4-27 MON TO 5-1 FRI
4-27 MON – This picture above is why they come to La Parguera. They come on the weekends, not so much to stay, but it is a day drive for a lot of them, even from San Juan. The Puerto Ricans love their cars and this is a ‘drive destination’ to see this view. They park here on top of the hill, which is just up from the Apartment Building. They come by the hundreds every weekend.
It is unbelievable how much trash there is, where they stop, look and take pictures of the view. It is easy for them to get here, they don’t have to go thru town, as they get to the entrance to town, they can take a left and just come up to the top of the hill. Then they continue around and go down thru town and then head out on the rest of their day trip. There is only one way in and one way out of La Parguera.
When I go for my walk, I have to walk by all of this garbage so today I decided I was going to clean it all up; it will take me a good week. I will go get a couple of garbage cans, they are all over the place on the sidewalks and see if I can’t get these people trained.
I made a list of all the pluses, the good things about being here this morning. I am comfortable in the Apartment, which surprises me. Great view, perfect weather, clean, everything I need, safe, can walk to town, several locals have been very good to me, especially Tito (the owner), I have to pool all to myself (I help maintain it), have the kayak and the cart coming, snorkeling gear, adequate clothes, adequate shoes, I eat good, sleep well, everyone is nice to me, have enough $ coming in monthly, have enough cash, nobody bothers me, have internet, nobody is in the building but me (Tito lives here but he is always gone), the laptop I brought works excellent, have books to read (will have to get more), feel healthy finally, no dishwasher to listen to, no washing machine or dryer to listen to, refrigerator is quiet, no traffic of any kind I can hear, the birds are singing all the time, rooster/chickens crowing early in the AM, gotten use to the dogs barking at times, no TV (I have turned it on twice for 2 minutes), great place to go for walks, the kayaking is as good as it gets, looks like Tito will take me every 2nd Wens, doesn’t work on Wens’™s to the grocery store, the little grocery store here in La Parguera has whatever one needs to get by. Right now I cannot think of one negative, so I guess I am having a good day.
THIS IS PART OF A PARK AT THE END OF THE ROAD/NOT FAR FROM THE APARTMENT
4-28 TUES – .It has been the first day that it has been overcast for most of the day, but still in low 90s and of course the humidity. The humidity could be worse. If I am not going for a walk, like I did today, I am kayaking, or reading, or listening to music (I like Jango/Ernesto Cortazar, if any of you want some of the best piano music you will ever hear you should go listen, it is an online Radio Station), or walking to town to get a few things, or picking up garbage (which I enjoy, good exercise) or exercising on the stationary bicycle and weight machine, or sitting in the sun at the pool or planning on planning to do something, like the long river trip down the Yellowstone, down the Missouri, down the Mississippi to the Gulf. I also on a daily basis add to my bi-weekly grocery shopping list. So in reality, the worst time of the day for me is between 5 and 7/8, which has always been the worst time of the day for me. Working or not working, on the river, hiking, makes no difference, it is the worst time for me to keep busy.
I am also ‘advertising’ myself on a couple of sites that seek out ‘œcrew members’ for sailing boats and yachts. It is amazing just how many opportunities there are for ‘participating’ on a boat/yacht. I am being specific and only seeking out an opportunity in the Caribbean. There are always a few boats in the Puerto Rico area looking for “a crew member inexperienced” to help watch/keep the boat organized/companionship. A lot of the “captains” are older/retired/single guys “living out their dream” and some of them have been doing so for years. If the right opportunity came along I would take off for 2 to 4 weeks, probably no more. Then have to fly back from where ever we/I ended up. It is that “new view” thing that keeps me going, that has made me look into being a crew member.
LOOKING UP HILL APARTMENT IS DOWN THE OTHERSIDE/THIS IS WHERE I PICKED UP ALL THE GARBAGE
ON MY WALK BEHIND THE HILL WHERE THE APARTMENT BUILDING IS
4-29 WENS – I have always been a “self-directed” individual, that is what has made it easy for me to do the things I have done and will continue to do. As I look back on what I remember of my Dad growing up he was that way. I have just never been on to sit down and watch life go by. The wind blew today quite good, but I still went out and kayaked for an hour or so, had to stay within the little bay that I have the kayak stored at underneath a building right on the water. Then I came back up, went up and picked up some more garbage, which it will take a couple more times to accomplish what I set out to do.
Then I walked to town and got a few things. I finished the day up at the pool. Light dinner and to bed at my usual time of around 8.
4-30 THURS – Went for my usual walk this morning. To windy once again to go kayaking. I also washed my sheets by hand and what few shirts/socks I had since washing at the little laundromat. Things dry so quickly that no more clothes than I wear this seems to be the easiest way to keep things fresh and clean. There is a big tub in a closet in the kitchen/next to where a stack washer and dryer could be installed.
Here are some more pictures of the walk I take.
Tomorrow will go in to Lajas with Tito about 7:30. Need to go to the PO Box and Post Office, the Bank then see if I can’™t find a few things, then will just wander around until about 10:45 and be at the grocery store and buy grocers and Tito will pick me up there and bring me back on his lunch hour. It will be the 1st time we/he has taken me to town and brought me back on his lunch hour.
5-1 FRI – Tito and I left the building for Lajas about 6:30AM, he wanted to go to church. So we made arrangements for him to pick me up at the grocery store at 11:30, which is when he takes his lunch break from the Dentist office. I thought I was going to have just sit around most of the time. But by the time I walked a ways and found a Pharmacy and got a few things, then walked all the back to the PO, then back to the Bank to take care of some things (the bank alone took 2 hours), then back to the PO, then to the grocery store at 10:30 and I only had to wait for Tito for about 10 minutes. It worked out perfectly. I did not enjoy going to town at all. I had enough groceries left and bought enough, I hope I can last for 3 weeks. I will have to walk down town and get a few things, but that is what makes this work, grocery wise.
Not having a vehicle is now starting to make sense. As long as Tito will continue to be gracious and help me out when I need to, he goes to town every day, some days 2/3 times a day. He is always on the go. It is nice just not having to deal with all of the aspects of having one. I do believe when the time is right I am going to buy a little scooter. There are places it wouldn’™t work because of the amount of traffic, but here in La Parguera and even the 8 miles or so to Lajas, it would work very well.
I am going to leave, I think, real early, about day break in the Kayak and paddle S along the shore for a good 2/3 miles then cut out into the ocean and go to the farthest Island I can see, to see if there is any place there to camp for the night. If not, I will paddle clear across the bay to the N. side of the bay where I was last week, I know there are 2 different sandy beaches/grass areas I can camp there.
Going to town wore me out, so I spent the afternoon at the pool. I was going to finish picking up the garbage, but I can do that first of the week.
