Isla East Region, Puerto Rico

The Old Spanish Ruins of Maunabo

This is a follow up to my last post about the Land Crab Festival in Maunabo. I did not get into any background on the town last time so I’ll do it now.

The ruins of Central Matuyas shown here are from a much earlier time than the Roig Mill in Yabucoa or the Central Aguirre ruins near Salinas. They date to Spanish colonial rule. Maunabo was founded in 1779 or 1799 depending on the historian. Before that, it was
considered part of Guayama. So it’s very old.

Maunabo has a much more ‘laid-back’, rural feel to it.

It’s almost as if time slowed down here. Sure, there are still plenty of cell phones and new cars, but the land looks ‘non-contemporized’, if you get my meaning. Kids on horses are a common site as is the pickup truck stuffed with hay or chickens.

The Lighthouse at Punta Tuna was built by the Spanish in 1892 to support the port of Maunabo. That was 6 years before the US took possession of PR.

The lighthouse and the beach below, are a ‘must-see’.

Image of Small Abandoned Structure in Maunabo, PR, Shot with a Sony A100 and 10mm to 20mm Sigma Lens

Hurricanes wreaked destruction here in 1899- Hurricane San Ciriaco and again in 1928 when Hurricane San Felipe came through.

Bear in mind, this was before homes were built from cement blocks and concrete. Island wide, thousands of people died.

This set of ruins are right along the road so they are easy to access. Back then, all work was done by slaves. Mechanization came later. Think ox drawn carts, narrow gauge railroads and bosses on horses. [Read more…] about The Old Spanish Ruins of Maunabo

Maunabo Land Crab Festival, Sept 4th 2011

This report is a little bit late, but I wanted to get it in before the end of the month. ‘Been very busy with other posts and work on the home front. Also had issues with electricity and our DSL service during the last 2 storms.

We are getting hit with an early afternoon downpour as I peck this out..

Maunabo’s Land Crab Festival was a fantastic local celebration and if you ever get the opportunity to check it out, it’s a ‘Must See’. We were there on a Sunday and the weather was pretty good, right up until we left, around 4:30 PM. In fact, it was down right hot, if you were not in the shade. We hit the Plaza about 11:30PM… they were still setting up the main stage.

Steel Drum Band Working Their Way Through the Crowds at the Maunabo Land Crab Festival in PR

By Noon, all of the shady spots had been taken.

About 1PM, I went back to the car and got our folding chairs so we would have a place to sit and get off our feet. As local celebrations go, Sunday is always more crowded than Saturday. A couple of friends who live near Maunabo, said Saturday was much less crowded.

The Plaza of Maunabo is very nice, but not near big enough to accommodate the ‘thousands’ of folks who converged on it. [Read more…] about Maunabo Land Crab Festival, Sept 4th 2011

Remains of Central Roig Sugar Mill in Yabucoa

This was the second day of our trip to Yabucoa and the last of 3 posts. I only had about an hour and a half to check out this site so I’ll have to come back for more shots. There are some fine-art opportunities here.

By most accounts, Central Roig was the last functional sugar mill on the island.

Operations formally ceased in early 2000. This came only after the government of Puerto Rico stepped in to try and save the sugar industry, but it was not to be. After losing $1.2 Billion over 26 years, they finally gave up.

Puerto Rico could no longer compete with the cheap labor in Cuba, the Dominican Republic or Latin America. US minimum wages being what they were.

So that means the sugar or molasses used to make Puerto Rican rum comes from sources outside PR. All of it.

That’s something you will not hear when you take Bacardi’s guided tour.

The Roig plant got its start in 1927 when Antonio Roig bought out the La Rosario Hacienda jointly owned by the Central Mercedita sugar mill and the firm of Gómez, Méndez y Cia. Central Roig operated until 1998 when the Puerto Rico Sugar Corp. assumed ownership. We know how that ended. [Read more…] about Remains of Central Roig Sugar Mill in Yabucoa

Scenic Hwy 3, Punta Tuna Lighthouse & Beaches

As mentioned in my last Post from Yabucoa, I am exploring the southeast coast in more detail. Thanx to Tony, we were able to hang around a couple extra days.

Hwys 3 & 901 along the coast between Patillas and Yabucoa.

Highway 3 (and Hwy 901) has to be one of the most beautiful drives on the entire island.

It is mentioned in several travel guides as a ‘Must See’. It meanders along the coast sometimes running up the mountain to avoid the sheer cliffs below, then back down to the shoreline. It is peppered with weekend bars and restaurants of all kinds

Highway 3 is very old… I have maps that show it dating back to before 1898.

The faster Hwy 53 is not finished in this area so Hwy 901 is what links the east coast with the south coast. Road construction on the Maunabo side takes you through a new tunnel that dumps out onto Hwy 901. Reminds me of the so-called ‘Bridge to Nowhere’ they wanted to build outside of Juneau, Alaska. I know it will eventually hook-up with Hwy 53 near Yabucoa, but it still looks kind of funny. [Read more…] about Scenic Hwy 3, Punta Tuna Lighthouse & Beaches

Yabucoa, Puerto Rico- The City of Sugar

I got lucky with the weather- Last Thursday, Friday and early Saturday were great (before Hurricane Irene). By late on Saturday, the sea was beginning to churn as squall after squall rolled by. All things considered, we had very good weather for this trip.

Irene dumped a bunch of rain and wind topped out at 30 MPH out where we live. Nothing like those that got hammered along the US Eastern Seaboard. Our power cut-out no less than 9+ times over 3 days. Trying to get a Post done was an exercise in frustration.

Please note, I have broken this into 3 separate posts as I have way too many photos just for one. Our friend Tony graciously allowed us to crash at his place above Yabucoa so we did not have to make the mad-dash home each night. [Read more…] about Yabucoa, Puerto Rico- The City of Sugar