Student Reflection: Excursion to Flamenco Beach, Culebra

By Sofia Masciale-Walmer

I am writing this blog post while the sun sets in front of me on the tranquil island of St. John, but the subject of this post is approximately 39 miles away from my current location.
I must admit that the time aboard the Denis Sullivan could be grueling and cause for much anxiety and frustration for quite a few of us; however, there was one standout moment that made me forget somewhat about the stress of the ship and present the opportunity of a well-deserved break from the non-stop work--and that was a brief excursion to Flamenco Beach on Culebra, an island off of Puerto Rico.

To say it was the best excursion I have ever been on is an understatement--I think the fact that I could enjoy an active, but not extremely busy, beach location accompanied by the view of aquamarine waters while taking a rest from the ship says it all. I was advised not to bring my wallet, as I was under the impression that we were going to a quiet seaside location with no vendors. Alas, this was not the case, so the shops were off limits, and the beautiful shell-adorned jewelry and delicious drinks were out of reach, figuratively and literally. Complaining, however, always ruins a moment of fun, so I made the most of my time there despite my penniless state.

I absorbed the vibe of the beach and enjoyed my time in the water greatly. The water was the perfect temperature--like many of the beaches to which we have been on this trip, it was cool and refreshing, and an excellent relief from the hot sun. Many of us swam, and we were sure to lather ourselves with sunscreen to avoid the inescapable and brutal sun burns.
Not all of the notable sights on Culebra were located on the beach. There were a few cats strolling along the vendor area--one of which a fellow student named Ernesto--and it was not until later that we realized that we should not be petting them, despite their friendly nature. My Spanish knowledge, which has been greatly reduced since my freshman year of high school, came in handy only to a point, and I did not realize that "la vida silvestre" meant wildlife, and gatos (cats) were listed under the sign with those unfamiliar words. I felt a degree of guilt; I know that preserving land and respecting the animals and people that live there is important everywhere, especially in national parks and areas like Culebra. However, saying hello to the cats was very fun and endearing, and definitely a highlight of the excursion.

I also remember hearing a song over a speaker at one of the shop areas that unlocked a middle school memory. At that time, I had reached a somewhat-advanced level of Spanish; I had studied the language since preschool. Middle school Spanish was full of telenovelas and Spanish movies (El Chapulin Colorado…man!) and Spanish music--and, on occasion, the music would be paired with dancing. We learned how to perform basic steps of iconic Latin dances, such as the salsa and merengue, and created a rotation so that we could perform said steps with each other. One of the songs that we heard while dancing (and on repeat for many lessons) was “Vivir Mi Vida,” by the singer Marc Antony, and hearing it in public many years later was surreal but not too surprising at the same time. That song is up there with “Suavemente” and “Danza Kuduro” (the latter of which contains Portuguese) as one of the most iconic Spanish-language songs, and with the rise of Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny, who is set to perform at this year’s Super Bowl, I find it amazing how Spanish music transcends geographical and linguistic barriers. 

But of course, all good things must come to an end. It was very sad to leave the beautiful Culebra, and I will always hold it "cerca de mi corazon" (close to my heart). I know that I can always return another time, either with someone else, with whom I can share the love of the island, or on my own, to experience the magic of being a solo traveler. Who knows, maybe I will grow to love Culebra to the same extent that those characters in Mamma Mia! felt about Kalokairi (fictional--the actual name of the location is Skopelos).

The sun has officially set as I conclude this post, so I’ll sign off.