WINDOW CAVE – CUEVA DE LA VENTANA

You don’t have to go to the Camuy Caves (Cavernas de Camuy) when you’re visiting the North/Central part of Puerto Rico. In fact , last week one of our guests tried to go there two days in a row and for various reasons he couldn’t get in…not even to the parking lot on the park grounds.

We have a cave in the neighborhood which is easily accessible and free! Window Cave has been known to the locals for quite awhile but has recently been “fixed up” with an identifiable mowed path leading to the attraction. The cave has an exceptional view looking onto Rt. 123, a bridge and cow fields. It’s unbelievably beautiful…so much more so than on ground level traveling the road, although that view is nice.

To get to the cave, park at Bosquebello Texaco on Rt. 10 between Arecibo and Utuado, buy some water and goodies and say hi to Jr., the owner, and walk up the path next to the wooden kiosk at the side. Be sure to bring a bag to carry away your garbage and any other garbage at the site. This is not maintained by anybody but us, so let’s keep it clean! Also bring a good flashlight. The cave isn’t very long but it is very dark. Walking inside Window Cave is easy. There is another cave, tucked behind tree roots, which meets the Window Cave entrance which is a little more difficult to move through and involves some climbing.

All in all, a visit to the cave is well worth it. You can make it a quick trip or linger and have a relaxing time in the mountains. Stay at TJ Ranch and we’ll lead you there!

Surfer Mom

Sometimes I wish I could be an actual surfer… or perhaps a boogie boarder, because even getting up out of bed is a struggle for me at this point in time, but I’m afraid that’s not in the stars. Taking a tumble at Jones Beach, when I was a kid ruined me for life; sand in my suit, tossed around not knowing which way is up, gasping for breath…it’s an experience I don’t want to repeat. Even now I need my sister, or some other person I trust, to take me past the break and tell me what to do. My heart pounds as I look behind at the wave approaching and yell, “What do I do?” “Jump”, my sister says…or “Dive through it!” Exhilarated and panicked, I’d wait for the next one…but that was years ago. Nowadays I’ll stick to the beach.

Sometimes I would bring a cheap boogie board to the beach…just in case. Just in case meant that if something went wrong, I would leap in the water with my boogie and save my child, Bay Watch style. My motherly instinct would overcome my fear and I would save the day!

As the years went by, my fear diminished as I saw my boy’s body change. He became a surfer. No longer a bony “flaco” (skinny boy), he had broad shoulders and fit arms. He paddled, duck dived, and rode the waves. He wasn’t a grouchy teenager; he became a nicer person when he surfed. It had some sort of “Zen” effect on his being. I spent more time reading and relaxing at the beach and I often missed him riding a good one. Soon he was driving on his own and he didn’t need me to take him to the beach. My only rule was that you should never surf alone and that someone should always be on the beach. I don’t know if he paid any attention.

I miss my days as Surfer Mom. I live up in the mountains a half hour from the beach. There’s a different climate where I live. It could be raining a downpour at home and sunny at the beach. I have to make sure I continue my beach trips. I too feel my “Zen” at the beach. No longer clad in a bikini, not even a bathing suit; I go fully dressed with a hat and a shawl to cover my sun damaged chest and I leave my white legs peaking out from my capris to try to get a little color. I bring my books and magazines and feel like I really live in the Caribbean. It’s been over twenty-five years and my mountain jungle is definitely my home, but the sun and the wind and the blue water is island life. Even without my son or my daughter I have to make time for the beach. I’m a Surfer Mom and pretty soon I might be Mom to the Arecibo locals as I make my way to the beach alone.

What to do in Puerto Rico-the Nutcracker is coming to town

You don't have to live in New York to see fine ballet; you don't have to be freezing to see The Nutcracker Suite; you don't even have to go to San Juan!!

The Ballet de San Juan is coming to the Teatro Oliver in Arecibo, Puerto Rico on Friday, December 5th for one day! Presentacion de El Cascanueces del Ballet de San Juan dirigido por Orlando Carrera el 5 de diciembre.

• 6:30 Welcome cocktails
• 7:30 Ballet
• 9:00 Noche de Bohemia (various artists invited)

For Information and Tickets ($35): 787-487-6416 * 787-675-5880

Birdwatching in Puerto Rico

Bill Harvey, a bird watching guest of ours, wrote to ask how we were doing after the rains. I told him we were fine and that he should check out my blog but please excuse the bird pictures. Bill sent me some great pictures, so here they are....most are from TJ Ranch; 2 are from El Yunque. Come and bird watch at TJ Ranch.
www.tjranch.com

Please excuse the layout...I can't seem to move the pictures like I want to....I hope you can click on the pictures so you can see them full size. They're really beautiful!

As the sun was setting over the Atlantic and I'm anxiously waiting for Tina to get out of the water, I saw a beam of light slowly appear and disappear. Trying to count the seconds so I can take a picture of the beacon, I saw the Arecibo Lighthouse in a new way. It really is a navigator's tool that marks the rocky coast of Arecibo. The picture's not great, but the lighthouse is. Come and see for yourself.
www.tjranch.com