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The current weather in Culebra

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Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: David Penland (209.183.34.---)
Date:   02-28-08 10:44

I'm going to be down in Ponce, PR for about three months on an archeological assignment. I've never been to PR at all, so I'm not familiar with anything down there. My wife is going to be flying in from NC to see me once or twice, and I've been told that eating at Mamacita's in Culebra is not to be passed up (not to mention that the owner is an old friend of my boss). I want to travel from Ponce to the island and back for under $200-$300 for a romantic adventure while she's there. I've heard that you can dock at mamcita's, can you get a boat to take you over to it from somewhere else on the island ( I mean, that would be unforgetable, though seemingly difficult to arrange)? I also want to spend one night on Culebra and watch the sun come up over the beach. If anyone has specific information about what I need to do, who I need to call, what else I need to do while there, where to stay, what I need to not do there, or any other stuff that you might think is relevent, I will owe you my unfathomable gratitude for the rest of my life...

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Mort (---.tampabay.res.rr.com)
Date:   02-28-08 11:07

Hi David,

I think you might be building up Mamacita's into something a lot more than it is. It's on a small canal along with lots of other commercial buildings on both sides of the canal. It's smack in the middle of the town, only a couple blocks from the ferry dock. It has a small dock in the canal that people tie their dinghies to, but that is a very small portion of the customers.

It's a nice place with a bar and an outdoor (covered) eating area. But it's not worth making a special trip to the island for, in my opinion, and certainly not in the unforgettable category.

Now Flamenco Beach... THAT'S worth making a special trip for. If you're on an archaeological assignment, you'll be well stocked for outdoor activity. So why not just bring a tent and sleeping bag and stay at Flamenco Beach campground? It's only $20 per night and there's easy and cheap transportation into town ($2 each way).

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: David Penland (209.183.34.---)
Date:   02-28-08 12:03

Ok, ty for that input. The company I'm with is setting us up in hotels on the beach in either San Juan or Ponce, so we'll have no tents. I will visit the restaraunt, but it won't be the highlight of my trip. I'm kinda thinking waking up with an Eastern facing beachfront view would end up being my own personal memory of a lifetime. As far as what my wife's will be, who knows... Just need to plan a few things over two days that will help make that a reality.
DP

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Doug (---.aurorasys.com)
Date:   02-28-08 14:03

Most of the east facing "view" oriented lodgings overlook Ensenada Honda, the large bay. There are rentals on the east end of Culebra, but most are villas requiring a week's stay.

I enjoy Mamacita's for a number of reasons including the rumba circle on Saturday nights. Another place with equivalent food and a better view and breezes is the Dinghy Dock a short walk away. If the dining is to be a special occasion, consider Juanita Banana. Call ahead to learn what hours they are open. Also Barbara Rosa or Susie's have excellent food - but they are one person operations. You function as your own waiter. Also they do not have liquor licenses, so stop at El Eden or Colmada Milka for a bottle of wine to take with you.

One last suggestion. For authentic Puerto Rican criollo at great prices, try El Caobo, called Tina's by the locals.

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: MJ (---.prtc.net)
Date:   02-28-08 14:51

Doug, you are behind the times (how quickly/slowly they change). Karen is now waiting tables as well as taking orders at Susie's. We feel so posh!

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Doug (---.aurorasys.com)
Date:   02-28-08 15:04

More reason than ever to make it to Susie's soon!

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Mort (---.tampabay.res.rr.com)
Date:   02-28-08 16:48

David Penland wrote: "The company I'm with is setting us up in hotels on the beach in either San Juan or Ponce."

David, that doesn't match with my mental images of archaeological digs. Maybe I've watched too many movies? LOL!

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: David Penland (209.183.34.---)
Date:   02-28-08 20:21

You seem to be the confrontational one on this forum. You aren't by chance an ex-marine that served in North Korea before the Korean War, are you?

We're not sure exactly where we are going to end up. I was told by the Big Kahoonah that they're arranging that today or tomorrow. I was told several places they're looking at, and it was mentioned that some place that they already know of, on some beach, somewhere in PR, might be what will work best, but I would be told tomorrow, possibly. It's confusing enough to explain, when I don't have all of the facts yet. I do know it's a big job, so I don't believe they're gonna stick us on cots in a warehouse somewhere. They treat us very well when we're on the road.

Kinda wasn't what the thesis of my earlier post was about... but that's okay...I like to talk, I was just trying to keep my post small and as unconfusing as possible. Guess I received an 'F'...
DP

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: David Penland (209.183.34.---)
Date:   02-28-08 20:30

Sorry for seeming obstinate...lol...My daughter was grating on my nerves while I was reading your post. Kinda like eating an apple while smelling an onion.

Contractual Archeologists get taken care of pretty well, but you have to live out of your laptop, and have a VERY understanding wife. Good thing she still wants to keep me around this year, I'm blessed.

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Mort (---.tampabay.res.rr.com)
Date:   02-28-08 22:26

My sense of humor often fails miserably. But you got to admit, sometimes I'm funny. If you were to read every thread back to last October, there were at least TWO occasions when I was QUITE funny. Or was it MJ... I can never remember. I'm often confused. It's sad, really.

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: richard (---.hsd1.dc.comcast.net)
Date:   02-29-08 04:23

hey David - apples and onions are not exactly Carib but always good when roasted with pork or whatever the choice.

O/T if you check out the DC area career-wise, look at Robinson and/or Oehrlein -worked with them both, very cool. there are others, but it's as almost as bad as Europe, - 10 feet of subway and a new dig is required (ok, not quite that rigid)...

Mort, jeez, stop beating yourself up, it's just embarrassing. Be bold! did all those people writing crappy sit-coms in the mid 70's ever look back or have second thoughts? oddly, I'm scanning the Norman Fell/Suzanne Somers 3's Company while posting and sorta wishing it was the the Don Knotts period.

Mr. Limpid... Don's stellar and definitive role.

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: MJ (---.prtc.net)
Date:   02-29-08 05:48

Sounds like a good gig to me. I never thought of being a contractual Archeologist...I can barely spell it (and it would also make a wonderful PC job description for a hooker - I was partially trained in PR, I see these things).

More important, we want to know what you dig up! C'mon over and tell all.

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Doug (---.dsl.stlsmo.swbell.net)
Date:   02-29-08 09:28

I always wanted to visit the Hooker Training Academy in PR. Got lost in OSJ looking for it one evening after that pesky 6th Barrillito.

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: David Penland (209.183.34.---)
Date:   02-29-08 09:39

I've known what God put me here for since i was 5, and my major was archeology with a minor in paleoclimatology. Fascinating stuff. I've been submitting my resume for 3 years to finally get hired by someone, and did back in October. Over the years, I started a company building high end custom homes (750k+), and a corporation that manufacturers a patented, 100% guaranteed, ant-proof pet bowl. Figured out how to outsmart fire ants with no water or chemicals. I've got about 380 retailers. Ted Nugent owns 2. George Forman came into my store in Katy, TX and was talked into buying one, he then came back a few days later with all his boys named George ranting and raving about how he had sunk one directly into a fire ant mound and nothing got into the food. Bought every one in the store. I started that company in an effort to pay my bills while I get my Masters, but, alas, it hasn't been quite the million-dollar product it should be. Cost me everything over the years. I can't even watch 'American Inventor', it's makes me very upset seeing other's great ideas smacked down by corporate moguls. If I had another 50k again, lol, I would join the North American Pet Product Manufacturor's Association and start hitting trade shows. You could have the cure for ALL diseases, but if you can't buy the buyers for these big chains, they'll never let you in. For instance - 10k a day for someone that's certified to hand out your business cards at their show. 30k to eat breakfast the day before the show with the buyers. 8k a hole to play golf with the buyers the week before the show... See why we're stuck buying crap at Walmart from China yet? Cost too damn much to get in the door, unless you're already there. I'm just a little guy with the best product of this sort in the world. Frustrating. I know they have fire ants in PR, so I do plan on trying to hunt down a feed store or a pet store while I'm there to see if they are interested in purchasing any from me.

(FYI - We need to go into an ice age, because IF WE DON'T, AND THE EARTH'S TEMP. KEEPS GOING UP, the western antactic ice shelf and Greenland will melt. No big deal, right? The ocean will go up @46 ft. If both the poles melt, scientists believe the ocean will go up about 360 ft. Many scientists have done research that points to the possibility that this may happen in the next 20-100 yrs. Just thought I'd give y'all an even better reason to visit the Caribean before it's gone.)

It's been a long, strange road....
DP

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: David Penland (209.183.34.---)
Date:   02-29-08 09:43

Hey, just found out I'm heading down Sunday afternoon. Ya think three months there is enough to see the sites?
DP

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: David Penland (209.183.34.---)
Date:   02-29-08 10:01

One other thing, before I head down to run electric in the basement, as far as letting y'all know what we dig up...I don't think I can. This site is a touchy subject between the PR government and other Federal agencies. We've been informed of the possibilty of sabotage and various other reactions from some of the locals. It's not our fault, it's just a miscommunicating between involved agencies and what was told to us up in the US. Kinda don't think I can talk more about it than that. My job might be on the line if I did, and, I've been trying for a VERY LONG TIME to get to do this. Sorry. :-(.

I can, however talk about almost anything I've found in the states. For instance, a couple of us (years ago) found the mammoth site in Waco, TX. They're now up to 28 mammoths, and the site is now a national monument. They're currently building a pavilion and parking areas about 400 yards away from the site. While they were digging piers for the pavilion, they found teeth and ivory that came up with the auger. 400 yards awy from the site... Think about that for a minute. If there's mammoths between there and the site, it could very well end up being the largest mammoth bone bed in the world. Pretty neat, huh?
DP

gotta go, talk to y'all later...

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Doug (---.aurorasys.com)
Date:   02-29-08 10:22

Hey David,

Bring a few doggie dishes to Culebra. Fire ants have had me hoppin' around in my sandals a few times there.

Did you ever play on the Delores Canyon dig? I used to run into groups of beer drinking archaeologists every weekend in Durango. We might've met!

Doug

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: David Penland (209.183.34.---)
Date:   02-29-08 10:56

I'm gonna have a lot of stuff to bring down there, might be able to bring one dish. I do have free shipping for individual purchases. $15 for one and $25 for two. Blue, red, and beige. made from UV resistant, hypoallergenic, High Density Poly-ethylene, 100% guaranteed. I still own my first bowl from 11 years ago. It shines when you clean it up, and it's been outside the entire time. Snow, heat, rain, they don't break or fall apart like buckets left outside. You familiar with the stride commercials? That's what you can expect from one of these. And, I swear to you, they work. This is not a scam. I also get used for coasters under bird cage legs, for sweet feed for goats, deer, calves, colts, sheep, and for liquid feed for growing deer antlers. After you buy one and see for yourself, you'll never own another. I know, lol, I sound like a commercial after doing this for so long, but I've sold my house, all of my antiques, used all of my money, and TRUELY believe in them.

1-888-531-MOTE(6683) for an order and leave a message if I don't answer.

Nope, haven't worked CO yet. I did go on outward bound's alpine mountaineering for 21 days in that area a few years back. In JUNE it snowed every day with whiteout conditions, I got hypothermia 8 times, frostbite and lost the bottoms of my feet from a combined effort on the part of frostbite and junglerot brought on by falling into a snow covered stream, having my boots freeze solid, and not being able to get them dry over the course of several days. The one bad case of hypothermia took place in the middle of a blizzard on July 3rd. I woke up naked in a thermal blanket with 4 naked girls. Wow, the sun was shining and I had completely missed the helicopter lifeflighting out someone with nitrogen narcosis. They say my temperature got down to 86 degrees. I hate true cold and oatmeal now. You try to eat oatmeal 3 times a day, with no seasonings, for 3 weeks.... argh!!!
DP

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: David Penland (209.183.34.---)
Date:   02-29-08 11:03

Just got the confirmation on what hotel we're going to be at -
Belgica, in Ponce. Any idea if they have DSL, or cingular? Or, for that matter, cingular data, so that I can access the internet from my wireless card?
DP

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Mort (---.tampabay.res.rr.com)
Date:   02-29-08 19:27

David, you've led quite a life! I think that Culebra is just what you need. And we're glad that you are using this board for cheap therapy. Almost all of us have had our own disappointments here and there in life and march to our own drummers. Otherwise we'd be on yachts over in the islands to the east.

And nearly all of us have woken up naked in a thermal blanket with four naked girls. Well, not me unfortunately, but I'm unusual.

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: MJ (---.prtc.net)
Date:   03-01-08 14:43

"...have woken up naked in a thermal blanket with four naked girls..."

Huh...we used to call those sleep overs at the beach when I was in 7th grade...

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Mort (---.tampabay.res.rr.com)
Date:   03-01-08 22:01

I must have gone to the wrong school!

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: David Penland (209.183.34.---)
Date:   03-02-08 21:18

Well, we're here. We'll be starting work tomorrow. Wow! PR is more beautiful than I could've imagined. We hung out tonight and listened to the bands tonight at the plaza. Even spoke with a few locals about the gold they have found here. I like this place, except for the fact that there's no streetsigns telling you you're driving down a one way...

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: richard (---.hsd1.dc.comcast.net)
Date:   03-03-08 04:08

wow, someone's got the rose-colored glasses...

we've obviously led you down the "primrose" lane.

many apologies.

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Jeannie G3 (---.asm.bellsouth.net)
Date:   03-03-08 10:07

Hola David! Keep us posted on what you can about your taino dig. It is very interesting to me because the news said many artifacts were found, almost as much as in Tibes. There is a big controversy between the Corps of Engineers and the Institute of Culture of PR. I hope the artifacts stay on the island and are displayed. No telling where some of these objects might end up. On our trip to Spain this past December 2007, we saw some taino artifacts at the Maritime Museum in Madrid. Also, Ponce es Ponce y lo demas es parking! Happy travels! J

supergarcia3

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: julia Huff (199.198.220.---)
Date:   03-03-08 11:08

If you really want unforgetable experience--take a water taxi to Culebrita island, it is absolutely breathtaking, the ride, the beaches
Going to Culebra is not about the places---it is about the nature, stay on the boat as much as you can. Mamaciatas is just a place to stay

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: David Penland (209.183.34.---)
Date:   03-03-08 21:35

OK... I was told I could talk more about it today.

I evidently have to watch what I say because, IN MY OWN OPINION, the press here seems to operate like a communist state and prints whatever the heck they think will make the locals mad enough to get them to back some crazy agenda.... Kinda feels like East Germany before the wall came down around here.... Anyways, enough about MY OWN OPINION.....

We're working on filling in the largest ballcourt in PR. The Corp was gonna build this lake to stop Ponce from flooding, and so they sent the company I'm with in to do a quick once over to determine if there was anything they might destroy while building the dam, or anything that might be destroyed due to a frequent wet/dry action of the lake expanding during floods. From what I understand, there wasn't supposed to be much there. Well, we ended up finding an extremely important site. Ended up that the dam and lake were moved, instead of spending millions of dollars in lab and manhours to analyze the site properly. We did our job. We found something that surprised everyone. Maybe we weren't supposed to, you know how governmental agencies hate changing plans mid stream. But, as it has happened, the parties involved decided to rebury everything with a membrane covering several acres of the site and several feet of fill dirt covering that. We're preserving the site exactly the way it is now for future agencies to figure out what they're going to do. Like I said, we did our job... and as it happens they decided to move a lake, and save one of the most important sites in PR. I commend them for that. Wise choice. Companies like Walmart frequently bulldoze such sites without batting an eye. The press here has written several articles on how we've plowed through the site with heavy machinery and destroyed all kinds of artifacts in the process. There's even a powerpoint presentation on the internet using photos of ballcourt stones as evidence to this fact. lol. The stones are broken in the manner they are on pupose as part of the story that they tell about the afterlife. It's perfectly obvious to any archeologist that the stones were not broken in at LEAST several centuries. The press just keeps trying to stir up trouble here. What's their deal? What we have to watch out for is the locals that actually believe what the paper says about us, and the press, who may take anything I've said on here, twist it around, put a story on the news for ten minutes, Throw headlines across the papers bashing us again in some manner, and then move on to something else, like who won American Idol. Argh! I hate being blamed for something that had nothing to do with us. I feel like I'm gonna get shot any minute. We even have rotating armed guards in bulletproof vests, for real...

Anyway... The powers that be can figure out how to pay the millions that it will take to clean the site with brushes, if they want to. We'd stay here and excavate the site with toothbrushes for 60 years, if someone would actually pay for us to do that. We'd LOVE to be that careful with Puerto Rican sites, but no one here wants an AMERICAN to do that... Trust me WE'RE NOT WANTED! Tourists, cruise ships, sure... archeologists, ah, hell no.
We've even been accused of looting sites, by archeologists who ARE looting sites. How screwed up is it that they can actually get away with that here?

Well, it's going to be an interesting three months to say the least...

Can't wait to see the island though. I've heard the bioluminescent bay west of here is definitely worth seeing after dark. Culebra, Coffin Island, the sunset on the western shore, and the sunrise on the eastern shore, I will see all of them before I head home. This is a fantastic adventure and there are some of the nicest people I've ever met here. GREAT FOOD, too.
I ate a pan-fried sandwich tonight with what I thought was ketchup on it, but it turned out to be something similar to strawberries in taste. Kinda unexpected on a ham, turkey, swiss, pastrami sandwaich, but it was actually very tasty..
DP

Sorry if I have offended anyone with MY OPINIONS on here, I'm actually a pretty nice guy that doesn't really like most Americans enough to shot by someone who really hates them. So, go shoot someone else more deserving...

Maybe, hunt down one of the murderers of the 127 people who have been killed here since January 1st and give back something to this country? ... Ah, there I go again with my silly opinions...

Thank you, and... Good night!

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Jeannie G3 (---.asm.bellsouth.net)
Date:   03-03-08 23:02

The bioluminescent bay is in La Parguera located in the town of Lajas about 30 minutes from Ponce. If you go during the day there is great snorkeling you can do around the cays and at night tour the bay to see the bioluminiscence. Afterwards grab a sangria beverage "Cono" it's good when accompanied with some fried food. Coffin Island is called Caja de Muerto, great beach, some snorkeling too. You catch the ferry at La Guancha pier in Ponce. You might have to reserve in advance, I would ask before you plan going. There is nothing to eat or drink on Caja de Muerto so take everything with you, even drinking water. Do plan ahead to go to Culebra. Talk to the locals maybe you can catch a free ride to Fajardo. What you thought was ketchup then strawberries was probably guava sauce. Glad to know you enjoyed your sandwich a la plancha. Puertorrican food is among the best in the Caribbean and probably within the Americas, if I do say so myself.
We do love everyone that visits, you have to understand Americans are sometimes viewed as invaders, with the military being on the island and now off (remember Vieques), political turmoil, etc., many are trying to preserve what's left. I'm sure once the people of Ponce know you are just there to help, they will appreciate you. I have read many articles about the site you are at. Believe me, the press are sometimes the saving grace of the puertorriquenos. It is their informant, otherwise everything would have been covered up and no one would have known about these artifacts. Unfortunately, there are crimes, mostly drug related and of passion, so don't look at anyone's girlfriend funny or you might end up as 128. Enjoy as much as you can. By the way, PR big SUPER TUESDAY is this Sunday, March 9 as there are primary elections throughout the entire island. Enjoy! Happy travels! J

supergarcia3

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: kobes (---.ny5030.east.verizon.net)
Date:   03-03-08 23:37

I can't wait for the new Indiana Jones movie!...Almost any beach is romantic at sunset, Culebra's especially...If you want ONE night of romance you're going to have to do it all at the beach. Bring the wine and the cheese and fruit and and speakers for the ipod and a book of Byron love poems and a BIG blanket and pillows don't hurt and let the ocean and Caribbean atmosphere do the rest... But you have to leave the kid with grandma...You can eat out anywhere. There really isn't anything special about dining in Culebra... Good luck David.

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: MJ (---.prtc.net)
Date:   03-04-08 03:28

"There really isn't anything special about dining in Culebra..."

Probably some thousands of people who visit here would disagree (including world traveled people I know that come here and have raved about some of their dining experiences on Culebra)...along with hundreds more who live here and have actually eaten at a few other places in the world...Comparisons are a moot point, in my opinion. But then, I'm funny that way - I've even found romance off the beach!

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: richard (---.hsd1.dc.comcast.net)
Date:   03-04-08 03:40

hey DP, maybe that's a blog of your own - digs and finds that don't necessarily see the right time of day.

there have have been a lot of interesting stories lately on the issue of transplaced artifacts and less-than-scrupulous handlers up to and including the Met and Getty.

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: MJ (---.prtc.net)
Date:   03-04-08 07:00

I'm glad that you can see the beauty even as you are experiencing some of the not so beautiful, David.

Maybe the company needs to do some interactive stuff...get some school field trips happening maybe? It's the little things that sometimes make the difference between trust and suspicion, especially, as Richard points out...most everything has its good and bad side. Including members of the community in some way might help.

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: David Penland (209.183.34.---)
Date:   03-04-08 17:20

Y'all don't get me wrong, I think the majority of the people here appreciate what we're doing. The press and a handfull of activists seem to be stirring up the most trouble. The one desire of all archs. that I have met here from the US is to help PRicans to uncover the history that has been misplaced over time and help PR in any way they can in that manner. At least with us on this project, we just want to be allowed to be a part of it all. All of us view it as a priviledge to even be here, so much so that it's an hourly conversational topic. It's sort of like going to your mother in law's house for Christmas dinner, only to have several of her cousins scream at you, cuss at you, protest your presence, then walk out and disown the whole family, just because you have blue eyes and they have brown. Actually, that's a pretty good analagy.

Well, anyway, It's not my intention to take over this thread as a sort of blog. I love to talk to people about my passion of the beautiful things that The Lord has given all of us, and I suppose that's why this topic has ended up at the point it has. I will see all I can here while we're here. I'm not rich, at all, lol, so spending a fortune going to the regular tourist traps is definately not my style. At the cost of items here in the supermarkets, I'm not sure exactly how much I'm going to have to take shuttles to islands, or rent a car for when my wife comes down (who's PRican, by the way), but, I have gotten permission to go gold panning here. That may keep me a lil busy for the weekends. You all have an extensive knowledge of specific attractions, and I want to thank you for the information you have already given me, and anything that might be posted in the future. You just can't put a price on the shared knowledge of others, huh? I'm sure going to try to see Flemenco(did I spell that right,lol?) Beach, especially to watch the sea turtles in the moonlight. I'm going to try my best to get over to Coffin Island, seems someone today was telling me it was also a butterfly santuary. I've been told about a local pig picking every weekend that I need to attend on top of one of the mountains to the north of here. Mmmmm.... smoked pig. I plan to visit that one of these weekends too.
DP

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: richard (---.hsd1.dc.comcast.net)
Date:   03-04-08 18:25

development's going to happen in most places, so it is really important to document what was there before. I think most people recognize that. It's not the dig they're protesting, but what the dig means for the future of the site.

I've always wondered when/at what depth does one decide to stop digging?

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: David Penland (209.183.34.---)
Date:   03-04-08 22:10

What the dig means for the future of the site?

If we hadn't dug down to the depth we had, we wouldn't have known exactly how important the site was, and it would have been partially, if not totally destroyed by development aimed at saving lives from catostrophic landslides. The site can now be built into a MAJOR archeological park at some point in the future, which will bring an enormous amount of Federal, tourist, and local money into the economy and the people's lives of the surrounding area. This site will rival most of the sites on the island, and create construction jobs, which will help feed the families of hundreds of local employees. Of course, absolutely none of this would have happened if we hadn't dug down to find a reason NOT to destroy the site like so many others across PR.

What depth to stop digging?

Depends... We stopped when we discovered the first intact structural components. Anything past that point means several million dollars worth of lab and field work. That kind of money just isn't designated in a budget in anyone's coffers yet. Might take 30 years. On any site, one can always stop, cover up what has been excavated with some sort of membrane to keep things intact, cover it with a different kind of fill than what the area is made up of, and return later, when the funds are there to do it right.
Of course, over the long run, that costs tens of thousands (if not hundreds, even millions) of dollars more than it would if you just dug it all up while it's open. I've personally seen perfectly stratafied layers of occupation going down to a depth of somewhere around 30 to 35 feet, with a thick layer of charcoal on the bedrock in Texas. I even know of one site near Waco, TX called the Horn Rock Shelter (google it) where I think they are down to a depth of somewhere near 38 feet, with stuff still coming out of the bottom. They just kinda quit there. Archs. working there return every few years to dig some more and left their permanent SafeScaffolding in place for future returns. One of the oldest skeletons ever found in the Americas was found there. Archs. back near the turn of the century (in many instances) only dug a few feet down because they believed nothing else would be beneath that. I've seen acres upon acres of mounds dug during that time period, where the older deposits are there, but the people of that time period never even touched them. Who knows what's buried under sites that are supposedly dug up. In Central Texas, you can go down to a level of 1 to 2 meters and hit a caliche layer. Alot of people, even today, stop there. The artistic artifacts I've seen that come from below that layer are just mindboggeling. They are few and far between, but they ARE there. Ice Age stuff and beyond. The problem with artifacts beyond 10,000BC in the America's is that the farther you go back, the less likely that the land bridge theory is correct the way it is now presented. The big kahoonah's that decide what is our past begin to scream 'LIES,LIES,LIES, They're ALL LIES!' when that happens. Ironically, the oldest known skeleton in the America's was found on the very southern tip of South America and I believe dates to somewhere around 13,000 years ago (although the EXACT date escapes me right now due to some great downtown Ponce hospitality). There is one or two sites on the east coast of the US that scientists are trying to prove that they have evidence of occupation dating to 50,000 years ago. It's actually kinda compelling evidence, and I pray that they're able to prove it to be correct. There isn't any reason at all why there's not some form of civilization here in the America's dating back to 240,000 years or more. Of course, that's my own opinion, but at the very least, I keep MY eyes open to it. Ya know, and why not, right? In my world, that's what being an archeologist is all about. KEEPING AN OPEN MIND TO NEW THINGS...

The truth is out there...

In answer to your question?
Bedrock...lol... well, maybe just one or two buckets more than that...

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: richard (---.hsd1.dc.comcast.net)
Date:   03-05-08 05:03

oldest human remains in SA? that's very interesting.

I've only been to Rome once and St, Clemente near the Domus Aurae is not to be missed - several churches built over each other and beneath is a temple of Mithras and an early street. while we were gawking a school group was being led and some kid asked pointing down a corridor: "are you going to keep digging?"

the guide (bless her heart) laughed and said "this is Rome, we have to know when to stop or we'd dig forever."

wow this went way off-topic.

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Re: Headed to Mamacita's on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Jeannie G3 (---.asm.bellsouth.net)
Date:   03-05-08 10:46

Muchas gracias David for keeping us posted. The pig picking capital of Puerto Rico is Guavate. Go towards Cayey and get off exit #33, Guavate. Head up the mountain on road PR 184. It's 45 min. or less from Ponce. Maybe you will make enough friends so someone can take you, even to Fajardo and not have to invest in your own rental vehicle. Definitely go to Caja de Muertos (Coffin Island) it's so close to where you are now. Maybe you can make some more friends and someone can take you in their own private boat. You certainly make interesting conversation. That and a bottle of Bacardi will take you a long way. Que lindo es mi pais! Happy travels! J

supergarcia3

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