04-05T15:28:00.001-04:00

The Duffy’s have done it again!

I heard a rumor, it’s finally open!
I also heard the ambience and the food are great!

Gotta go!

~jts

Radio Vieques meeting April 4th.

2013-04-02T09:26:00.001-04:00

Greetings from the Radio Vieques team. We invite you to a special English language meeting about the Radio Vieques project next Thursday, April 4^th at 7pm at the Fort. Radio Vieques (WVQR 90.1FM) must begin transmission by 30 June or will lose its FCC license. RV is a regional project, based in Vieques but servicing the Eastern part of Puerto Rico, focusing on the communities of Culebra, Ceiba and Naguabo. The signal should cover the area from Luquillo to Humacao.
The April 4^th meeting will help us identify needs and interests of Vieques’ English speaking community as it relates to Radio Vieques. We want to know what topics and types of programming will be helpful to insure a better quality of life for this sector of Vieques population. Also, we hope to identify people with skills and experience in radio, media, arts, music and other areas vital to the development of Radio Vieques and who would participate in workshops on radio production and programming.

This Wednesday

2013-03-25T13:24:00.001-04:00

If you are looking for something to do on Wednesday, I have an idea. There is a shopping night on the 27th, 6pm-8pm in town. Participating are The Funky Beehive, Sol Creations and Siddhia Hutchinson’s Art Gallery.
I would suggest you start at the airport cafe and a few of my margarita’s. (Best in Vieques according to Trip Advisor) Margarita’s always make shopping much more fun. Kara at the Funky Beehive will have some wine to keep the glow going. After that you can stumble into Taverna for pizza. It is a safe food to eat since it does not require sharp objects like a fork or knife.
JC

New Website Relaunch

2013-03-19T12:58:00.001-04:00

www.Enchanted-Isle.Com has been rebuilt from the bottom up.
We have redesigned it with ease of use in mind, with dropdown categories in the menu instead of a long rambling menu listing every page, and have added new headers, text, and categories to help the visitor experience become a more pleasant experience.
Let us know what you think!
Email me! and let me know how you like it.

Who Is This Guy

2013-03-16T11:51:00.001-04:00

Does anyone know who the guy is that wrote the budget traveler books? If so, email his name and address so I can put a hit out on him. We all love a bargain. I take a plane to get to the nearest Marshall’s so I get it. But…..do you really have to ask me how much everything in the restaurant costs? Chances are pretty good that if Kettle One is $9 then the house vodka will be cheaper than $9. Why ask me how much the Dewar's is if you’ve never had a scotch in your life. (A word of advice here, the Caribbean isn’t probably the place you want to start drinking it.) Do you really want two 16oz Margaritas right now, so that you get the happy hour price? After that second sits for a bit while you drink the first one, you should ask yourself, “Is a watered down warm nasty drink worth a $2 savings when you’re on vacation?’" And no, you can’t pay for it now and have me make it for you later after happy hour is over.
I hand you a menu, which is exactly the same as the menu posted outside the front steps, and you ask how much a Caesar Salad is. The price is on the menu. The price is on the menu when you add shrimp or chicken, or even lobster to that Caesar Salad. And also, this a restaurant not a flea market. There is no bargaining on the price. There really isn’t much room to dicker on what you get either. Reasonable requests are always accommodated. We can certainly substitute mashed potatoes for the rice, but we can’t pull mushroom risotto out of thin air. And no, we can’t take the curry out of the Curry Sauce??? I understand that you want exactly a pound and a half lobster but the fishermen didn’t happen to latch onto one today, so maybe tomorrow???
Can everyone tell the season has been busy?
Speaking of restaurants, the Tin Box is OPEN. Yes, that is correct. It is open. The atmosphere is really, really cool. It’s kind of 50’s industrial meets tree house. There is a raw bar area that you can sit around and watch the shucker. There are oysters, clams and shrimp to choose from. It is all good and really fresh. The freshest of the fresh however, is the salad. The greens are pulled from the expansive gardens that Mikey created behind the restaurant. If you are more of a meat person, the other part of the menu is BBQ. The Bloodless Mary is really good, as is , watermelon martini. The schedule is mostly Tuesday thru Saturday, with Sunday brunch in our future. If the doors are open, and someone who looks like a bartender is behind the bar, the restaurant is open. If the person behind the bar has a mop or a broom in their hand, it probably isn’t .
At Bananas, there is a book for sale which is a pictorial history of Vieques, from sometime in the sixties to the 2000’s. It is written by her cousin. The sample page I saw is pretty neat. Those of you that have been around Vieques for awhile will undoubtedly see some familiar faces and places. While you get your book, Madge can whip you up a frozen beverage or twelve. They have some great ones on the menu.
For a place to pick up some very reasonably priced casual clothing with a tropical flair, stop in at the Weddings in Vieques building across from where the vegetable truck sets up. Sandy has her crew stage the porch area each morning so you can get glimpse of what’s inside. The colors are vibrant and the clothing style Caribbean easy. There are some fabulous scarves as well.
Coqui Fire has it’s monthly theme night coming up on Thursday. I think it is Szechwan, but my intel might not be quite spot on. In any case, there is a special menu at the Mar Azul on Thursday.
We are still in midst of a pretty bad drought. Water in the tap is fine so far and no word of rationing has been put out there. Please don’t throw anything out your car window. Don’t leave BBQ coals smoldering anywhere.
JC
PS. I found the food truck mentioned last time. They are back by the cock fight building. Guess it needed an oil change or something.

Art Shows this month!

2013-03-08T00:08:00.001-04:00

Thursday, March 7th, BEACH DOGGIES
      Annual Art Soiree & Charity Party
      Work by John & Judy, Mila, Alex,
    Karen, Elaine, Helen, Jake & others

Friday, March 8th, GALLERY GALLEON
MERMAID EXPO 5 – 7:30 pm
Featuring a dozen great artists &
Parkington Sisters Concert 7:30 – 8:30 pm
(partial sale proceeds for VCS Student Program)

Thursday, March 14th, BIEKES BISTRO (El Patio)
Animals of Vieques, a photography show
Opening Evening, Meet the Artist Jake Hart

Need a Little Help

2013-03-04T14:03:00.001-04:00

I had a fabulous dinner recently with Mom and Dad McGovern, aka Ed and Geri. Parents of Margaret. She’s the one behind the bar at Bananas and behind the stove at Lyman’s airport cafe. Marge will often be found wearing T-shirts that her folks have sent her, sporting sayings like “’Your village called. It’s idiot is missing”, or “Your poor planning is not my emergency”. After meeting mom and dad, you know exactly where Marge’s sense of humor came from. I had a great time and the food at Next Course was exceptional. Thanks mom and dad.
Also with some exceptional food, is the food cart named ijole. They offer mexican cuisine and dish out some of the biggest and best burritos for a phenomenal price. Location? Well, luckily I didn’t write this before running errands. They normally are parked in the lot next to the cockfight building, just a few blocks from the big Morales grocery store. However, they are not there at the moment. I will drive around tomorrow and see if I can find them. Besides knowing the name, just look for the cleanest food truck you have ever seen, and that will be it.
Still haven’t made it to Zafra yet. (formerly Coconuts). I tried to go this past Saturday, but, there was a boxing match in the plaza. Nothing brings more people out in Puerto Rico than boxing, except maybe baseball. It didn’t seem like a good idea to try to find a parking spot, so dinner has been tabled until next week. Will let you know.
The Galleon Gallery, located in La Hueca is hosting an opening on March 8. It is titled “Mermaid Expo”. This is going to be a full evening of fun. The art opening is from 5:30 to 7:30. At 7:30, the Parkington Sisters, from Cape Cod, will bring you a concert until 8:30. After the concert, the art show will resume, until 10pm and feature yummy desserts. The entrance to all this fun is free and partial proceeds from the art sales will be donated to the Vieques Concert Society.
Now the need a little help part…The Vieques Humane Society has several dogs that need a ride to Newark, NJ; JFK, or Bradley in CT. If you are flying AMERICAN to one of these airports please, please email the shelter at viequeshumanesociety@hotmail.com or call 787-741-0209. American has the best travel cost, but we need a ticketed passenger. All you do is meet us at the American check in, the dogs are attached to your ticket, like a baggage claim ticket. When you land, you go to baggage claim and meet up with the people who are picking them up. (This is just in case airport security decides to check claim tickets) The only other thing we ask is, if you are changing plans, contact the cabin staff and ask them to check that the dogs have made the connection. Here’s your line, “I (we) are traveling with rescue dogs from Vieques, Puerto Rico. We are bringing them to their forever homes. Can you make sure that they are onboard. They have suffered so much already, we want to make sure they don’t get lost.” Be forceful and get an answer. I got a round of applause from fellow travelers and a free drink, and about a hundred offers of help if I needed it upon landing. If you can help, please do get in touch. We need the most lead time we can get to coordinate getting the dogs from Vieques to San Juan, and to have our rescue partners ready on the other end.
The island is very, very dry at the moment. There have several small brush fires. Please do not toss your cigarette butts out the window, or your beer bottles. Remember your grade school science project when you started a fire using a piece of glass and the sun? Well, that project is alive and well here right now.
More later.
JC

Gallery Galleon-Mermaid Expo-March 8

2013-02-25T11:27:00.001-04:00

VCHT presents the Vieques Pops

2013-02-19T23:02:00.001-04:00

Our Little Frog Just Turned 10

2013-02-15T14:27:00.001-04:00

DHL did show up…..in my mailbox??? The label said is was DHL Global Mail. I think it would have been faster to drop the envelope in one of those blue metal USPS things that are on just about every street corner . But it got here.
Coqui Fire celebrated it’s tenth anniversary Tuesday night at the Mar Azul. I remember (or more accurately, vaguely remember) when the little guy turned one, also at the Mar Azul. Seems like yesterday. Anyway, the Mar Azul was packed. There were people on the deck, in the street, everywhere enjoying some cold beer and some hot food. As with all of the birthday celebrations, Jimmy Cochran, Coqui Fire Owner and Founder, asks people to whip up some dishes using the various hot sauces he makes. The food was awesome as usual and all the judges survived with little heartburn. The winners were, Kathy in appetizers, JoAnne in main courses, Wendy in desserts and Richard from Orquideas in the professional division. The event also raised $790 for the Humane Society. Thank you to everyone who attended. And thank you to Hot Sauce Jimmy and Dan and Maria, who own the Mar Azul, for including the shelter.
Just up the street from the Mar Azul a new restaurant has opened up. Zafra is located at the former Coconuts site. The menu is Puerto Rican with offerings like Ceviche, one of my favorites. I haven’t had a day off recently to try them out, but hopefully will get to eat there next week.
My bag made out of grocery bags is still going strong. Q has a shopping cart set up outside the store, Todas Las Casas, to collect donations of grocery bags. Please save them and drop them off to her. After driving around and seeing how many bags are blowing around the streets, we all need to make a special effort to recycle, reuse and repurpose.
There are some art shows coming up. One is (forgive me) tonight. The ceramic works of Lulu Atkins are on display at the Trust. The show is 6-8pm. She does some fantastic stuff with Vieques as the inspiration. In the same vein, the Siddhia Hutchinson Gallery is hosting an opening on Thursday, February 21, 6-8pm. The show theme is exploring Vieques and features several artists.
All of us in the food and beverage business look to Valentine’s Day with some trepidation. There is the real St. Valentine’s Day massacre that happened in 1929, between Al Capone and Bugs Moran in Chicago. And then there is the one that happens every year here in Vieques. February 14 is sorta kinda in the middle of high season, everyone is tired, everyone has a shorter fuse than usual and it only takes that one stupid question…….
Tourist: Hi, we have four for dinner. Us: I’m sorry, we but don’t open until 5:30. It’s 4:30 now so let me give you some suggestions on some restaurants that are open. Tourist: But, we want to eat here. Us: Ok, great, give me your name, come on back at 5:30 and we will seat you. Tourist: No we need to eat now because our bio-bay tour is at 6. Us: Our kitchen doesn’t open until 5:30 and you won’t have enough time to enjoy your meal. Tourist: Check with the chef, I’m sure he will be able to provide us with something to eat right away.
I don’t know about you, but I understand that I can’t get gas when the station is closed. I can’t buy groceries when the market is closed. It’s not a stretch to assume that you can’t purchase a meal when the restaurant is closed. Go figure.
The weather has been a bit blustery northside, but southside things are nice and calm. If I were to have the time to do one thing, I would book a sunset cruise on Ron and Kathy’s powercat. A short sail out and then a glass of champagne with a sunset in the water, the best. Check it out.
More Later,

JC

At The VCHT

2013-02-15T00:28:00.001-04:00

At The Trust.

2013-02-15T00:26:00.001-04:00

GALLERY GALLEON

2013-02-13T16:23:00.001-04:00

Friday March 8, 2013 Gallery Galleon
Mermaid Art Opening 5:00-7:30PM (Mermaid and Mermen Dress Encouraged!)
Presenting:
Parkington Sisters in Concert 7:30-8:30PM
The Art Opening continues with dessert after the concert 8:30-10:00pm
Mermaid art opening featured artists:
Carla Golembe, Helen Davis, Teresa Izzo, Sandra Reyes, Lulu Atkin, Eve Aspinwall, Myrna Pagan, Zoe Englander & River Karmen
Tickets: Free
Partial proceeds from art sales will go towards Vieques Concert Society
*Help support VCS Rondalla youth music program*.

VALENTINE'S GIFTS @ SOL CREATION!

2013-02-09T23:26:00.001-04:00

COME SHOP! NEW ARRIVALS : EXCLUSIVE COOL CHANGE SUMMER COLLECTION!!
PERFECT VALENTINE'S DAY GIFTS...
BOAT SHIRTS, MAXI DRESSES, BEACH PANTS, AND TUNICS...
Lots of Local Jewelry and Gifts!
ALSO FEB 4-FEB 14 BUY A $50 GIFT CERTIFICATE AND GET $5 ADDED ON BY SOL CREATION TO MAKE IT $55!
<<Sol Creation>>
ISABEL II and W RETREAT & SPA

Learn a little history of the island.

2013-02-06T12:48:00.001-04:00

A Lot is Coming Up and A Lot Has Happened

2013-02-03T14:28:00.001-04:00

First things first. Every one of you all needs to stop by the Vieques Humane Society and adopt a dog. This would save me from having to buy yet another power cord for my computer. Also, as the computer gets older, it gets harder to find the right cord. This latest one is being shipped here DHL. DHL??? I have never seen a DHL delivery here. DHL is mostly for international shipping. I have a zip code. It would be my assumption that I will never, ever see the foolish thing. So, if you all had adopted dogs, I would not be fostering one, and subsequently would not be trying to read my email on my phone. (Just saying)
Last week, the Siddhia Hutchinson gallery hosted the third annual 12 x 12 auction and raised over $15,000 to support the humane society. Over 200 people came by for some wine and wonderful hors du oeuvres by Buen Provecho. I personally scored a painting by a young local artist, Sasha Burgos Bermudez. The time and effort put in by Siddhia, Glen and Jeanne is the eighth wonder of the world. Many thanks to them, along with Haydee Buck, Claritza Navarro and Jim Stott for donating the canvases and framing supplies. Many, many thanks to the artists who contributed their works and to the folks who purchased them. This is a major fundraiser for the humane society and one that allows them to give safe haven to the many animals that need it.
The family of Peter Ottimer very generously donated the contents of Peter’s house and much of the product in the store to the humane society. The household goods have been put to use upgrading the apartment above the shelter that houses long term volunteers. The store items have mostly been sold as of this writing bringing in over $4000 thus far. This was a welcome surprise for the shelter and a most appreciated one. Karen Vyborny has spearheaded the sale and worked very, very hard to get the job done.
There are lots of things going on in the not too distant future on the island. The most famous of which is the Coqui Fire Anniversary on February 12th at the Mar Azul, 7-10pm. Coqui Fire is 10 years old and Jimmy is celebrating with the release of a new hot sauce. The anniversary parties are always, always a good time. They also are usually cause for a hangover.
The Trust is hosting a special Valentine’s Day show and sale featuring Seamark silver jewelry from Karen Edelstein. The jewelry at the Trust will be on sale one night only February 8, 5-7pm. If you think you will be really bad at Coqui Fire’s anniversary party, you might want to make sure to stop at the Trust and get an “I am really, really sorry and Happy Valentine’s Day” gift. (Just saying)
Finally, those of you that follow Vieques in the news have undoubtedly heard that there was a shooting last week on the Malecon. As you can imagine, there is more speculation and rumor surrounding what happened than actual facts. I can’t tell what it was, but I can tell you what it wasn’t. It was not a random nut with a gun spraying bullets all over the street. No bystander was injured. We all hope that when things like this occur, they occur somewhere else. And they do with regularity. Here it is an anomaly and it is not what Vieques is all about.
More later if DHL shows up.
JC

Valentine’s Day at Carambola

2013-02-02T15:59:00.001-04:00

jts- Vieques Travel Site

One Man Art Show

2013-01-30T09:00:00.001-04:00

One MAN Show, Feb 2, 2013, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
No music, just ART & Conversation, Wines & Cheese.
All paintings at a 50% DISCOUNT from previously advertised prices.
For more information contact Ernesto Peña at (939)248-7200.

Vieques, A Travel & Leisure pick for their most romantic islands!

2013-01-28T11:57:00.001-04:00

Travel and Leisure declares Vieques among the top 10 romantic islands “in the world” in their Feb 2013. Vieques comes in at #9 between Tahiti and Bali. Not too shabby!!!

From the article, “The secret is definitely out about Vieques, which promises the key ingredients for romance, among them, a slew of pristine coves and beaches and a languid pace. Portions of the island are designated a National Wildlife refuge—protecting sea turtles, lagoons, and mangroves—and the island’s famous bioluminescent bay is filled with microscopic organisms that flash bright blue and illuminate the water. The eco mind-set here carries through at the intimate Hix Island House, which opened its solar-powered six-room Casa Solaris in the past year, built by Canadian-born architect John Hix. —Christine Ciarmello

Check it out at http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/worlds-most-romantic-islands/10. And scroll through to see our peer islands.

Congratulations to Hix Island House

JT Starke
www.enchanted-isle.com

Gifts of Nature at Gallery Galleon

2013-01-26T14:59:00.001-04:00

The exhibit continues until March 2nd at Gallery Galleon: exhibit of “Gifts of Nature” featuring oil paintings from Karen Edelstein and digital art from Jade Robertson of Vieques; and oil paintings from Wanda Nieves of San Juan. Also new to the gallery, marble inlay plates imported from artists in Agra, India, additional hand carved wooden bowls from Gary McCraken of St. Lucia, and all of Galleon’s amazing artists. http://gallerygalleon.com.

Tuesday-Saturday 11-5PM
787-741-3078
Also find Gallery Galleon on Facebook and Twitter

Next Opening…Mermaid Show March 8th!