Culebra

A sweet old couple gave us a ride away from a gorgeous beach in an antique, white, open-sided car (of sorts) and asked that in return for the favor, we not tell anyone who doesn't already know about the existence of the magical little island-off-an-island that we were on...but here's me violating their request by reporting on 48 hours on Culebra. A little 10-seater plane took us away from big-city San Juan (with amazing views, I might add)...

...about a half-hour east to the small island of Culebra, with it's tiny main town of Dewey.

Pretty much the main attraction there was beach, sun, and more beach and more sun, with lots of walking in between. The island's Playa Flamenco regularly makes it on the list of Best Beaches in the World, and I'd have to agree. (The graffiti'd tank is a relic of the island's history as an artillery testing zone, and is strangely beloved by locals and visitors as a thing of character now.)

And how amazing is it to have one of the best beaches in the world pretty much to yourself? (Or maybe that's part of the reason WHY it's considered one of the best....)

The other highlights of the island, I can't put into pictures b/c I don't have an underwater camera. But we also did amazing snorkeling at Melones Beach (the colors were AMAZING, the reef was right there, and we saw an enormous sting-ray) and Tamarindo Beach, where we snorkeled among sea turtles.

What a beautiful, relaxing, idyllic spot.
But you didn't hear it from me.