Hunting Island After Hurricane Matthew

Yesterday I took a small skiff ride with some friends.  We put in at Russ Point Landing, just before the bridge to Fripp Island.  We were photographing seascapes, shorebirds, etc., but we decided to take a look in the lagoon which runs through Hunting Island State Park.  I had not visited since last year's Hurricane Matthew, but even on the drive down to the island, the severity of the damage was very apparent.  After passing under the footbridge, I was shocked to see that the sea had breached the lagoon and  dumped a whole new beach where there had previously been maritime forest.  The entire landscape has changed to the point where it is almost unrecognizable.  This happened literally overnight.  There is no telling when this wonderful state park will re-open.  Two rows of camp sites were completely wiped out.  Trees are still down everywhere. The funds to repair the damage are not forthcoming.  It is very politicized, what a shame. Nature is cruel but still so beautiful.

Garden Critter Activity

There are so many birds where I live.  Lots of trees in the area and a golf course nearby seem to contribute towards making it a great environment for bird life.  I have been trying to encourage some bluebirds to make their home in the nesting boxes I have provided, but they're being coy for the moment.  In the meantime, the squirrels don't have that problem and are passing the word around in the neighborhood that eating is good in my yard!

Early Spring in Charleston

Charleston is always so pretty in the Spring.  All the azaleas are in bloom (albeit this year a little prematurely), everyone is sneezing from the pollen and driving around in dirty cars since there is no point in getting them washed until the dust has settled.  This is a particularly beautiful driveway tucked away in West Ashley, but begging to be photographed.

 

Wandering in Old San Juan

This was our last full day here in Puerto Rico, and so I took the opportunity to just wander through the streets of old San Juan. It is a very historic, quaint city, with colorful buildings and friendly people.  It is also in need of much maintenance and beautiful buildings are sadly in decay.  I visited the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista, (pics below), and it needs a lot of restoration work.  I felt so bad for a local lady who was sitting quietly with her rosary, obviously praying, surrounded by jabbering selfie-stick waving tourists who had little awareness or respect for the sacred space they were invading. Heading home to Charleston tomorrow.

Puerto Rico Take Three

Today we enjoyed exploring old San Juan's historic Castillo San Felipe del Morro Fort and the Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis cemetery before arriving at Bacardi Rum's distillery for a special tour in the afternoon.  A really great day.

Puerto Rico Take Two

Today did not turn out quite the way we planned.  The weather was pretty nasty, squalls of rain and wind gusting up to 30+ mph, not a good day for outdoor activities.  One thing I had heard, and which turned out to be true for today, was that the weather changes by the minute, so in between the crud, we walked on the beach a little, and later decided to visit the El Yungue National Rain Forest, since it's usually raining there all the time anyway.  Here are a few photos from our day.

Puerto Rico Take One

So a month ago, I had no idea that I would be traveling to Puerto Rico now or any other time.  However, a friend was given a house on the beach for a week as a birthday gift and I was invited along for the ride. There was only one course of action at that point, book a flight!  This was our first day.  The house is on the beach and also has its own private pool - sweet.  Tomorrow we are scheduled to visit the El Yunque rain forest, and then old San Juan the next day, and Bicardi Rum later in the week (private, behind-the-scenes tour due to special contact). Stay tuned ...