Feb. 16 – Last Beach Day

By on February 17, 2020 in The Pearl
“A simple life is good with me. I don’t need a whole lot. For me, a T-shirt, a pair of shorts, barefoot on a beach and I’m happy.”  –Yanni

Today was our last day to relax on the beach. It was a Sunday so we had a lot of company. We walked a mile and a half down the beach towards La Zanja and found a little cove where we could be all by ourselves. It was a very relaxing day. On our way home we stopped for lunch at the same little restaurant on the beach. Today we were treated to music along with the wonderful view. 
Hard to get tired of this view, but we move on to a new adventure tomorrow. 
 Our little piece of paradise.
Just a few people on the beach today. 
There was a lot of entertainment going on at Costa Mia today.
This band added to our enjoyment today. 
A short video of the music we got to listen to while we had lunch.

Feb. 15 – Fajardo, PR

By on February 17, 2020 in The Pearl

“You don’t change the world simply by looking at it. You change it through the way you choose to live in it.” –Amelia Wren (The Aeronauts)

Today we drove into Santurce, a neighborhood in San Juan, to check out the La Plaza del Mercado de Santurce. It’s a small produce market surrounded by bars and restaurants. I think the area really comes alive after dark on the weekend. It reminded me of Sixth Street in Austin. We drove over with John and Janice and had a nice lunch at Asere. The restaurant features a Cuban Puerto Rican fusion type menu that was very good. 
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January in Amsterdam

By on February 16, 2020 in M/V Dirona

After returning to Amsterdam from a Rhine River cruise in late December, we spent the first three weeks in January completing a number of boat projects and preparing for our upcoming trip south to the Mediterranean. Projects completed included installing a new 55-inch TV, replacing the windshield wiper arms, greasing the davit, replacing a depth-sounder,…

Feb. 14 – Beach Day

By on February 16, 2020 in The Pearl
“A Day At The Beach Restores the Soul.” –Unknown

Today we hiked towards the west on our beach (Seven Seas Beach). The trail wound through the mangrove and along the water to two wonderful secluded beaches. The first one we visited was Playa Colora. It’s a little known beach at the far left of the Seven Seas cove. The beach was wide and dropped sharply into the sea. The waves were rough, but the beach was beautiful and very private. We enjoyed the walk along the water, but it wasn’t a good place for swimming or for a picnic, so we moved on to Playa Escondida.

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Feb. 13 – El Yunque Rainforest

By on February 15, 2020 in The Pearl

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” —Eleanor Roosevelt

We left the beach this morning to explore El Yunque Rainforest. It’s the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest Service. With an average rainfall of 120 inches a year, it has a very diverse ecosystem, hosting hundreds of unique plant and animal species, including the island’s famous coquí frog.
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Feb. 12 – La Zanja

By on February 14, 2020 in The Pearl
I’d rather look back on my life and say “I can’t believe I did that”, than say “I wish I did that”. –Unknown
Today we hiked to La Zanja (the trench). It’s located in Fajardo, on the northeastern-most tip of Puerto Rico, right along the rugged coast. The little pool is a hidden gem, but was definitely not swimmable today. It’s in Las Cabezas de San Juan nature reserve and not accessible by car. Getting there was a bit of a walk, but La Zanja is so pretty, it is worth the hike.

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Return Trip to Seattle

By on February 14, 2020 in M/V Dirona

The day after returning from Berlin, we made a ten-day trip to Seattle for James to attend some work meetings. While there, we picked up our mail, caught the last day of the Seattle Boat Show, met up with old friends and handled several medical appointments. And Spitfire enjoyed some time at “the resort” of…

Feb. 11 – Fajardo, PR

By on February 13, 2020 in The Pearl

“Beach rules… relax, unwind, enjoy.” –Unknown


We spent most of our first full day in Fajardo relaxing by the pool and exploring the beach across the street. We also made a run to the grocery store just as an afternoon shower moved through the area…at least it didn’t mess up our beach time.

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Museum Island

By on February 12, 2020 in M/V Dirona

Berlin’s Museum Island is a UNESCO World Heritage site consisting of five museums built between 1824 and 1830 on an island in the river Spree, with a sixth scheduled to open later this year. The museums are significant in that each was designed to showcase the collection it held and they demonstrate the evolution of…

Feb. 10 – Fajardo, PR

By on February 12, 2020 in The Pearl

“Surround yourself with people who make you hungry for life, touch your heart and nourish your soul” –Unknown

Our adventure east continued today. Our final destination was Fajardo, actually a small little place outside of there called Las Croabas. We’ve rented a condo for the week with our friends from home, John and Janice Bradley. 

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