I came across this video the other day and it resonated with me, so I thought I’d include it in this journal. I do hope that you enjoy it. For more information about Matt Harding, click here. If you enjoy the video, you can find an HD version here.

More posts from me are forthcoming – I’ve been super busy flying, promoting air safety, and launching my photography business – not to mention the most important job of all: being a Dad. I’ll have some great photos from the Islands, including a gorgeous wedding ceremony in Fajardo, PR and some fall pictures from my home in Virginia. Until then, please consider dancing wherever you are just for the fun of it. Even better, find a few crazies to dance with you!

This post contains an assortment of photos taken primarily in Old San Juan this week. There is no particular focus or topic – just a splash of pics that depict various things around the Old City. This one is a favorite of mine; I love the colors and textures of various buildings throughout the islands.

This shot could be from almost anywhere, but it’s from the facade of a bank building in Old San Juan. There is an interesting mix of architectural styles, ranging from classical to modern. Every corner is filled with history, providing plenty of eye candy and brain food for the adventurer.

San Cristobal at sunset. Lots of great light in this one.

Along the top of the city walls in Old San Juan. I wonder what this looked like 200 years ago…

A streetlight in front of La Princesa, which was once the most feared prison in all of the Caribbean. These days it houses the Puerto Rico Tourism office.

Here is a daytime shot of the fountain at La Princesa. Those of you who have been follownig this journal from the beginning will recall this fountain from my collection of night shots in Old San Juan.

Here’s another aspect of the fountain at La Princesa. The fountain itself is a wonderful representaiton of the history of Puerto Rico from an artistic point of view.

Some flowers near the fountain caught my eye. As usual, I have no idea what plant this is. If you DO know, please post a comment!

I must have taken about 30 shots of the water looking west from the fountain. I tried everything I could think of to capture the beautiful sparkling waters and dynamic sky, but I sorta failed. This was the best shot I could make, and it really doesn’t capture the scene, sadly.

A passing frigate bird, in the middle of a molt, came close enough to get a quick shot. These birds have a large wingspan – I’m guessing 5 feet or more.

The southwestern end of El Morro is featured in this shot. There is a walkway under the turret which follows the outside wall all the way around the fort. It’s a great walk, with lots of sea and spray – not to mention the dozens of feral cats which roam the rocks and control the rat population.

I caught Brenna in a moment of zen as she looked out over the bay and San Juan Harbor. Moments later I was growled at when she realized I was taking photos which included her.

The next few shots, including this one, were taken by Brenna using my D300. She has a great eye and an interest in photography…

A great frame by Brenna. There is just enough of a soft focus to make this photo something other than the usual flower shot.

Of course, she can also shoot crisp and clear images as well. This tree is rather well known – you can find it along the Ave. La Princesa.

Here’s one from the pubic gardens outside of the fortress walls.

Brenna did a bit of street photography while we wandered around. Good stuff!

We decided to take a horse drawn carriage around the outside of the Old City. Our young groom was a wealth of dates and happenings as we passed the various landmarks along cobblestone streets.

Our view from the back seat.

The last photo in this mashup – the French Navy was in port, which drew a number of comments from passers-by. We didn’t spot any french sailors – itlooked as though the ship was getting ready to make way, judging by the activity on the dock.

We recently received some really bad news in San Juan regarding American Airlines and American Eagle: AMR Corporation announced a huge reduction in flying in San Juan which will result in the loss of hundreds of jobs. When I started this journal, I intended to catalog my first year in the islands. That ambition may end early, as I have some dire decisions to make: AA891, my ride to work, has been canceled as of September 3rd. So now I have no way to get to work.

Here’s what the press is saying:

(Bloomberg) — American Airlines parent AMR Corp. will record costs of $1.27 billion to reduce the value of parked aircraft and pay severance to workers who lose their jobs as it cuts flights in response to record fuel costs.

AMR expects to eliminate about 8 percent of its total workforce, or 6,840 jobs, when it reduces capacity in the fourth quarter, the company told workers at American and American Eagle in a message today. The job cuts would be the most among those announced this year by U.S. carriers.

American, the world’s largest airline, and other U.S. carriers are cutting flights and jobs as a near doubling of fuel prices over the past year erodes profits. Before today, the biggest airlines had said they would cut 11,850 jobs and park 431 aircraft later this year.

“Everybody is going to be taking these charges to adjust the accounting,” Ray Neidl, an analyst with Calyon Securities in New York, said in an interview. “It’s going to be big.”

AMR will have a non-cash charge of about $1.2 billion in the second quarter to reduce the value of Boeing Co. MD-80s and Embraer 135 regional jets, the company said in a U.S. regulatory filing today. Employee-related costs will be $70 million.

Paring Flights

The Fort Worth, Texas-based airline plans to ground as many as 120 aircraft, end service to eight airports and reduce flights from its hubs to blunt the impact of fuel costs, which the Air Transport Association said may push U.S. carriers to record losses of $13 billion this year.

“Once you decide to ground planes, you either need to sell them or park them,” Daniel Kasper, managing director of airline consulting firm LECG Corp., said in an interview. “If you sell them, you’ll know for certain how little they’re worth. Demand for these planes isn’t robust.”

The non-cash expense related to the aircraft doesn’t affect liquidity “or our ability to pay our bills,” Chief Executive Officer Gerard Arpey told employees in an e-mail.

“The fact that some of our company’s key assets have declined significantly in value underscores, in stark terms, the seriousness of the challenge we — along the with rest of the airline industry — face as we navigate our way through an environment of skyrocketing fuel costs and a slowing economy,” Arpey said.

Capacity Reductions

U.S. capacity reductions will be 12 percent at American and 11 percent at Eagle, and will amount to about 8 percent of AMR’s global total, which includes international service. Eagle operates smaller aircraft to ferry passengers to American’s hub airports. The company will be “reducing our workforce by an amount consistent with our capacity reduction,” Arpey said.

American will eliminate as many as 900 flight attendant jobs, or about 4.7 percent, effective Aug. 31, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants said today. American previously said management and support staff would be cut by 8 percent, without providing a number.

The airline also said today it reached agreements with the attendants union and the Transport Workers Union for early retirement offers. Members of the unions must be 50 or older, have worked for American at least 15 years and not be on furlough to qualify. The airline also is offering leaves of absence and part-time work to help reduce involuntary layoffs.

Job cuts at the Transport Workers, which represents mechanics and six other work groups, haven’t been quantified.

Most airline labor agreements contain furlough provisions that guarantee employees a chance to return to jobs before new workers are hired. The recall rights last for five years. Furloughed workers can file for unemployment and are eligible for employee rates on medical insurance premiums.

The pilots union at American Eagle last week reached an agreement with AMR that may save at least 100 jobs. The plan includes leaves of absence, part-time work and the transfer of 10 aircraft back to Eagle from Trans States Airlines.

AMR fell 23 cents, or 4.7 percent, today to $4.62 in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The stock has fallen 67 percent this year.

Ahhhh… Welcome to Canouan! Canouan is one of the Grenadine Islands belonging to St Vincent, measuring just 3.5 miles by 1.25 miles. The capitol village (indeed, its only village!), Charlestown, is a pleasant community of island descendants and seasonal workers. A barrier reef runs along the Atlantic side of the dry Canouan Island. It is outlined with rounded hills beneath the “Maho”, 900-foot tall Mount Royal which is recorded as the highest point on the island. Two bays, Glossy and Friendship, serve to mark the northern and southern sides of the island.

Today we were surprised to learn (while preparing to depart for Canouan from St. Lucia) that the newly refurbished airport terminal and runway were officially entering service. Due to the official ceremony and ensuing celebration, we had to hold at 2000 feet over the island before landing while spectators were ushered from the apron. This afforded us fantastic views of the island, however, the airplane’s windows were too dirty to shoot through so I don’t have any aerials.

On arrival at the Tamarind Beach Hotel, Mary and I enjoyed a bottle of our favorite champagne to celebrate Mother’s Day. We had a lovely time talking together, watching the sunset, and relaxing in the pink and orange hues of twilight.

Beautiful Canouan Island is located 25 miles south of St. Vincent, which, from 1871 to 1979 was part of the British colony of the Windward Islands. In 1979, the island became independent with a secure democratic government based upon the British system. Local lore recants several stories about the Arawak indians, who arrived in bunker canoes. These new residents brought fire-burners, plants and animals, basic farming and fishing skills with them. Legends tell of relative peace for 1500 years until a tribe of fierce fighters, known as the Caribs, invaded – wiping out the Arawak villages.

More than 200 years after Columbus laid eyes on St. Vincent, Europeans established a permanent settlement on Canouan. Its mountainous and heavily forested geography allowed the Caribs to defend against European settlement longer than on almost any other island in the Caribbean. After the Caribs were defeated, they joined slaves who had escaped repression on Barbados by following the trade winds westward to St. Vincent, as well as those who had survived shipwrecks near St. Vincent and Bequia.

The mixed descendants of the island warriors and the freed Africans (who became known as the Black Caribs) proved to be fierce opponents to settlement efforts in the region. Fearing domination by the increasing waves of settlers, Carib leaders allowed a French settlement on the island in 1719. In 1748, the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (which ended the Austrian War of Succession) officially declared the islands impartial to Britain and France.

In 1990 an investment group known as Canouan Resort Development (CRD), Limited, signed a 99-year lease agreement with the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for the construction and operation of an international residential resort and club on Canouan Island.

After an initial period when the construction of the resort had been contracted to third parties, in 1994 CRD Ltd. created the fully owned subsidiary CCA Limited to act as general contractor. Since then, CRD Ltd. has presided over the construction of the Canouan International Airport (CIW), Tamarind Beach Hotel and Yacht Club (TBH), the Canouan Island Raffles Resort, numerous general purpose and luxury homes and villas, the CCA Warehouse and the Canouan Police Station. They pretty much own the island…

The next morning, we were treated to a luxurious ride to the airport. The island’s many hills and valleys made for a bit of excitement at times, and the views were beautiful. The rough roads made shooting from the car impossible, however.

I spotted this island resident and couldn’t resist a shot. There are numerous tropical flora and fauna here – I tried shooting a few of the birds, but they were just too quick for me. They only stay in a spot for a second or two and then flit away to the next spot.

If you’ve been following my posts for any length of time, you know that I just can’t resist tropical flower shots. These flowers were nestled in the top of a tree and were visited every few seconds by various birds. The buds are large – about the size of your hand.

Another gratuitous flower shot. I just love em!

And finally, on arrival at the field, we cleared security and prepared for departure to St. Lucia. Here’s a shot of Mary reviewing and signing our numerous pages of official paperwork prior to departure. Each page has to be signed with various entries since these are all international flights. In the background is the flight attendant jumpseat for the #1 position, and the main entry door.

Canouan is a rare and unexpected treat for the modern traveler. The curious financial arrangement between private industry and government doesn’t appear to hamper the island in any tangible way, and it is well worth a visit. Like Nevis, this is a spot where utter tranquility is not only possible, it is practically required during your visit.

The Map:

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Tonight finds me back on Nevis, my favorite Caribbean island, and I decided to explore a different part of the island at sunset. In the 5 months that I have been flying to Nevis, I’ve only seen the top of Nevis Peak once. Today she was hiding as usual behind her cloudtop guardians, which made for fantastic photos as the twilight deepened.

My old friends the Green Monkeys. They were about 100 yards off and being quite shy, so I wasn’t able to score a nice close-up. I can’t say for sure, but I think that this may have been the same family group that I photographed on my previous visit, since they were in the same location. I stayed for about 20 minutes hoping for another close up in the trees, and they did oblige me by coming quite close, but the thicket we were in was too dense to shoot through. Soon enough, we parted ways and I continued my walk.

The foothills of Nevis Peak are quite steep in places. Someday, maybe on a personal visit, I hope to climb the mountain. To my friend Marty: whatever it is that we have to do to get you here, let’s do it! You’ll love this place!

I made a roughly 3 mile circuit, and on the road back to the hotel I saw a couple of mongooses! I wasn’t quick enough with the camera to get a clear photo, but it was awesome seeing them. Mongooses were introduced to the island in 1870 to ‘help combat the rodent population’. This was my first sighting of wild mongoose, so I was stoked.

Here is the entrance to our hotel, the Mount Nevis Estate, which I covered in a recent post. I love this place and I highly recommend the resort. For more information, see the hotel website.

Once inside the gate I walked the grounds, enjoying the beautiful view of St. Kitts across the channel. I bumped into the food and beverage manager and enjoyed a lovely talk, leaving the dining room library with a basket of freshly made pumpkin and banana breads for the morning. Honestly, if you value serenity and the natural world you’ll love Nevis. I don’t know of a more beautiful spot on earth!

The Map:

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This morning finds me in Anguilla at the end of a hellish 4 day trip. The flights themselves were pleasant enough; there were just too many of them. In any event, I made coffee at the crack of dawn and enjoyed the early light out on the apartment patio. This particular hotel offers suites with kitchens, which is nice. Sadly, we are only in the hotel for 8 hours – not enough time to cook!

SO, the facts: Anguilla was first settled by Amerindian tribes who migrated from South America. The earliest Amerindian artifacts found on Anguilla have been dated to around 1300 BC, and remains of settlements date from 600 AD. The date of European discovery is uncertain: some sources claim that Columbus sighted the island in 1493, while others state that the island was first discovered by the French in 1564 or 1565. The name Anguilla derives from the word for “eel” in any of various Romance languages (modern Spanish: anguila; French: anguille; Italian: anguilla), probably chosen because of the island’s eel-like shape.

Anguilla was first colonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts, beginning in 1650. Other early arrivals included Europeans from Antigua and Barbados. It is likely that some of these early Europeans brought enslaved Africans with them. Historians confirm that African slaves lived in the region in the early seventeenth century. For example, Africans from Senegal lived in St. Christopher (today St. Kitts) in 1626. By 1672 a slave depot existed on the island of Nevis, serving the Leeward Islands. While the time of African arrival in Anguilla is difficult to place precisely, archive evidence indicates a substantial African presence (at least 100) on the island by 1683.

The island was administered by England, and later the United Kingdom, until the early nineteenth century when – against the wishes of the inhabitants – it was incorporated into a single British dependency along with Saint Kitts and Nevis. After two rebellions in 1967 and 1969 and brief period as a self-declared independent republic headed by Ronald Webster, British rule was fully restored in 1969. Anguilla became a separate British dependency (now termed a British overseas territory) in 1980.

Here is the bigger view of the patio. I wish I could have lounged here for an hour or so reading the paper, chatting with Mary perhaps… but alas, the needs of the airline come first.

Next week: Nevis revisited, and an island you’ve never heard of!

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Just a quick post today from home, before I head back to the islands for another trip and -breaking news- a paid photo session doing portraiture!

Gathered here is a very quickly composed shot from my kitchen. As many of you know, I love to cook for fun and relaxation. Among my kitchen essentials are the burr grinder and milk frother for espresso, my lovely knives, my olive oil, and my pilón from the Dominican Republic. I did a little research about the pilón, since it is such a staple of latin cooking, and here is what I learned.

It turns out that the pilón was first used by the Taíno Indians. Conquistador historians like Fray Iñigo Abbad, and Fernández de Oviedo mention having seen the Indians use giant size vases to mash different things. The ancient pilones were much like the pilones of today. Same shaped but quite rustic. Taínos would step one foot on the base to prevent it from tipping over when hit with the giant macetas. Taínos used large hollowed out tree trunks to form waist high pilones. The hole was approximately 25 inches in diameter – of course they often varied in size. Some were small hand-held pilones but still larger than the ones we use today. Since Taínos used them – pilones were found in all the Caribbean Islands. The hole for the pilón was burned out and carved using simple rustic tools. Giant macetas were carved out of trees also.

The final product depended on the talents of the carver. Some were very rustic, most were just plain practical. Some were well finished smooth and shiny on the outside. Some were pieces of art with elaborate carvings but I’ve never seen any of those myself. Pilones found in Haiti tend to be more elaborately decorated, even today. Taínos used the pilón and maceta to mash corn, spices, medicinal herbs and other things. Ingredients to make body paint were also processed in a pilón. With the introduction of the coffee bean into our culture, the pilón took an even more prominent place in our history.

Mine was hand made, hand picked, and even hand delivered and I wouldn’t part from it without a fight.

Just aorund the corner from my kitchen is the patio. During the temperate months, this is a great place to enjoy the hummingbirds, butterflies, and a refreshing iced beverage. I’ve become a fan of the Mojito… hey, if it was good enough for Hemingway, it is certainly good enough for me.

Springtime is flower time, and despite our precious meadow being flattened and made into town houses there are still wildflowers here and there. My flower knowledge is even weaker than my bird skills, so I’ll leave the identification bit to more competent hands.

Another gratuitous flower shot. They are just too pretty NOT to take pictures of, ya know?

In previous posts, I have mentioned the grand old fort of Puerto Rico: El Morro. So I’ll skip the historical review of this majestic citadel and dive straight into the photos. As I entered the stronghold, the royal coat of arms and pillars immediately transported me to the early colonial period.

These iconic garitas have been widely recognized as symbolic of Puerto Rico. I can imagine standing watch through the night, looking out across the campfires of the settlement, ships masts standing tall in the harbor under the tropical moon.

The 9 pounders (and larger cannon) on the site are silent now, but they were deadly in their time. This one peers across San Juan Bay looking for marauders. Archaeological efforts are ongoing here, which was really nice to see.

I’d actually trade in my current job for a slot working as a guard at El Morro in the 18th century. This office space may not have all of the comforts of 21st century living, but I’d do it just the same. I’ll bet the rum tasted better back then…

There are 6 levels within El Morro, and many of the interior buildings are reasonably well preserved. There are stores room, powder magazines, stables, barracks, dining halls, and all of the other structures one would expect to see in a small city.

OK, just one more garita. The ones overlooking the ocean are best of all!

I wasn’t the only one taking pictures today… here’s my daughter with her point and shoot taking some very well-composed shots of her own.

El Morro is the kind of place that transports you to days long past – you just can’t help it! The narrow cobblestoned corridors, the fantastic views, and the nooks and crannies make this a fun visit for just about anyone.

Located deep within Old San Juan on Calle de San Francisco there exists a small park – a secret garden known only to locals. While checking out the nearby La Forteleza, be sure to seek out this sanctuary, hidden behind rising palms on a residential street. You’ll have to look closely, or you’ll walk right by…

Many are the treasures you’ll find! There are bakeries nearby, which make an impromptu picnic a pleasant possibility. My dear Mary, who has lived in San Juan for over 20 years, had never heard of this secret garden. Needless to say, she was surprised!

Today we set out to hit the corners of Puerto Rico, visiting four beaches: Playa de Ponce, Luquillo, Cabo Rojo, and Pinones. Each beach has its own distinctive flavor, from pebble-strewn to talcum powder sand and clear water.

Our first stop was Playa de Ponce, which is on the arid southern shore of Puerto Rico. The beach sand, shown above, isn’t actually sandy. It is a collection of roughly crushed coral and seashells which make for rather uncomfortable beach lounging, but the opportunity to collect sea shells is quite good.

This was the view from my rather painful spot on the beach wall. Why painful, you ask? I dropped a 10 pound glass jar of sugar on my right foot this morning while making (what else?) my famous french toast, fracturing the next-to-last toe. Rather than go to the hospital and ruin the day for everyone, I hobbled along and shot my D300 from where ever I found myself plopped.

Ponce is well worth a visit, even if the beach isn’t ‘all that’. Ponce, the second largest city in Puerto Rico outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named after Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the grandson of Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León. Ponce is often referred to as La Perla del Sur (The Pearl of the South) and La Ciudad Señorial de Puerto Rico (Majestic city of Puerto Rico).

Regular readers of this journal will recognize my good friend Jesus, who was our chauffeur throughout the day. Jesus is a true friend – he drove us 500 miles and we enjoyed his company immensely. Jesus brought his dog Roger along for the ride, who was well behaved all through our long day.

My daughter collected a few shells from the beach in Ponce. This photo was finished with a washed out look, and I really like the result.

Tucked away in the southwest corner of the island is the community of Cabo Rojo. There is a national seashore here, administered by the National Park Service. It is said that Cabo Rojo obtained its name from the considerable amount of minerals found in its coasts that made the waters look reddish. Cabo is the Spanish word for tip and analogous to the English word Cape in this context. The word rojo, translates to red. According to legend, the name was given by Christopher Columbus himself, although this is highly unlikely. The first church, founded in 1783, was called San José. The present-day main catholic church is called San Miguel Arcángel located in the town’s square.

Located at the southwestern tip of the island of Puerto Rico, Los Morrillos Lighthouse was constructed in 1882 in order to guide passing ships through the southeast entrance from the Caribbean Sea through the treacherous Mona Passage into the Atlantic Ocean. The lighthouse is located over a while lime cliff which is surrounded by salt water lagoons and marshes. The cliffs surrounding the lighthouse drop over 200 feet into the ocean.

The lighthouse’s architecture is distinguished by its simplicity, with minimal decoration and an unelaborated cornice repeated through the structure. The illuminating apparatus is housed in a cast-iron, copper and glass lantern. The lenticular lens was manufactured by the French firm Sautter, Lemonnier and Company.

Originally, the lighthouse was manned by two keepers and an engineer, who lived on the grounds with their families. In 1967 the lighthouse was renovated and its operation is currently completely automated. The structure itself has been abandoned for decades, although recently the local government as well as local civic groups, such as Caborrojeños Pro Salud y Ambiente, are pushing towards turning the old lighthouse keeper’s house into a museum. The project was taken over by the municipality, an action that lost U.S. Federal government funds that had been assigned for it. The municipality took over the renovations, which, according to critics, has irrevocably damaged the historical significance of the internal structure.

Here is the view down the 200 foot cliffs, over the red rocks below, and into the foaming sea. Cabo Rojo is just beautiful and well worth the drive across Puerto Rico.

The third beach on our tour was in Luquillo, Puerto Rico. Luquillo is known as “La Capital del Sol” (sun capital) and “La Riviera de Puerto Rico” (Puerto Rico’s riviera). Luquillo was founded in 1797 by Cristóbal Guzmán. The town was named after the Indian cacique Loquillo, who died a few years after the last Indian rebellion in 1513.

Here is my daughter relaxing in the gentle waves at Playa de Luquillo. A huge plantation of majestic coconut palms lining the beach shades more than a mile of fine sand. It is one of the most popular public beaches in the San Juan area. It offers cafeterias, public bathrooms with showers, access for disabled people, and an ample parking lot. This is one of the public beaches most frequented by the locals.

Finally, we visited Pinones, Puerto Rico. Vacia Talega beach is part of the long strip of beach comprising the ‘Pinones Nature Reserve’ just east of the San Juan Airport on Road 187. It is a very scenic way to drive east from San Juan.

Allthough it’s very beautiful this area is notorious for theft and you should never be on the beach alone nor park your car in a deserted area. If there are others at the beach, you’ll be fine here. Remember thieves can spot tourists by their rental cars and are tempted to open the trunk to see what cameras and wallets you’ve left for them! Despite the environmental challenges here, the beach is just beautiful.

There is a reef just offshore which provides a spectacular aerial show when the surf is up. I estimated these breaks at 30 to 40 feet high – awesome!

The beach at Pinones is a mixture of coarse sand and coral. Although this area bears caution by tourists, the views are amazing and there are numerous fast food vendors nearby selling alcapurrias and other local treats. Alcapurria is a dish from Puerto Rico made from a mixture of ground plantains and yautia, filled with ground beef or crab meat and deep fried in vegetable oil. Many Puerto Ricans enjoy this dish and are often found eating it at the beach with friends.

My daughter, shown relaxing in Pinones. This photo was finished with an acid wash treatment which I rather like. Shortly after this photo was taken we decided to hit the nearby stands where we scored some freshly made fried goods for the ride home. Mission accomplished!

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