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127--Puerto Rico: Pretty in Pink @ CherieSpotting     Apr 06 2003 - 12:43 PST cherie writes: It takes a man with a good self-esteem to feel confident in a skin-tight pink body suit, particularly if it is three sizes too small. It is a testament to my sales ability that I convinced my dad to squish into my bright pink snorkel-suit. What were the other snorkelers thinking? Was the tall pink man a horrible experiment gone wrong? The strange result of a man crossed with a flamingo? Once my dad was a rosy spot in the water, a curious lady dragged her hubby over for a closer look at the neon pink swimming thing. Was it a giant parrot fish? But to my father’s credit, he thought the snorkeling woman was towing a hairy turtle behind her. The parrot fish was my dad and the fuzzy turtle turned out to be her shaggy spouse. My dad Stan, step-mom Joanne, and boyfriend Greg and I spent four days exploring the island of Culebra. Most have never heard of Culebra. The word sounds like some exotic ingredient in a witch’s brew. But Culebra is a charming island off of Puerto Rico (and therefore owned by the USA) but considered part of the Spanish Virgin Islands. It used to be a haven for pirates and now it’s a haven for tourists. We chose to visit Culebra because Flamenco beach made Newsweek’s list of “Top Ten Beaches in the World.” The beach was indeed jaw-dropping. It was at Playa Flamenco that we let the talcum soft sand shift through our toes as we frolicked in the pristine sea. It takes about 15 minutes to really see the main town of Dewey and another few months to explore all of Culebra’s luscious beaches. We rented a “suite” from a vertically-challenged guy named Druso. Druso forgot to mention on the phone that the kitchen, living room and bathroom were all outside. When the living room is outside, don’t they call that a deck? When the bathroom is outdoors doesn’t it become an outhouse? Then Druso said he couldn’t give us keys because there weren’t any. “We don’t lock our doors because there is no crime in Culebra,” Druso said scratching his belly. I wondered if Druso had seen all the riff-raff that staggered off the ferry with us. Even though we were misled by the word “suite,” we forgave this misunderstanding because of the “suite’s” incredible scenery. We had a 180 degree ocean view, even from the shower. Joanne enjoyed the shower the most, even though she won’t let me put her bathing pictures on the web site. It was when she was slathered in suds that she saw something perched in the tree. It turned out to be a rare giant anatole, a pre-historic lizard that grows up to four feet long. The giant anatole was considered extinct until scientists discovered it in Culebra. Since our encounter, I have renamed the spying reptile. Its new name is Peeping Lizardous. Click on each picture to see it full size. read comments (0) | write comment| views: 5002    | rated: 0.0    printer-friendly version   Real men aren't afraid to wear pink. Harley owners, like my dad, are tough guys. I wonder what my dad's Harley buddies will think of his new pink suit? Father and daughter share a day of snorkel fun! It's hard to look cool in snorkels, but I think we pulled it off. Joanne finds some unique shells on one of Culebra's pristine beaches. Where else can you find such an idyllic white sand beach and have it all to yourself? Cherie and Greg on Playa Carlos Rosario, Culebra. *Photo by Stan. Flamenco Beach. *Photo by Stan. Go fly a kite. *Photo by Joanne. This looks like the perfect place for our picnic. *Photo by Stan. Joanne, Stan and Cherie on Flamenco Beach. Stan and Joanne admire the view at one of the best beaches in the world. Cherie and Greg splash around in the tropical paradise. *Photo by Stan. A tropical island can make you feel like a kid again. Druso forgot to mention that our living room was outside. After we saw the view, we forgave him. Our rental "suite" came with three languid dogs. Joanne and Stan on the balcony of our A-frame rental property in Culebra. A little dose of sunshine lights up Joanne and Stan's smiles. Cherie and Greg enjoy the view. *Photo by Stan. The view from our "livingroom" in Culebra. This photo was taken from the kitchen. Dad redefines the meaning of the word "relaxation." *Photo by Joanne. With an open-air bathroom, you can watch your family get ready in the morning. If you send in $19.95, I'll show you the photo without the towel. Dad says he's never had a shower with such a great view. One with nature. Our little shower buddy. *Photo by Joanne. Yellow flowers sprinkle our garden with sunshine. *Photo by Joanne. A strand of Bougainvillea spills over the dock. Enjoying breakfast while sitting on the dock of the bay (wasting time.) Cheerful signs make everyone feel welcome. Charming boutiques lend the city of Dewey a splash of color. In Culebra it is still safe for chickens to cross the road. *Photo by Stan. I was glad this wasn't our ferry to Culebra. Now that is a better looking ferry! *Photo by Stan.