"QUEEN'S" BIRTHDAY WEEKEND .............................

Anywhere in the former BRITISH EMPIRE you will find the Queen's Birthday weekend is celebrated in June each year, but on the yacht "ARITA", where the "QUEEN of Florida and the Bahamas" has her residency, this celebration occurs on the weekend of the 18th December each year .............. This year is no exception ................From far and wide the inflatable dinghies began arriving to this surprise party, catching the 'Queen of Everything' totally unawares ................ Surprises are supposed to do that ................ Thirty or so cruiser-types arrived at the yacht in full ceremonial dress, (the yacht that is, not the cruiser types) ........... Most laden with food and drink .................And continued to partake of same, till the late hours of the evening, thereby leaving again with 'food and drink' ........... Certainly after dark, one dinghy looks pretty much the same as any other ............... Not so? .......You kind of lower yourself in and hope for the best ................

Suffice it to say that everyone must have had a great time, for the garbage bag in the morning was sizable and certainly extremely heavy ............Believe it or not, the wine bottles outnumbered the beer bottles ....................





What can I say, other than that we brought the party to new heights ................. Is that 'one-up-manship' or 'two-up-manship' or 'many-up-manship' ............



And slowly the sun set on the revelers as Laurie celebrated her birthday in grand style .............



And as the winter solstice approaches, there is a perfect moon over the quiet waters of Bahia Honda in CULEBRA P.R. ................ What a way to go to sleep before the birthday party continues ................. We travel early next morning to the mainland once more and on to SAN JUAN, the Capital, to meet with Captain Dwight (El Presidente) Rodriguez and Marjorie for more festivities and celebration and ultimately a bitter-sweet farewell .............But first, they took us again to the magical "ATLANTICO" seafood restaurant, and in the morning for a wonderful breakfast .............. And you will notice that 'Chocolate farewell' finale...........



So one more last look at San Juan and the ocean waves, before we drive back to FAJARDO at the eastern end of PUERTO RICO and the ferry ride to CULEBRA ................ Not that it is the end of the celebration .............. Not by any means, heck no,.......... We still have to do yet another birthday cake and dinner on the yacht 'KUHELA' with hosts Harry & Linda, who did a superb job organizing all the food and drink for the surprise party on ARITA .......... Was it really two days ago .................... Yes, the party continues ...............



Now Christmas in Puerto Rico may not always be celebrated in the more traditional format ................. Here it is December, and 86 degrees in the shade ...........We saw some trees for sale by the road side ................... Not your average Christmas tree either .............. The bright red and blue ones were already sold, as were the brilliant yellow ones, but these pastel ones remained ............... A little something to enhance your decor perhaps, or blend in with the furnishings ............... No more green, red and holly here ............... Rather decorate with some bougainvillea and frangipani for Christmas, and a bit of that wonderful COQUITO ..............Flavoured rum with coconut .........

Our Christmas will be very quiet ...............Rest and recuperation is sorely needed, now that this three-day celebration has come to an end ..... The "Queen" and I will be 'in absentia' ........