Puerto Rico Day 3: Culebra Island

Photograph by Ivana Lin

"It's nice being in the same place for two nights in a row," said Brian. We woke early to make a stop at the fresh fruit stand that only comes around on Fridays. Supposedly, if you aren't one of the first people there, you won't find any blueberries. While waiting in line, I did hear a woman sadly ask if there were anymore blueberries left. It was like 9am, what was she thinking? And what is this hype about blueberries in Puerto Rico? They were $7 for an 6oz box in Old San Juan!
Enough about blueberries. Brian rented a scooter for us to explore the island on. We made an appearance at Flamenco Beach. It was the first time I had seen, in person, a beach with clear aqua water and white sand. It was the most beautiful beach I'd ever seen. And I said that when it was overcast! We sat and admired for a while and walked along the shore to see the abandoned tanks, a "famous" landmark of Flamenco Beach. Then, we zoomed out in our scooter to Zoni beach, 7 miles off at the opposite end of the island. Riding the scooter was fun, and exploring the small island in it was a memorable experience. It was nice to be able to do it in speed while keeping the same physical freedom as on foot, without the fatigue of walking. Zoni beach makes you realize that you're really in an island. It's got that scent of exotic written all over it.
Even though there are two gas stations marked in the Culebra map, there is only ONE. Getting gas in Culebra can be compared to taking a cross-country road trip through the U.S. and stopping to get food at a small town that's very different than what you're used to. Getting gas didn't work out. We share mahi mahi over a couple of Medallas at Mamacitas and call it a night. Early start is the way to go.