We had to pick up our bags and then re-enter the airport, checking into Cape Air, the airline that connects the large island of Puerto Rico to the smaller islands.
Checking in was easy and then we had to go back through security. Jim decided he would carry on his bag this time instead of checking it but forgot that he had a leatherman tool in the bag which of course flagged him at security. They gave him the option of either confiscating his leatherman tool or going back to Cape Air and checking the bag. I said I would take it back since it is easier for me to get through security. Jim is always searched at the security lines because of his knee and hip replacements. So I took the bag back and then re-entered security. When I got through Jim told me that he had packed his phone and passport in his bag and they were now checked through on our flight. He had his ticket so thought he would be fine to get on the plane.
Christine and John arrived shortly after that. They had not checked any bags so they didn’t have to go out of the secure area. It was great to have us all together! So off to Cape Air! Once there, Jim realized that the boarding pass in his pocket was the one from our flight from Minneapolis. So he didn’t have a ticket! He talked to the person at the Cape Air desk they said, “Don’t worry, as long as you know where your passport is, that is all that matters.”
Our flight to Vieques actually left early! And we were the only ones on the flight, so that was pretty fun. As we were taxiing on the runway it started to rain and during the take-off, it was a downpour which really scared me. The pilot didn’t seem nervous and he kind of went around the rain. Once we were up in the air it was smooth sailing.
Arrival Part 2
Since we arrived early on Vieques, the taxi I reserved was not available yet. So we waited at the airport for about a half-hour for it to arrive. I was told by Vieques Taxi, that Dede our driver would be about 15 minutes and it would be a white 14 passenger van.
The airport is very similar to the one on Culebra, small with about 2 or 3 planes out front. Only there were less people there than on Culebra. When Dede did arrive she already had 3 young female passengers in her vehicle and there was another couple waiting at the airport for her, so with our 6 passengers, we were 12 people, including Dede. [plus luggage!]
Dede explained that she needed to take these other passengers to the other side of the island and then would take us where we needed to go. She was a little confused as to why we had to meet the property managers at the Post Office and not just take us to our house. But as she said, it gave us an opportunity to see the other side of the island. It takes about 10 minutes to get from one side of the island to another. After dropping those folks off in the Esperanza area, we traveled back to Isabela 2. Meet our property manager, Miles who was sitting in front of the Post Office waiting and he lead us to our house, Dulces Sueños. Miles lead us up the hill to the house. It was quite dark by this time, it was difficult to see any landmarks and we were all pretty tired.
We turned off by the main road to a side street and then up another road to the driveway. It was really more like a path with lots of ruts! Dede was concerned about making the sharp turn into the driveway but she made it! The house was entirely light up - I think every light in the house was on. Miles asked Dede to stay while he quickly gave us a tour of the house. We needed her to take us back to town so we could get some dinner and groceries.
We had dinner at Coqui Fire Cafe which was great, a wonderful open-air atmosphere! We needed groceries for the next morning so we walked to a grocery store that was about 2 blocks away. We then called the taxi service to pick us up. It would have been about a 30-minute walk back to our house but walking on this island especially at night would be risking life and limb! The cars travel fast on the very narrow roads and there is no sidewalks. So waiting for a taxi is what we did.
Our taxi driver was in a jeep this time so we all loaded into the vehicle so he didn’t have to make two trips. John road in the back and I laid across the laps of Jim, Jean, and Christine! Not my most comfortable taxi ride but we made it!
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uneventful 5-hour flight.