Continuing to walk around Puerto Rico!

I'm now heading westward in south Puerto Rico. Small towns here, the people are quite friendly. I seriously appreciate the kindness of Puerto Ricans. They often stop to chat, offer water or food or other support. In general, Puerto Ricans seem considerate, and they like to party! In this area I've seen tons of vehicles set up with extra loud speakers, even louder than I've seen on the continent.

One minor thing I've noticed here is that in Puerto Rico, the plastic bags seem extra strong. Instead of a flimsy thing that breaks right away, they often have thick plastic bags that last a while.

Kept walking!

Now in the charming town of Yumacoa, set among the mountains. The people here are friendly. There are gorgeous trees, including tons of mango trees. There are so many mango trees, as soon as I finish eating some mangoes, I encounter another tree and can load up again!

Now walking south, towards the coast, then probably follow the ocean westward.

Rock & Roll!

Puerco Rito?

Here's the latest travel map, up to date through Humacao, Puerto Rico:

Eagle Gamma travel map through Humacao, Puerto Rico, June 12, 2019

Another day in Bahamas…

Breakfast today: corned beef and grits. With flies and a dog hanging about.

<grits pix>

Deciding whether to try extending my stay in Bahamas beyond Nassau, or carry on…

I'd forgotten some of the rigors of traveling… The difficulty in finding essentials like food, water, bathrooms… The sudden big decisions… The freedom!

A few restaurants around town advertise barracuda: "Eat at your own risk." Barracuda consume fish, accumulating a toxin from their reef food chain. The symptoms include reversal of hot and cold feelings, and more harmful symptoms, which can last for decades!

Just a few days ago, I was in the USA. Now I'm in a different country, having walked and taken boats over some distance… Looking back, how quickly things can turn!

====

Ciguatera is a disease that you can get from eating fish such as barracuda. In Nassau, they advertised it as "eat at your own risk." The disease can last for twenty years!

Ciguatera poisoning is underrecognized and underreported; up to 50,000 cases occur globally every year. The incidence in travelers to highly endemic areas has been estimated as high as 3 per 100.

 

From <https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2018/the-pre-travel-consultation/food-poisoning-from-marine-toxins>

After recovering from ciguatera poisoning, patients may want to avoid any fish, nuts, alcohol, or caffeine for at least 6 months as they may cause a relapse in symptoms.

 

From <https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2018/the-pre-travel-consultation/food-poisoning-from-marine-toxins>

Another day in Nassau, Bahamas!

Today, went shopping. Got Bahamian change…

<Bahamas $ pix>

Nassau has these water dispensers available around town.

<water pix>

There are a handful of American shops.

<US pix>

One thing I like is seeing the different car names they have here. One thing that's not as convenient as in the US is the absence of public restrooms here. The US fast food shops have ones though, which seem even better than in the US.

Nassau has tons of dogs, and a few cats…

It's a small but interesting country…

I'm on the road again!!!!!!!!! :)

Well, not quite the road, more like water!

Now in the Bahamas… As I write this I'm taking a boat from Bimini to Nassau…

Many thoughts, not much time to write…. It's a constant whirl of action!

My feet are already blistered, and my already worn sandals didn't last until the port of Miami! We'll see how some DIY repairs hold up…

After a couple of years off in Miami, I've had a chance to unwind, and now feel like going again. I was getting tired of the USA… Feeling like everywhere I went, I'd seen it before…

<pix galore interspersed>

The ferry ride from Miami to Bimini was beautiful. Along the way, there were these, which I think are flying fish!

<flying fish pix>

The Caribbean consists of basically a few spits of sand. Bimini is surrounded by a handful of cays.

<bimini pix>

Bimini is a small island. It basically has a handful of resorts, and a long road (the King's Highway!) lined with houses, shops, restaurants, and more. It took me about two hours to see the island by foot.

<king's highway pix>

This ain't Miami!

<ramshackle house and vehicle pix>

The food smells delicious, haven't had a chance to eat it yet….

Arriving in Bimini, at customs they only gave me a seven day visa, when I had expected more. So, I have to find a way out, while trying to extend the visa. At the dock, I ask if there are any boats going to Nassau. (By the way, I'm imagining a NASA logo with Nassau instead…) There's a cargo boat going soon. It only departs three times per month! I have about thirty minutes to decide. Sure, let's go!

People mill about, drinking beer and smoking tobacco and marijuana as they work. "They're waiting on the captain," a woman says.

Not quite as luxurious as the ferry from Miami to Bimini - no onboard wifi! - although actually I feel a lot less seasickness on this boat, probably because of calmer waters. The water in the Caribbean is turquoise!

<turqouise water pix>

I napped briefly during the two-hour ride, the only sleep I had in two days.

The people seem extremely friendly. The place is laid-back, like going to small towns. A pleasant surprise after so long in Miami.

<me pix>

Here's my gear. It doesn't take a lot of stuff to travel!

<belongings pix>

It's terrific to get back out there again! I feel fresh! Excited for more.

Rock & Roll!!!!!!!!!!! :)

I've been adding my notes here as I've had wifi. Often I've made notes while away. For now I'm rushing just to get things posted, so there may be funny formatting, pictures not included where I'd like them, etc.

Above, I'm posting some of my early blogs from the Caribbean, which it looks like I haven't got around to doing yet.

Rock & Roll!