Opps, Fajardo is on the Eastern part of the Island.
I spent a few hours on Vieques. The problem there was the locals that had built homes on Naval land. They were squarters of a sort, but as I understand it, most of them lived there all of their lives, so there was a little imperialism on our part. When the target practice was going on there was always a concern that a civilian might be injured.
I never understood the ins and outs of the politics, but there seemed to be no resolution.
I found out a few years ago that Rosey had closed down, couln't believe it. Largest Naval base in the world, by land mass. The shooting gallary for Nato.
Nothing against the locals of PR, I ate meals with them and my neighbors, watched out for our abode when we were away. But one interesting story I tell is that I was at a civilian operated, on base restaurant, (loved their rice and red beans), and I happened to be in line behind some Spanish Sailors who were trying to order supper.
I had to act as translater between the Spanish and Puerto Ricans who could not communicate. My college Spanish was somewhere between Spain Spanish and PR Spanish. I liken PR Spanish to the English my friends from West Virginia speak. Barely understandable at times. One of my buddies in the Navy was a Columbian native and he did well with the language. If we went anywhere in the Publicos we took him along.
If I were going to have a second home, it would be in Puerto Rico, no doubt in my mind. Lots of fond memories. The mushrooms didn't hurt.
