This is the outside of one of the dozens of bunkers. The locals are slowly restoring these bunkers back to what they were. They are putting local art up and they are making sure the doors are locked so vandalism does not happen. These bunkers are huge in person. The top is covered in dirt and growth so they are not seen from above.
One of the caretakers that is spearheading the bunker clean up happened to be watering his freshly planted trees on the grounds the day we were exploring and let us check out the inside of one. I imagined our Navy boys back in the day using this as a slop house, as storage, as a hospital, and as a sleeping area.
Now, the horses keep the yard manageable.
Sugar Plantation Ruins
There isn't much that I can say about any of these pictures. I had no fu%&ing clue what in the hell any of the structures were. It is in such a ruin and there are no guides (surely a local does tours, but we didn't check into this). You basically wander through and try to imagine what the structures could have been. It is a sight to behold. The earth and the little creatures have taken over. From what I understand, this was a working plantation from the 1830's until the Navy came in and kicked everyone to one side of the island in the 1940's. There was even a train track that went through. We think we saw some parts of the track but can't be certain.
There was also a pineapple plantation close to town, and I snapped a few photos of it, which are below. It is located just around the corner from the Malecon. Quite interesting and I should research this more. We were in a hurry to get to lunch the day I took these, so I did not go inside the ruins. I wish I would have!!!
The Ceiba tree is estimated to be over three centuries old!
Some new friends we acquired after giving them some of our granola.
I wish I had those eyelashes!
No, I do not have pants on....Don't judge me :)
We were heading to the beach after some pictures and exploring the Sugar Plantation Ruins! On a side note, don't plan on spending a lot of time here. The only thing to really see is the tree and some horses. As majestic as they both are, I don't think you need to spend hours of your day here. If you are looking at the tree, look left. There is a dirt road and some hidden beaches along there. You should have a 4X4 though. It can be a bit bumpy. There is one parking spot where you can string some hammocks up and watch pelicans dive for their food. Its not a beach to hang out on...Just one to nap in a hammock in the shade on. When leaving the Ceiba tree, get back on the road and don't turn left, which should be the direction you came from, but keep going straight. You should run into Mosquito Pier which has the awesome snorkeling I was telling you about in an earlier post. The pier is on the right side of the road.
Lighthouse Ruins
There is a chain around the lighthouse, so you can't get too close. She sure is a beauty, though!
The view from the lighthouse. This was the best view on the island!
It needs some upkeep. It's a shame that something this old with so much history is falling apart.
One the way there, you will see many of these signs. The Navy is still doing extensive clean up on the island, so this is not just a threat. It is a true safety concern. Stay on the marked paths!
Check out this gorgeous view!
From what I heard and read, the lighthouse was used in the late 1800's until the 1920's. The inside of the building is closed, which is a shame. We heard that vandals tore it up inside and painted graffiti. To find the ruins, you take a right as soon as you enter the Refuge and drive down the road which is marked with a sign. There are two parking lots you will pass while on the road. Park in the second one you get to. Walk up the path and there you are! You will feel the ocean spray and feel the warm breeze. The views are fantastic from this vantage point!
So, that's a pretty moving video, correct? Words cannot describe what I saw in Vieques as far as the animal population is concerned. I have a few tear inducing pictures on my phone that I refuse to post. I'm a nurse...and they are that bad.
I know how it is here in the Midwest. We hit deer all the time and it's nothing to see a dead one on the side of the road or mounted on the living room wall. Down on the island, their equivalent is their paso fino horses that have free range. On more than one occasion, we saw some horses get plowed into by cars. It was awful, to say the least. I'm told that they all have owners, but who knows. Pedro, our Bioluminescent Bay tour guide explained that the owners just know where their horse hangs out and if he wants to ride it, or use it in some way, he will take off on foot with a rope and snatch up the animal. Some of the horses did have stamps on them that would help identify them.
Can you see why people might hit these beauties? Sometimes they are in the middle of the road just as they are here...So sad!
What in the heck is a heavily "furred" Husky doing on a freaking Caribbean Island, for goodness sake?????
This Husky found us on Sun Bay Beach. He dug out a nice soft cool hole behind Curt's chair and hung out for the day. He didn't beg us for food and he wasn't too stinky. From the looks of him and the chip laying by his mouth, he isn't starving like so many others. Later on that night, we spotted him on the Malecon while having dinner (Happy Hour) at Bananas. I know why he looks happy...People feed him all the time! They even buy him burgers! Everyone seems to love this pup. Funny thing is, we saw him three more nights in a row doing the same thing. This guy knows how to get around! He's a smart one! After doing some asking around, we are told he has an owner, and about twice a week, he makes his way home to check in.
I found this little group of about 6 dogs (not all are pictured...there was a gorgeous pointer in the mix) in the middle of nowhere off the road. I walked down an embankment to get the perfect beach picture and there they were, just chilling out, laying in the cool sand, and catching the afternoon ocean breezes.
The dogs...Oh goodness, this is where my heart breaks. I'm a dog lover through and through. If you have me as a friend or have me on Facebook, you would know just how much I love my dogs. I have three...one mixed, a full blooded Dachshund, and a mix that was rescued. What I would do after eating out in Vieques, is I would save all of my leftovers and give them to a stray dog I saw that was skin and bones. The majority of the dogs are very timid and just need food, water, and lots of love. They are definitely island dogs. The demeanor of these animals is completely different than the dogs back home. They seem much more laid back and easy going. pobre perro....
The cats didn't seem to be as bad off, but there were soooooo many of them. There was one local man that Curt and Lorrie knew about that they just HAD to show us. Before our reservations at Coqui Fire, we decided to check him out. It was one of the highlights of our trip. Not because of the weather, the beaches, or the food...but because I got a glimpse of how good people can be. This man, we heard, spends the majority of his social security check (keep in mind that these are US citizens on a very poverty stricken island) on food for the cats. The cats knew when it was time to feed. The cats seemed to come out of nowhere and were beginning to line up, as we got closer. When the man came out of his home, he had a bucket and a teaspoon. He gave each cat a small portion of food. You would think that this would spark a feeding frenzy, but it did not. All of the cats simply waited their turn and lined up as the man walked up the sidewalk. The cats seemed to be patiently waiting on the man and they were very loving toward him. It's like they knew they were there because of him. Some chickens with their freshly hatched chicks joined in on the fun. At one point, a car came down the street driving a little too fast and the old man ran out into the middle of the road and slowed them down. He is their savior
Note the chick in the middle of the road...
To end with, I'm going to go all Bob Barker on your arses...Have your pets spayed or neutered, people! Google Vieques Human Society and donate...Of any humane societies, this one truly and desperately needs our help! If you ever visit the island, you can donate a bit of your time and take the dogs for walks, adopt an animal, or give extra change to the cups sitting at many of the area businesses.
He is their savior 