Day 1 -
Journey began on Friday April 22nd @ 7am. Our friends Sean and Sue were picking us up and giving us a ride into Edmonton. With cinnamon rolls in hand we set off. There were three scheduled stops before we were dropped off at our hotel before we flew out the next day.
The first stop was our friends favorite board game shop, Mission: Fun and Games, but before we got there we tuned down the wrong street. So we made a U-turn and we pass this large church with a large group of people filing in. It was Easter Friday... understandable. Anyway just past that we see this elderly (60 ish) fat man running, we all get a good chuckle out of it. Then we see a younger woman (40 ish) also running down this small hill, we’re thinking at this point that: Well that’s kind of strange. Then we see why, there’s a small kid around 6, just bookin’ it. We realized he wasn’t going to stop and both parental figures were not going to catch up, and the kid was running straight towards a very busy intersection. So we pull up to the light and luckily there was no one behind us, Michael get’s out of the car and starts to run towards the kid and asks the woman if she needs help to which she shrieked, “Catch him!” Michael and another woman caught up with the boy and when the focus was on the boy Michael took off back towards the car. ...he now considers himself a superhero. Back to the stops, we reached the game shop without further incidence. We roamed around and picked up a traveling version of Blockus, a strategy game. A shop both Michael and I want to visit again.
Second stop was not worth mentioning, Sue and Sean were looking at buying a new car so we stopped to look at it.
Third was a French pastry shop called The Dutchess. Everything looked “pretty” and everything was horribly overpriced. Michael and I split a key lime tart. Very sweet and very good.
After that Sue and Sean dropped us off at Super 8. Went out to eat, it was so, so.
Found out we had to wake up at 4am if we were to be on time for flights and such. So we go to bed.
9:45, 12:16, 2:54, 3:30, 3:55 were the times I was woken, due to: loud noises to the horribly uncomfortable bed.
Day 2 -
4 am rolls around and we head off to the airport. While checking in we ran into a couple of friends, James, a co-worker to Michael and his girl friend Desseri. So once passing customs, baggage check, etc. We hang out with them until boarding. We find that we fly part way with them and eventually we’d split up as they fly to Cancun and we to Puerto Rico. We flew from 7am mountain standard time to 8:10pm ish Atlantic time. By 4pm I was tired of flying. From Edmonton AB -> Chicago IL -> Washington DC -> Puerto Rico. When we arrived in PR we didn’t have anything booked because we had to drive out to another airport where we had another flight scheduled the next morning to take us to Vieques, an island just a 10 minute flight from PR. Our plan was to get to the airport where we were going to ‘rough it’. So we get a cab, flat rate, an hour drive for $80. The driver drove like a mad man! He was old, so oncoming traffic he couldn’t see where the line was, and there was a bit of construction where he swerved and almost ran off the road. No one in Puerto Rico never, NEVER use their turn signals, if a car did a comment was made, “Must be a tourist.” So when you go to PR don’t use your signal and drive like your life depended on it. Anyway, back on topic. Almost getting lost we arrived unharmed at the airport. It’s closed. Michael and I were preparing ourselves to spend the night outside, the weather was sure nice enough for it. BUT the security guard told us we could probably spend the night in the airport if it was okay with the security guard who was inside. All was okay.
They allowed us in and offered us some leather waiting seat structure thing, it’s basically a bank of five chairs bolted together. Anyway, the security guard’s name was Vance...
...boy... What a character. He’s got a story for everything. Loves movies, is a single parent, grew up in Boston, lived in Detroid, worked here, did that, knew this person, is almost a millionaire, etc. Etc. He’s taking quite the liking to Michael, the only reason why I say that was because he would really only speak to Michael.
I’m happy they’re letting us stay, I’m exhausted, I’ve got vertigo from all of the plane rides, slight headache for not haven eaten since lunch, no proper sleep since we left home... I look forward to tomorrow...
Day 3 -
Sleeping in the airport was horrible. It was cold, uncomfortable, humid. I woke several times, once to put on some pants and socks. Vance comes around close to 4 am to state he was leaving and that someone else was coming in to take over. Go back to sleep. Wake up around 6 am. I feel like I’m hungover without the headache, I just feel... Bleh. We get crappy food and wait for the airline to open. At 7:30am ten of us load into a sesna, a tiny ass plane and everyone is so chipper. Set sat behind the two pilots. Take off and landing was uneventful, but exciting. It was like I was in the front flying. It was loud though.
Vieques: Map of Vieques House located 4 ish Qish. Back behind the Cash and Carry, down that little road, situated right on the ocean.
So our friend Tyler came and picked us up and took us to the villa. A hidden gem amongst broken cars along the side of the road, a cemetery off to the side, shambles of houses. We comes to this gated driveway and as we drove up we saw this huge, gorgeous house Our Villa I don’t understand why the second picture is there... Because it wasn’t at the villa... It’s 5K a week. It’s simply amazing, completely open, ocean views, door open completely out to view the ocean, it leads out to a covered patio. There’s a pool that over looks the ocea, just amazing. So we meet Tyler’s wife to be, then excused ourselves to shower and take a nap. The shower and the nap was wonderful. I felt so good after, it was so nice, the shower had one of those rain systems, and sink and counter were made from poured concrete. While we slept Tyler had gone out and got a harpoon gun, so we headed down to our own secluded beach (the beach the first picture was taken). They guys (Tyler, Michael, and Jake) went out into the water, Michael fell onto a sea urchin, we all laughed it off as I pulled a large quill from his shorts. They head back into the water while Sam (Bride to be) and I stay on the shore and look at the tide pools and shells.
After awhile Sam and I got tired and headed back up to the house, the guys came back a short time after. Michael still complained about his ass hurting, so the two of us went off to the side and I made the amazing discovery that he still had three quills stuck in there. There were in there so well that I couldn’t or wouldn’t be able to get them out with my fingers. Take 6 curiously amused people, two cameras, one pair of tweezers, a needle, surgeon Tyler, one not too happy Michael, a tiny bit of blood, and one ass cheek and it’s entertainment for the evening. :) One of the quills was 1/2 inch!
BBQ chicken and kick ass pasta for dinner. Talking, merriment, the day was great. Discovered a new rum, Dragonberry, dragon fruit fused with strawberry, Bacardi rum... Yum! It goes down smooth awesome with Sprite.
Today seemed to have lasted forever, but it was so nice and relaxing. Oh, theres so many lizards here and equal amounts of wild horses roaming the island.
What’s in store for tomorrow?
Day 4 -
A pretty quiet morning, made everyone breakfast burritos. Went to Black Beards, an outdoor shop, mainly snorkeling and scuba gear. We outfitted ourselves with shoes, I got a mask with a snorkel and Michael got himself flippers with a three pronged spear to fish with.
As we were shopping a herd of wild horses made their way down the downtown street. It was a sight, unfortunately I didn’t have my camera.
When we went to purchase our goods our credit card was declined. Several days before, before going on the trip we called our credit card provider and told them of our trip and that we’d like to bump up our limit up, so we could be comfortable knowing we had funds while in a different country. Anyhoo... A frustrated Michael phoned them up and they proceeded to tell him that since Monday was a holiday the change wouldn’t be in effect until the next day in the afternoon. In the meantime they’d bump up our limit enough so we could get our snorkeling goods.
Later that day we went out to Mosquito Pier so the guys could try out their gear ie: spear guns. Tyler caught three fish, none were edible, they were all poisonous.
Later that night we drove to the other side of the siland, got onto this old school bus, traveled up a road that needed 4x4... Though somehow the bus managed to get through. It stopped at Mosquito Bay or known as Bioluminescent Bay (Bio Bay for short). We got onto a little pontoon boat and went out towards the middle. As we traveled any water that was disturbed glowed. Single Celled Organisms at Work Yes, glowed. The bay is filled with single cell organisms that glow when they are moved. As the boat slowly made it’s way through the water you could see the path that any fish would make as they swam out of the way. Eventually the boat came to a stop and with a nice little floaty strapped around us we were able to swim around in the water. If you were very still only small sparkles could be detected, the more you moved the more the water glowed around you. It was pretty cool because as you looked down into this inky blackness a blue light would sparkle, making it appear as if you were looking into the night sky. On my skin it was like having small jewels embedded in my skin and they were reflecting off of the light. Michael on the other hand... With his chest hair made him look like he belonged in a Twighlight movie... With those sparkly vampires. Reluctantly we had to return to the ship and return home...
Day 5 -
A day of relaxation, the day of the wedding. Sam’s adoptive mom, ‘grandma’, and I began our day by prepping snack platters for the wedding. We didn’t want any full meals until the end of the day, so we prepared platters so people could snack as they wished. A couple came by to deliver flowers and construct an arbor and lace the top with tropical flowers so that Sam and Tyler could get married under it. Took pictures of Sam getting ready and that whole process. The JP came and had Tyler sign papers along with Michael and Jake as witnesses. Then the photographer came, her name was River... She looked like a River. Dark tan leathery skin (she was not originally local... She was a white-y once), wild hair, tin as a twig. Anyhoo... My picture taking was hampered by her... But it was her job, and I did get a lot of great pictures. :) After the ceremony was nothing put picture taking. After an hour and a half food arrived. More pictures after and then off to bed.
Day 6 -
We woke early in the morning, a day long boat trip was scheduled. About two minutes after we were supposed be on the docks it had started to rain, and there was wind... The weather itself was uncooperative. We get to the docks and this grizzled guy appears and leads us down to the docks to a 30ft. Sail boat. The seating space was pretty small and when Will, our captain, demanded Grandma’s purse to be stored down below she nearly flipped. Keeping her purse in hand we set sail. The cover in the bay made the winds seem calm...
When we got out of cover the wind picked up 10 fold and with the sail out it made the boat tip so much everyone was hanging onto what they could so they wouldn’t fall overboard. Grandma had a panic attack and was knelt before Michael, in one hand she held her purse and her arm was entwined through a bar, the other hand clutched Michael’s shorts. After some convincing, wailing, and crying we convinced the seemingly oblivious captain to turn around and drop both Sam’s adoptive mom and grandma off at the docks.
After we went back out onto the choppy waters and it wasn’t long after before I found out I get sea sick. I thankfully didn’t throw up, but all in all I didn’t feel well. We went to Corna Reef, which sat out in front of our villa. Out in the water I found I get sea sck while in the water. After slightly getting over that I focused myself on the beauty around me. I followed a school of fish maybe 30 strong. After an hour in the water both Sam and I called it quits and headed back onto the boat. After a bit we moved to Mosquito Reef (out by Mosquito Peer). There we... I mean they ate lunch, I couldn’t eat anything except two apples. The boys went out while Sam and I stayed behind. I was wanting to try and conquer to movement of the boat and get over my sea sickness.
It was 45 minutes when Michael swam up to the boat, he caught a fish. It wasn’t big, but it was still a fish. He caught 2 more over the course of an hour and a half. Tyler catches one just as we called him back to the ship.
I knew I was slightly sunburned partly through the trip and placed myself in the shade and applied several coatings of sunscreen, but it didn’t stop the sun from reflecting itself off of the water. Needless to say I got sun stroke. I’m stiff from the sun burn. Michael turned on the air conditioner in the room. As I close my eyes it feels like I’m still on that ship rocking back and forth... And the memory of the smell of sail boats bathroom was beyond bad. Think of a port-a-potty rank in the sun after a few hundred rotten assed people have used it and now times that by ten and you get this guys toilet. I went to bed without eating... And everything of the day caused me to be ill.
Day 7 -
Woke up with my skin burning, still, and sore. The ladies left today, though their vacation continues with a cruise. Today was a: Stay out of the bloody sun, day. Jake, Michael, and I got the worst of the sun, and boy are we paying for it. We’re not looking forward to the day long plane flights the next day.
While Jake was sleeping the rest of us decided to go out and look at a dress shop. Try on a couple of things and decided to get a cotton shirt, a dress, and a beaded purse to give to a girl who was helping watch our cats. Our credit card was declined... Again. So Michael and Tyler took off to get reception while Sam and I stayed behind as collateral, just kidding, we didn’t have to stay but we did. About 20 minutes later they returned and card works. Apparently they hadn’t changed anything yet, they had forgotten until Michael phoned. We arrived back at the villa and I napped while the boys played Gears of War. Woke up and went out to dinner across the island . It was so so... A great lunch place, but not a dinner place.
Back at the villa Jake, Michael, and I jump into the pool to cool our sunburns off a bit. It was actually quite chilly and I was the first one out. After showering we got everything organized for a day’s worth of traveling the next day, Michael started laundry. He went to bed afterwards while the rest of us began to play dominos. Sam was paired with Tyler and I got Jake. Sam and Tyler were well versed with dominos and Jake and I kicked their ass. The scoring is like golf... It was something like 84 or 89 to 256. Once we were finished I went up to bed.
Day 8 -
Got up, folded laundry, said our goodbyes to Sam. Drove to the little airport in Vieques. Said goodbye to Tyler, and eventually to Jake as he boarded his own little sesna. Michael and I boarded ours, and ours only had one pilot. This time we were in the middle row. As we approached the island we noticed the pilot hadn’t aligned himself with ANY runway strip, we were heading at the runway perpendicular. Both Michael and I looked at each other, we grasped hands and I whispered, “I love you.” The most amazing thing happened, this pilot was almost touching the ground, at the last moment he turned the plane in the direction of the runway... The landing was smooth. Again both Michael and I looked at each other, both in shock and awe written over our faces. Grabbed a cab again and it took us to the airport.
We killed a couple of hours by playing cards, eating, grabbing books and magazines and reading.
The rest of the day, flight wise, was uneventful... Except for one portion. It was our flight from San Juan to Chicago there was a man that sat beside Michael. He was sitting at the window and slept for most of the trip. Anyway we were about to land and his seat was back so the flight attendant reached across both Michael and I and tried to wake him, but the guy wouldn’t wake up. I tried touching his elbow, that’s how I get strangers attention, but that too didn’t work. So Michael gets in there. He tries to shout, call to him, shake him, but each didn’t work. There was a moment where I was thinking, ‘Is this guy dead?’ Then Michael did the unthinkable. He slapped him. Literally slapped the guy across his cheek. He woke up then, but was not phased.
We flew from Vieques PR -> San Juan PR -> Chicago IL -> Edmonton AB.
We landed and made it through customs just fine, a little worse for wear due to the burns. We head outside to catch a shuttle to the airport and we were told that they weren’t sending anymore shuttles to the hotel we wanted. By this time we had picked up a guy who was also headed to the same hotel. We go back inside the airport and call the hotel they said they weren’t sending anymore shuttles and just take a cab over and they’d pay the cab driver. So we go outside to catch a cab and the cabbie guy is telling us that a shuttle is coming, he’s very adamant about it, and we’re trying to tell him that we just got off the phone with the hotel and that they were not sending a shuttle our way. They were frustrated and almost said no because they knew they wouldn’t get a tip. We managed to get to the hotel, all three of us had constantly exchanged glances of annoyance during this whole thing. We leave the cabbie and our fellow hotel mate behind, (there were two buildings and he was in the other). So Michael and I head inside and we get to deal with Mr. Newbie. He was so flippin’ nervous it was unbelievable. First he hands me the wrong check in sign in sheet, it was Victor G-something-mere-ever. I slide it back to him. And now he’s even more nervous and can hardly to his job. After about 10 minutes of heckling we managed to get our card key and head up to our rooms. We order in pizza and turn in for the night.
Day 9 -
We wake a 8 am. Michael heads out to check out the Grayhound station, to get tickets etc. He wasn’t gone long when he came back slightly flustered. We were luck that the Grayhound ran on Saturdays, only twice though... 5am and 9 pm. The 5am one was out of the question and the 9pm one would have gotten us back into Whitecourt around 2 am. AND we’d have to boot around LeDuc until then. So Michael started to phone around limo companies, all quoted 300+. He called a cab and negotiated a flat rate of $250. So we managed to get home around noon.
That was the trip. Both Michael and I are glad to be home and if we had to do this all over again we would do a few things differently.
. Like phoning the credit card people two times before leaving and again the day of leaving to confirm. Even taking out extra money just in case.
. Wear long sleeves (yet nice and airy) shirts while out on the water.
. Booking proper things.
. Flying from San Juan directly to Vieques instead of going to the tiny airport.
Sea Urchin ass report: Michael has no infection to the area. It’s healed quite nicely and only a bruise remains.
Sun burn report: We’re still slightly burned. I more so than Michael. I still have blisters on my right shoulder, but my face is one big peel. ...yuck. In between my shoulder blades is the stiffest and the most sore, but is quickly healing.
I have pictures, but most have them were stolen by Tyler and I should, and hopefully will be getting them back soon so I can post the goods. :)
Would I do this again. In a heartbeat.
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