The Spanish Virgins
Lynn & Mike ..around the world
Mike Drinkrow & Lynn v/d Hoven
Fri 20 Mar 2009 18:38
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18:19.15N 65:13.68W Culebrita,
Spanish Virgin Islands
From St Thomas we have headed west to the Spanish
Virgin Islands. These islands, which include Puerto Rico, Vieques,
Culebra and a few smaller islands, were settled by the Spanish in the
1500's. They were then independent for one year (1897) before being invaded
by and ceded to, the Americans the following year. The people have
American citizenship although most people have still have Spanish as their first
language.
Isla de Culebra only 5 by 11 km, has a large protected
inlet called Ensenada Honda (Spanish for 'deep cove') where we anchored to
check in. This involved a walk down to the local airstrip to see Homeland
Security (Customs, Immigration and Agricultural inspection - all in one) On
the way we encountered another iguana trying to get through a fence
(remember Le Saintes). Again Mike picked it up by the tail and was about to
hoist it over, when the tail came off! Well, a large piece of it anyway. The
iguana ran away while its discarded tail piece (about 20cm) wriggled and
thrashed for a good few minutes. It was quite gross!
Once formalities were completed we sailed over to a
beautiful uninhabited islet called Culebrita. This was the perfect spot - white
beach, palm trees, clear blue water, lots of reef life and turtles bobbing
around. We did some snorkelling, spotted more conch and lots of rays, and
took a walk on the beach. The sand here is like soft powder.
 Today we will sail over to a marina in Fajardo, Puerto
Rico, where we will be leaving Indigo to go home for three
weeks.
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