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Vieques General Info
Places of Interest
Beaches & Bays
Island History
How to Get Here
Restaurants, Scuba & Rental Cars
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Places of Interest
ISABEL SEGUNDA
IS THE SPOT MANY PEOPLE SEE FIRST IF THEY ARRIVE BY THE BOAT FERRIES.
FOUNDED IN 1843, IT WAS NAMED FOR ISABEL II, RULER OF SPAIN FROM 1833 TO
1868. TODAY, IT STILL RETAINS THE SPANISH FLAVOR OF ITS FOUNDERS, MIXED
WITH BRITISH AND FRENCH INFLUENCE PASSED DOWN THROUGH DESCENDENTS OF EARLY
SETTLERS. WEATHERED WHITE AND YELLOW STUCCO AND PLASTER, BALCONIED HOMES
CROWD AROUND THE BLUE HARBOR WHERE FISHING SLOOPS AND LOBSTER BOATS DOCK.
MOST HOUSES HAVE LARGE BACKYARDS SHADED BY FRUIT-BEARING TROPICAL TREES,
ESPECIALLY THE VIEQUES MANGO, WHICH RIPENS STARTING JUNE EACH YEAR. MANY
PEOPLE KEEP CHICKENS IN THEIR YARDS AND EVEN IN THE CENTER OF TOWN THE CROW
OF THE ROOSTER IS STILL HEARD IN THE EARLY MORNING.
THE HARBOR IS EXCELLENT FOR
FISHING SINCE THE PUERTO RICO AQUEDUCT AND SEWER AUTHORITY HAS BUILT AN
ULTRAMODERN SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT, BUT FISHERMEN MUST COMPETE WITH THE
PELICANS. OVERLOOKING THE HARBOR, A LIGHTHOUSE RISES 68 FEET ABOVE THE
HEADLAND. BUILT IN 1896, IT IS MADE OF STONE PAINTED WHITE AND HAS SPIRAL
IRON STEPS LEADING TO THE TOWER. A POWERFUL REFLECTOR, MADE IN PARIS IN
1895, THROWS OUT A LIGHT, WHICH FLASHES 6 TIMES A MINUTE AND IS VISIBLE FROM
10 TO 16 MILES.
THE MUNOZ RIVERA PLAZA IS A FEW BLOCKS FROM THE
HARBOR. IN THE PLAZA, THERE IS A BANDSTAND AROUND WHICH TOWN RESIDENTS
PROMENADE. SMALL SHOPS LINE THE STREETS RADIATING FROM THE PLAZA.
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THE LAST SPANISH FORT TO BE BUILT IN THE
WESTERN HEMISPHERE LIES AT THE HIGHEST POINT ABOVE THE TOWN. THE FORT,
WHICH WAS INTENDED TO DOMINATE THE PASSAGE BETWEEN PUERTO RICO AND VIEQUES,
WAS NEVER COMPLETED. USED AS A JAIL FOR MANY YEARS, IT HAS BEEN PARTIALLY
RESTORED BY PUERTO RICO'S INSTITUTE OF CULTURE. A VERY SMALL FORT, ITS
DESIGN RESEMBLES THE IMPOSING EL MORRO IN SAN JUAN. ON A CLEAR DAY ONE CAN
SEE THE ISLANDS OF CULEBRA AND ST. THOMAS TO THE EAST AND PUERTO RICO TO THE
WEST.
ESPERANZA WAS ONE OF THE FIRST SETTLEMENTS OF
VIEQUES. IT WAS LATER A SUGAR CANE PLANTATION. ITS LITTLE HARBOR,
PROTECTED BY TWO SMALL ISLANDS, SHELTERS FISHING BOATS. FISHERMEN CAST
THEIR NETS FOR SARDINES IN THE LEE OF THE ISLANDS AND TAKE THEM TO SEA FOR
BAIT ON LINES WRAPPED AROUND LARGE SPOOLS. A FEW ENTERPRISING SEAMEN ALSO
MAKE ESPERANZA THEIR HEADQUARTERS FROM WHICH THEY CONDUCT SNORKELING AND
SCUBA EXPEDITIONS AND SEARCH FOR EXOTIC FISH. ESPERANZA IS ALSO NOTABLE FOR
HAVING BEEN THE LOCATION IN 1961 FOR THE MOVIE, "LORD OF THE FLIES".
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