Island: Mata la Gata (Kill the Cat)

Today was an excellent day! We (Christine and I) went to a YSA activity all the way to an island called Mata la Gata – in English, Kill the Cat. It is a lovely island. We had to drive 2 to 2 and a half hours to get to the ferry. (It is all the way on the other side of the island.)

The island we went to doesn't have a map or appear on maps... at least that I can find. It is just a little dot off the coast of La Parguera.... anyway. A lovely place!

The drive was interesting…. Puerto Ricans drive interestingly. For example, we were pulling out of McDonalds after a quick lunch and we are sitting waiting to pull out and make a left hand turn. The driver coming on the right hand side just stops in the middle of the street to let us in front of him and then the car on the left hand side follows suit. It was kind of weird to me—but people here are very courteous drivers… that is, until they get to the interstate. This is where they make up for the time they lost letting everyone go in front of them. J

We arrive to the port where we pay $5 (round trip fee!) for a ferry that will take us to the island Mata la Gata. This ferry was awesome! It was a pretty good size--- fit probably 80 people. (This activity was for all seminary and institute students in the whole country, though not all attended.) This was a glass bottom boat so we were able to see some of the plants/ coral/ etc on the ride over. The boat also had music going and some danced bachata. It was quite nice…. I kept thinking… is this real?!!?!?

i couldnt get a good pic.... but here is some seaweed! hehe..

view from the top:

We arrived to this beautiful island and the first thing I noticed was the “pool.” Literally—they call this a pool!

See??? A sign with the pool hours.....

It is all fenced off underneath so you don’t have to worry that much about sea creatures stinging/ biting you. For me, this is a huge relief. I am always so paranoid about stepping on a sea urchin (happened twice already) and getting stung but a jellyfish (happened once, a small one… felt like a bee sting!).

We were able to walk around the island. It was set up nicely for visitors. Very different from the other primitive island we were visiting…. This island even had bathrooms and picnic tables… and a “boardwalk” to go visit the other parts of the island that were a little mushier than the main part.

Leaving the island on the ferry, the institute director insisted we danced polka.... so now, I can finally say that I have danced polka on a boat. I am crossing things off my bucket list that I didn't know were there.

I think it is important to note that this was my first beach experience in PR that I did not come back with a burn! I finally got town the right amount of sunscreen/ reapplying… and I am building up a nice tan. I would say “Beat that, Mr. Sun” but I am truly afraid of his vengeance.

On our way back we stopped at Wendy’s a chatted/ hung out/ etc. Pretty good time—we were able to get to know some of the people that are going back more towards our general direction. We met a girl from Arecibo… where that giant telescope thingy is. We will be visiting her soon I hope! J We also found out that this FRIDAY there is a dance. I am pretty stoked because the last dance was so much fun! And now that I know a few more people, it should be even more fun and less awkward. Ok well, until next time! I think that my blogs will become a little less interesting because I WILL have class on Tuesday. And maybe I will actually get a homework assignment…. And/ or a textbook???

PS- the boredom of the hurricane mess caused me to watch like 5 movies, paint my nails at least 3 times and give myself purple highlights. Hehehe….