Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is simply amazing. It has all the conveniences of America without being Americanized! Think American stores on a tropical island with island folks mentality and island time! This is Puerto Rico.

Properties alongside the marina

We have found the most amazing friendly people. Always ready to help with a smile! Our next stop after Mayaguez was Puerto Real.

Service with a smile

Some marinas barely tolerate 'transients' as they call us cruisers. They grudgingly allow us to use their dinghy docks to get ashore but not much else.

Marina Pescaderia in Puerto Real is not one of those. We were welcomed ashore and invited to use the facilities. Jose is the manager and son of the owner who is also Jose. He speaks good English and is very willing to answer questions and assist in any way possible. The second day we were there we approached the office (Jose jnr had travelled to Dominican Republic to set up reciprocity with another marina) to find out where we could refill our gas (propane) cylinder. Jose senior, who speaks no english, happened to be there checking on things in the marina. When he heard what we wanted, he loaded us into his vehicle and drove us about 20 minutes to get it done. He refused money for fuel as thanks. The total of our conversation en route and back was him stating with great pride "Me father (of) Jose"

Fuel 'dialysis' 

It was here the local diesel company cleaned our tanks and polished the fuel.

Tank cleaning

Wandering around the area later a man stopped and asked if he could help in anyway, was there something we were looking for? We told him we were just looking around and he went on his way. The next morning we had decided to try the local bakery for their renowned breakfast. A full breakfast and coffee with refill cost us $12.68. Here we met the same man from the day before and started chatting. He had worked with Delta airline in USA as a Stewart for 40 years and had retired and returned home. His was originally from San Juan but had fallen in love with the laid back pace of Puerto Real. We had told him we were going to walk after breakfast to pick up fallen mango's in the street. He insisted on taking us back to his house where he had a huge mango tree and invited us to pick what we wanted! Mango chutney was the result!

Love the house colours!

The house he rents is two bedroom, one bathroom and and open plan kitchen sitting room. It is small but lovely in a garden full of fruit trees. The rental only $300 a month!

Finally time had come to leave this happy anchorage and in parting Jose jnr gave us his private cell phone number is case we had questions or needed a translator after we left them stating we could call him anytime.

This is Puerto Rico!