Once A Cruiser ~ Always a Cruiser... or so my Cruiser Friends tell me. But inside, I'm not so sure. Dos Libras is officially... no longer ours.
We have successfully navigated the selling process, and Dos Libras belongs to someone else.
Suddenly finding myself without a sailboat... for the first time in decades... , I'm sort of floundering. Since that day way back in the 80's when I randomly picked a hobby ~ any hobby ~ and sailing was it... Sailing has been my purpose in life.
And that purpose is now gone...
Seriously... THIS is who I really am!
We all need an identity, something to guide our thoughts and our actions. Something to point to and say to others, "This is who I am!". It's like a brief introduction to get people up to speed so that you can begin in the middle, instead of the beginning, when telling your story.
So now what???
This is a very strange time for us. Both of us are struggling with disassociating ourselves from the boat.
We picked up the new owner, Rainbow... last week, and brought him to his new home. The home that used to be ours, but is now his. (Say it enough times, I'll eventually believe it, right?)
THAT is who we are! Aaahhh we miss those days already...
Meet Rainbow on his first day living on the boat, now called Vahevala
Rainbow is very Zen. His needs are few, and his outlook is very calm and untroubled. How I would LOVE to be more like that!!!
But that peace eludes us at the moment. Our heads are full of lists! Things that WE think he needs to be doing first... We seem to STILL be planning our days based upon helping Rainbow get to the auto parts store for oil, maybe a trip to the West Marine for stuff. What stuff? I don't know...but he MUST need something!
Our former world ~ lying peacefully in Warderick Wells, Bahamas
At the very least, I take charge assist in getting the US Documentation form submitted... then maybe turn my attention to getting him lined out with the FCC so that he can keep the ship's MMSI number, the one that's entered into the VHF... That needs to be done, right? That's important! Paperwork is my Super Power, after all... It's something that I am very good at. Organization makes me feel like I'm in control. THERE it is! I'm no longer in control of our the boat's destiny! And it's like a part of me is going off with a stranger!
Will he take good care of her? Will he... Nope, not going down that rabbit hole. I'M NOT! It's none of our business what he does, or does not do! You can not imagine how difficult this is.
I worry that he's going to... see! There I go again! I just can not help but feel the strong pull of responsibility toward our that boat!
I remember this day. We were wondering what our future holds...
This photo was on our Boat Cards
Our thoughts are all in a jumble. There is a profound feeling of relief, that we are no longer responsible for the welfare of a 45' yacht. We no longer have to dread hurricane season... well, at least not to the extent that we DID! We don't have to watch the weather daily and make our every decision based upon what is best for the boat. We don't have to be concerned when it rains, when it blows, or that the simple forces of nature are taking aim at our most valuable possession.
On the other side of that coin, is the fact that we are no longer free to roam the seas at will. We may never again experience the joy of arriving to a deserted anchorage on some tiny islet or cay, and discovering the untold beauty that so very few will ever see.
So this is it. Later this week, Bruce and some friends will help Rainbow get Vahevala from Patillas to Salinas, where he will spend some time getting acquainted with his new home. I am not going with them.
I can't.
I have been the master of that boat since the day I first stepped aboard. I don't feel that I can separate myself from the boat so that someone else can be free to make the decisions and call the shots. I just can't do it, and I'm not willing to try. For me, it's best if I just rip the bandaid off! Just walk away and not look back.
But you know what? Once I turn my head... I can fully embrace the here and now. And while our days are filled with sitting by the pool, and walking the beach... and exploring our new island home, our hearts will always be full from the 1,940 days we spent as Cruisers, and Dos Libras, we shall remain. It is no longer the name of our boat... it is who we are. Only now, we're Dos Libras in Puerto Rico!
I think Island Girl has always been my true identity!
Bruce and I are becoming marvellously familiar with the streets of Old San Juan. Not so long ago, we would have shied away from an invitation to join friends here for a birthday celebration, but now, we're all in! So when the invitation came, we booked a last minute hotel reservation and hit the road!
We began our weekend away with some delicious Mexican Food at Chido's in Isla Verde. It's a relaxed place with sort of a "Spring Break" attitude. Since leaving Texas so many years ago, we are constantly on the lookout for some good Tex-Mex. While the food here is more of a Mexican-with-a-Puerto-Rican-flare... I can say that the frijoles refritos are the best we've had in Puerto Rico and the prices are good... so we'll go back!
Lovely art in the lobby
After lunch, we drove around the streets of Isla Verde and Condado just because we haven't before. The whole area is sort of like Port Aransas, so we felt very much at home. We parked in the $3 parking lot, unfazed by our hotel's published parking in the $13-$14 per day lots! Poor tourists, they don't know who to trust! I tried to get a reservation at the place we stayed in October, but with one day advanced notice, they were already full. I had to look around for another cheap hotel in the heart of Old San Juan... You might think that's impossible, but I was able to book an interior room at My hotel in Puerto Ricoat a VERY reasonable rate!
We arrived at about 2:30 pm with a 3:00 check-in time, but I was at the desk waiting with my backpack and my credit card... AND my Puerto Rican ID! I still love whipping that baby out!
Looking up through the stairwell, there's a nice skylight to brighten the interior.
The artwork here is very vivid!
Promptly at 3:00, we were checked in and given brief instructions for working the door security, then off we went, climbing the old staircase to the second floor. There's a nice cool lobby on our floor with a TV for relaxing, but we continued on past to find our room. There are only 11 rooms in this little hotel, and the Old San Juan vibe is strong. I always long to see inside of these old buildings when we walk the streets, and here we are actually STAYING in another of them!
Travelling light!
No that isn't a stain on the bed. The ruff is just pushed the wrong way!
Our cheap, interior room was advertised as having no window, but there was one that opened onto the the stairwell, so it was an unexpected treat. The walls are brightly painted, and while the bedding was a little tired, it was clean-smelling and comfortable. We had our own air conditioner and it was icy cold inside! Nice after a hot trek from the parking lot in mid afternoon!
Bruce moved his clothes into the antique armoire immediately!
The bathroom was small and basic, but clean. I was worried when I didn't see a blow dryer, but Bruce went down to the desk and got a loaner for me. We relaxed and showered in preparation for a walk along the Paseo la Princessa and what I imagined would turn into a late dinner! Our reservation was for 7:30pm, which is long after we are normally done with dinner and on our way to bed!
Our checkered stairwell
Our foyer!
Our unobtrusive doorway
You wouldn't even know that this was an hotel!
We were happy to see more people wandering around here than there were during our previous visit.
I LOVE these old buildings!
Vendors set up and tourists strolling the Paseo de la Princessa
The best time to be in OSJ is at night. The lights and the vendors, the music and the song of thousand coquis fills the air to make it a magical experience. It was just beginning to grow dark when we turned to follow the Paseo past the vendor's tents.
Just the right amount of crowd!
Night falls, and the lights transform the city!
We strolled along in the moist, cool Caribbean air, drinking in the beauty of the lights all around us. The streets are tastefully decorated for the Christmas Holidays, with an orderly line forming for photos beneath this sparkling tree. Being here just makes my heart feel light and there is no way to squelch the feeling of happiness that this is our home... but then, I'm not trying to squelch it at all!
The scents of delicious, Puerto Rican favorites tantalise our senses as we stroll past the vendor's trucks. If we didn't have dinner reservations, we would surely have sampled a little from each vendor! But we are saving our appetites for later!
Guayama
There are several cruise ships in port, but we watched as two of them silently departed. Mostly locals and visitors from one huge ship remain here tonight. Children scamper along the waterfront where we found more little bits of awesomeness. Small mosaics of each municipality adorn the walkway! How can such delights be relegated to the ground to be trampled upon??
There was a truly festive atmosphere in the streets closer to the cruise ship dock. Everywhere we looked, there was joy!
Lighted balloons! I couldn't think of a reason to have one... but I wanted it!
Soon, we hope to be setting sail on one of these!
YES we ARE pretty much always smiling here in Puerto Rico!
We found a nice bench in front of the seawall to sit and wait until time to go to the restaurant. We watched as harbour tour boats arrived and departed, full of happy tourists!
Silent sailboats ghosted along slowly in the light breeze just beyond the reach reach of the lights on shore. A wisp of melancholy assailed us for a moment as we wished we were taking that night sail on our boat. If only we could keep our faithful Dos Libras... We even discussed briefly, getting a smaller, more simplified sailboat to keep in San Juan for nights just such as this. While that may be in our future, right now we just can't commit to taking on another responsibility... and boats are a HUGE responsibility, especially here in Hurricane Alley! Maybe we'll just charter or take evening sails to support the local economy! It sure looked like fun as we watched the boats loom close, then turn at the absolute last second before hitting the wall!
Last minute tack! We sure wanted to be out there on that boat!
We abandoned those melancholy thoughts, and turned our attention to a more festive activity... Time to go meet our friends at Tiana Tapas and Flamenco!
Tonight's party was a surprise for April's Birthday! She is leaving Puerto Rico for a while, and it might be some time until we see her again, so we pretended to say our See-You-Soon's yesterday as we headed home from a lovely happy hour on the dock. I couldn't wait to see her face when she realized that we were all here for one more night of laughs!
I think they were having a lesson! I want a frilly skirt!!!
Everyone was in place, and decorations set out when Burt brought April to our table right off the stage. She looked a little surprised, but quickly accepted her fate as she donned the flashing tiara signifying her as the Birthday Girl! I still had no idea that there would be entertainment at this point, but everyone was in good spirits as we anticipated the delicious menu items in store for us tonight!
Liz and Emily, the daughters who had arranged tonight's festivities, ordered for the table and the Tapas began to arrive by the plateful. So. Many. Plates!
As we passed the delicious treats around, the lights went down and an old dude with a guitar took the stage. His face was passive and maybe even a little grumpy... but what he lacked in facial expression, he made up for with his magical fingers on that simple guitar! He began to strum and all attention turned his way. Perhaps his visage was a ploy to lull us into low expectations, but very soon we were simply blown away by the showmanship of the famous Flamenco Guitarist, Juan Carlos Romero!
The energy! The frills!
The lighting made the skirts seem to GLOW!
One after another, he played songs from many latin countries, while in Spanish, English and even a little French, he regaled us with stories of the songs and of his life. He's had a long and adventurous life in which he has performed for some very famous people! And just imagine... here he is playing for US! What a stunning stroke of good fortune, indeed!
Impossible to choose...
Not the same demeanour as it was at the beginning!
All eyes were on the stage as one after another, the songs flowed from his simple Spanish Six String guitar. The entire room was enraptured as Juan Carlos and the Flamenco Dancers enticed and entertained us. The mood went from casual interest, to surprised delight, to full-on stunned amazement! We couldn't believe what had just happened to us. I can't remember when I've seen a better show, and certainly did not expect THAT! Once again, I am struck dumb by our amazing good fortune, and I thank Burt and April's children for an outstanding evening!
The lovely birthday girl blowing out the candle as the staff sang to her!
All good things must come to an end, but when the lights came up and the last frill disappeared behind the dressing room door, we still had a delicious rum cake to gobble down! Another good friend of April's made this crazy-good cake, and thankfully it was a small one, because our bellies were full to bursting with the good food and drink we had already consumed. How glad I am NOW that we got an hotel room so close to the restaurant!!!
Never miss an opportunity to be cheesie!
The wild streets of Old San Juan at night!
Finally we said our farewells, but this was not the final goodbye. Everyone made their way back to their respective hotels, with plans to meet up again tomorrow for a tour of some of the highlights of Old San Juan! Will the fun never stop??? I hope not!
We have successfully navigated the selling process, and Dos Libras belongs to someone else. 
This is a very strange time for us. Both of us are struggling with disassociating ourselves from the boat. 
Will he take good care of her? Will he... Nope, not going down that rabbit hole. I'M NOT! It's none of our business what he does, or does not do! You can not imagine how difficult this is. 
On the other side of that coin, is the fact that we are no longer free to roam the seas at will. We may never again experience the joy of arriving to a deserted anchorage on some tiny islet or cay, and discovering the untold beauty that so very few will ever see. 
But you know what? Once I turn my head... I can fully embrace the here and now. And while our days are filled with sitting by the pool, and walking the beach... and exploring our new island home, our hearts will always be full from the 1,940 days we spent as Cruisers, and Dos Libras, we shall remain. It is no longer the name of our boat... it is who we are. Only now, we're Dos Libras in Puerto Rico!
