Puerto Rico
2011-07-01 to 2011-07-05

Here we are in Viejo San Juan ("Old San Juan"), myself, Colin, Jennie and Laura.

These bananas are called "Mameyes." I liked them. They are also fun to give away to strangers.

Can you see the lizard on this tree? Laura did.

Ferry from Fajardo to Vieques.

Abe's tour of the bioluminescent bay.

This is the best photo I got of the dinoflagellates that glow to scare off the copepods that want to eat them. In fact, all my photos, even those with slow shutter speeds, high ISO, and a wide f-stop, all came out completely black. That is why we can only do the tours on moonless nights. The light level is just too low -- to low to see in moonlight and too low for my camera to pick up.

Anyway, the bioluminesence is amazing. Jennie, Colin and I went in the water and saw the water glow with each arm and leg stroke. We gathered around Laura and did "snow angels" in the water. I was most surprised that when I picked my arm out of the water and it drained back into the bay, I could see individual points of light scattered randomly all over my hand and arm. It is a vivid connection to the power of life.

I didn't lose my camera by taking it on the biobay tour, but the camera did stop working. The water in Mosquito Bay is even saltier than sea water. Anyway, the next day, I found a replacement camera in Fajardo, so I could take photos again -- just in time for our second visit to El Yunque.

Radio Observatory at Arecibo

The beach at Arecibo.

Taíno village replica at the Arecibo Lighthouse.

Historical art suggests a certain native reaction to the Spanish conquest.

The art also recalls the history of slavery. Do you know on what date there were the most slaves in the world? (Hint: What day is today?) Follow this link for more information.