Vieques is not the easiest place on the planet to get to, which is probably one of the reasons it remains so special. One starts by flying to San Juan, Puerto Rico. When we're lucky enough to get a non-stop it takes us about 4 hours. If we're not so lucky, it means changing planes in an American hub, which is not so fun. Security has taken most of the pleasure out of flying, and each added leg means added hassle.
For some unexplainable reason, we have developed a ritual of grabbing lunch in the Sports Bar on Concourse B at San Juan International. It is always packed, the food is industrial (to put it kindly) & the Heinekens are expensive. Nonetheless, somehow it says to us that the vacation has actually begun...
From San Juan, the fun begins! Vieques lies about 10 miles east of the Puerto Rican main island, and while there is a ferry from Fajardo, a town on the east coast, the simplest thing is to catch a "puddle jumper" straight from San Juan International. The flight is under half an hour, and it's always a blast.
Not only are there always neophytes, who bring with them their sense of discovery, and thus rekindle memories of "the early years" for us, but the flying itself is just plain fun! The aircraft are very small (we call them flying mini-vans), and you are relatively low, meaning that you get a real sense of what's down there! You also feel the rock & sway of the air currents and sometimes you fly right through the middle of a raincloud!
Finally you're on the ground in Paradise, and this year's adventure begins...
Vieques is not the easiest place on the planet to get to, which is probably one of the reasons it remains so special. One starts by flying to San Juan, Puerto Rico. When we're lucky enough to get a non-stop it takes us about 4 hours. If we're not so lucky, it means changing planes in an American hub, which is not so fun. Security has taken most of the pleasure out of flying, and each added leg means added hassle.
For some unexplainable reason, we have developed a ritual of grabbing lunch in the Sports Bar on Concourse B at San Juan International. It is always packed, the food is industrial (to put it kindly) & the Heinekens are expensive. Nonetheless, somehow it says to us that the vacation has actually begun...
From San Juan, the fun begins! Vieques lies about 10 miles east of the Puerto Rican main island, and while there is a ferry from Fajardo, a town on the east coast, the simplest thing is to catch a "puddle jumper" straight from San Juan International. The flight is under half an hour, and it's always a blast.
Not only are there always neophytes, who bring with them their sense of discovery, and thus rekindle memories of "the early years" for us, but the flying itself is just plain fun! The aircraft are very small (we call them flying mini-vans), and you are relatively low, meaning that you get a real sense of what's down there! You also feel the rock & sway of the air currents and sometimes you fly right through the middle of a raincloud!
Finally you're on the ground in Paradise, and this year's adventure begins...
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