Christmas in Puerto Rico (page 2)
Tuesday Pete treated Scott, John, and I to a deep-sea fishing trip. We got up early and drove ~1 hour down the
shoreline to our chartered boat. The captain, Alec, and his first mate, Chichero,
took us about 20 miles off the coast, where the drop-off began and the ocean
became several hundred feet deep. We saw several BallyHoo (baitfish with long,
pointed lower jaws) skipping across the water with little flicks of their tails.
We also saw flying fish, soaring yards across the sea with help from their
fluttering, hummingbird-like wings. We caught 2 barracuda and lost a third
something-or-another (shark?).
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The next day we traveled to the northeast side of the island, first visiting
the rain forest, then boarding a large catamaran to take us to an island
housing a mangrove forest and bioluminescent bay. We ate dinner on the island,
then rode a school bus with the rest of the passengers to the bay. Then we all
boarded an electric boat which took us into the bay. It was about 8pm, so quite
dark out, and the stars and bay were gorgeous. Every fish that moved out of the
way of the boat cast a green streak through the water as the bioluminescent
organisms responded to the movement with light. Apparently they have both
luciferin and luciferase (like fireflies) which cause a chemical reaction and
produce light when they detect movement. We also swam in the bay, delighting at
the green glow our swimming motions caused. Then, when exiting the water, little
green beads of water raced down your body.
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The next two days were for relaxing. We read books, watched movies and the Mizzou football game (beat Steve Spurrier's Gamecocks), snorkeled, and visited a
gift shop in Aguadilla (near their town of Isabella). We also went on a couple runs up and
down the shoreline.
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New Years Eve--we're on our way back to Columbia to see Ken and our little
clown fish. We have plenty of shells to add to our aquarium, and some coral
as well. I believe we'll be joining Greg and Julia Mees for a little party, then
we'll have a couple days off to get settled back in to our routine. Thanks
so much Ann, Pete, John, and Scott for a wonderful time!