Panoramic photo of Red Beach. |
Our hosts at the Esperanza Inn gave us the lo down on all of the beautiful beaches. We visited Red Beach and the (not so) Secret Beach. The beaches are all part of a protected area on the island. They are pristine with one notable exception. As I mentioned, the Mosquito Pier is an unfinished US Navy project. At the risk of giving you an uneducated history lesson, the US Navy used Vieques as a testing facility for bombs and other naval exercises. Therefore, when you go to the beach you are forewarned that if you did not bring it to the beach, do not touch it. The signs are referring to bombs. And they are not joking. Only days after we left Vieques, I saw a story on a Facebook feed from Puerto Rico that I follow. The video showed the detonation of a bomb which was found days earlier by a snorkler only 20 yards offshore and about 5 feet deep. How many other snorklers had passed by that same bomb?? There is much controversy about this subject, and I will let those with an interest pursue it independently.
Our secret spot on the secret beach. You'll notice the open towel for the photographer. |
On Sunday night, we booked ourselves on a BioBay tour. You saddle up in life vests and two man kayaks to head out into protected waters that are filled with dinoflagellates. Our very educated and entertaining guide told us all about the algae in the water and how they reproduce and thrive and why they are so condensed in certain bays including this one. But the long and the short of it is - THE WATER GLOWS! Any time you move the water with your hand, or your kayak paddle, or when a fish swims by, the water lights up. It is brief and therefore almost impossible to get photos, but truly something you need to experience for yourself.
You would think that glowing water under no moon (the best conditions possible), would be the entertainment of the trip. You would only be partially right. There were 19 kayaks each with two people - so 38 people and our guide in our group. Every one of them heard screaming across the water. During the free exploration when we were allowed to paddle around and watch the fish light up the water and explore the lake, a fish jumped in to Allie's and Caroline's kayak in front of Allie. Always the narrator, Allie let everyone on the lake know the play by play.
Allie: There's a fish! OMG a fish! I'm gonna have to grab it. Yes, I'll grab it. Oh no, I can't get it. Don't die fishy!! I'll get you some water.
At this point we can only hear her. No one but Caroline can see what she is doing. Luckily Caroline decided to start shouting out the scene as well.
Caroline: Allie, do not throw water INTO the kayak!! Stop using your flip flop to get the fish and just pick it up!!
And then we heard it.
Allie: "Oh no, I lost my flip flop!"
Caroline, "Oh my God! Get out of my way."
Splash. See fish swim.
Allie: Now I only have a flip and no flop :-(
From Puerto Rico: the water is a highlight.