2008-12-25

Snow Christmas

  我借鹅毛下九重,万千姊妹喜相从。
  连绵昼夜堆三尺,寂寞方圆锁一冬。
  扰扰纷纷飘入巷,徐徐缀缀落成松。
  不辞装点冰凉界,只为湖山爱玉容。 (右录舟山七言律诗《雪花》)

詠雪:“才女”还是“柴女”
Christmas Snow in Seattle Christmas Snow in Seattle
  大雪封门了。跟着张打油同学写几句顺口溜:窗外风雪冻,屋里暖融融。今天养筋骨,明日踏青松。一首显不出水平,现炒现卖,再来首更通俗易懂的:中午十二点,我还没吃饭。外面下大雪,不知怎么办?
  打完了油,旁边这位平平仄仄地半句都没出口呢,却说我这“文采”是“柴火妞”的“柴”、不是真“才”。马上出口成章一首“三步诗”,驳斥这种“吃不着葡萄说葡萄甜”“躺着睡觉腰不疼”“才尽江郎”的嫉妒心理:自诩为才女,非是柴火妞;你还弗如我,怎地不知羞? ──Divertida LZ 2008.12.25

2008-12-19

No Work on Snow

下雪不上班:昨天今天因为下雪都没有上班。在家恶补前2周不在时的网上八卦。新闻不少。

2008-12-18

Caribbean Vacation

Family Vacation in Caribbean二零零八年•波多黎哥及南加勒比游记

Prologue 前言
  2008 was quite special for people around the world. It had both successful Olympic Games and earthquake disaster in China; it had stock and real estate market declined but also a new president elected. Whether it was a good or bad year for many families, mine was grateful to have a big vacation ahead at the end of the year.
  I had planned this vacation in May. In order to avoid from high season of Christmas, the trip was set in early December. It would take 4 nights in Puerto Rico and 7 days Princess cruise in South Caribbean. This was so exciting after a whole year hard working and typically a crazy Black Friday shopping.
  In the following ten posts, you would enjoy the Caribbean by a virtual vacation trip: the tropical islands, the deep blue ocean, the crystal clear water, various cuisines, the whitest and finest sands, the most colorful houses, and the beautiful local people as warm as the weather. Wherever you were in a snowing city or coldzy suburb, at work or in the bed, I wish this could bring you some summer breeze ...

  二零零八是奥运幸运年,又是腥风血雨的一年。且不说四川地震的天灾,被花儿街投资家们掌控的美国经济更是“王小二过年,一年不如一年”。美刀贬值,公司散伙,房市疲软,人心恐慌,401K的钱越来越少,商场里的价格是只升不降。一向很自信地认为教育领域在经济衰退时还会好过些――政府和公司都出钱为下岗人员提供再教育培训、好重新上岗。可是今年,整个州政府大大地亏损了一笔。从九月开始,州长天天通知州政府各部门减少开支,节约预算。我们学校也不例外,上周两个同事被裁,接下来可能还会有减员。
Caribbean 2008 - Puerto Rico and South Caribbean Cruise  虽然大家都很紧张自己的工作,但生活还是要继续,更何况早在五月份没头脑就安排了圣诞前的这个旅行:西雅图-扭腰-圣胡安,四天波多黎各和南加勒比的七天邮轮(每人$645 + 机票$481,度假村$498)。以前都是在过节的时候出行,后来发现放假前的票价便宜很多,我们又没有孩子上学的问题,可以说只要工作放得下,任何时候都能出发。经过没头脑的一番调查、研究,终于订下二零零八年的最后一个旅行。
  眼看假期在望,工作却忙得脱不开身。不高兴也天天加班加点,每个周末算上节日在家还要写程序、查资料。直到感恩节前夜的疯狂购物+朋友聚会,在家连看了几本闲书,才稍微放松了下来。这几天西雅图天天淅淅沥沥地下着小雨,有点冷,加上大环境的日益恶化,心里既有些忧郁,又有些对这次旅行的期盼。昨天上午还忙着开会,下午硬是提前离开了办公室,去“八戒的”租车行取了去机场的车,又买了两套潜水的眼镜和吸管。到了家,勤快的不高兴还收拾了草地洗了车又开始研究新买的相机。没头脑把行李重新整理打包、过磅称重,上闹钟,终于READY,整装待发了!
  以下分十个帖子全面介绍这十二天的旅程。也许你已经感觉到了那热情的阳光、轻柔的海风、银白的沙滩、婀娜的椰林,那就和我们一起来畅游加勒比的美丽风光吧!


Day 1 to Puerto Rico, Dec 3 – On the fly
波多黎哥第一天,12月3日:机场惊魂
  Scheduled on 4am but I got up at 3. Had breakfast and checked everything once more, we left at 5 for airport. It might sound crazy for many things of travelling by plane in today's US. But it proved soon that everything could happen before landed in destination. After checked in American Airline, the computer automatically printed boarding pass but it showed departure time 10:20 instead of 7:45 am as we booked to JFK for next connection to Puerto Rico. We luckily noticed it and asked quickly to chase back the luggage in time. Otherwise, our clothes would enjoy their own vacation in New York for this Christmas.
  早上和妈妈说好了四点起床,让爸爸和不高兴睡到四点半,因为女人的动作都比较慢啦。不知是兴奋还是怎么回事,不到两点半没头脑就醒了,本想多躺会儿,但是在床上烙了半天饼,还是睡不着,干脆三点就起来了。
  五点准时离开家,快到机场时,先拐到99号边上加点油,然后还车。本以为五块钱够了,结果加完油眼见指针没到位,又折腾到另一家加了一块多钱,这才放心地开到机场还车。收车的老大爷给了个收据,一看,多了十块钱。虽然我常常没头脑,但对钱还是算得比较清楚的,不占别人便宜,但也不能给别人当大头。一理论,老大爷才发现给的是别人的收据。大冬天的,还不到六点,这老大爷的工作也不容易啊。
  废话少说,四个人背着六个小包:两个相机,笔记本,手包,背包,和一个装吃的的提包。到了检票处,本来昨天已经从网络上打印了登机牌,但因为要托运两件大行李,还是重新打印了一下。服务员帮着把行李托运了,我们高高兴兴准备去安检。不高兴突然说,你不是说我们是07:45的飞机吗,为什么10:20才登机?喔特!没头脑一查,果然是时间不对!难道晚点呀?俺看特比离佛一特!!怎么没任何通知啊!赶紧回去一问,真的是去纽约的飞机推迟了,电脑自动就印了新的时间,可他们是才知道,正踩着桌子挂告示呢。那我们怎么办?肯定要赶不上下一班转机了。接待我们的空大爷说没问题,马上能调整到其他航班。可我们的两个大包五分钟前已经上了传送带,正傻了呼叽地往扭腰跑呢!空大爷说,你们等着换票,我这就去追!
  I could not believe that such modern system had no knowledge or database to understand some passengers' need to catch up next flight. How came it was so smart to change departure time automatically but without giving passengers a simple warning for such delay? An experienced traveler could not trust in any systems, from using credit cards, hotel reservation, booking tickets, boarding pass, to flight connection and carrying baggage. And everyone should prepare for one's own food and drink, even a pillow and blanket in case being dropped at nowhere due to delay, weather, or any situation.
  旁边一位挺有风度的空大姐帮我们查找去波多黎各的航班。不高兴悄悄说,她以前可能是空姐吧,看起来和其他的大嫂们不太一样。嘿,同志哥,没看俺忙着吗,居然乘机看别的女人!瞧俺怎么收拾你LATER!——手续一会就办好了,这次是九点从西雅图飞达拉斯,晚上十点到圣胡安,比预先订的还早了二十分钟。虽然要在西雅图多等俩小时,总比错过航班强。在焦急的等待中,空大爷也把我们托运的行李找回来了。重新贴转运单,好了,总算可以去安检了。
  办手续的时候我说,幸亏我们到机场稍晚了些。如果不是加油耽搁、早十分钟到了,行李托运走了,甚至进了安检再发现时间不对,估计都来不及换航班了。最寸的是,我们刚刚托运了行李,服务员才接到通知说那趟飞机晚点。等我们重新办手续时,航班晚点的牌子才贴出来。不高兴很感慨,现在出门也太不保险了,只要还没上飞机,一切均有可能发生。就像爸妈从韩国转机的航班也是临时改的,要不是我一再查看确认,差点耽误他们回来。真是可恶啊,都确定了N次机票了,最后这一哆嗦还是吓俺家不高兴一身白毛汗,俺爹俺娘也急得不行,什么事儿啊!
  过安检,一切正常。笔记本和大包里的相机都要拿出来,脱衣脱鞋脱帽......到了候机厅,不着急了。没头脑开始把笔记本拿出来乱敲了一气儿,记下这第一天早上的惊险;爸爸拿出本杂志开始看;不高兴教妈妈怎么用单反相机。教了半天,妈妈说,我还是不知道怎么用呀。不高兴很不高兴但也没脾气,只好靠着没头脑睡觉。
Blog at SeaTac Wi-Fi at SeaTac Int'l Airport
  没头脑呢,写完了准备去逛逛,用挣来的星巴克卡买杯摩卡。说到这个卡,是不高兴参加他们公司摄影展得的。荣誉归他,奖品给我;合理分配,各得其所。:)
  以为这回安安稳稳地上了飞机,就艾威兴一丝饭了。谁知接下来发生的事,是不高兴白毛汗的升级版,俺爹俺娘和俺也来了一身白毛汗――吓的。

达拉斯机场二次惊魂
  If you thought SeaTac had given us enough surprise at beginning of the trip, you should wait to see how we were frightened by this flight when it was landing in Dallas, our rearranged concourse to Puerto Rico. It was 2:30 and the flight was 20 minutes earlier in the air of Dallas. We were all glad there would be plenty of time for the next flight at 3:05 to our destination. As we landed, the whole airport seemed belonging to American Airline only, not seeing any other signs than AA logos. Our plane ran for a while but stopped in the middle of the runway. It was still far from the gate. And the pilot broadcast to passengers to be patient and wait.
  等了近一个半小时,全家上了去达拉斯的1050号航班。这趟飞机是九点出发,02:50到达拉斯,从达拉斯到圣胡安的飞机03:05登机。没头脑一贯一手抓大局,一手管细节,这回也不例外,登机前又跑到服务台问我们是否有足够的时间换乘下一航班,被告知“挠扑不乐母”。心终于放下来了。上了飞机,大家开始昏睡,都累了。
  迷迷糊糊听到机长广播,还有二十分钟就到圣胡安了。提前了二十分钟,听了很高兴。本来怕转机行李来不及,这回多了二十分钟,一定是没问题了。
  The time passed quickly and we started to worry about next connection again. Although I had confirmed with American Airline's service counter at SeaTac and they told me “no problem” for the next flight, I still had doubt if the luggage would be with us on the same flight. I thought I had not travelled enough to understand how each airline handled such situation, or I would not take any extra baggage next time. Eventually, we fled out of the gate at 2:45 and rushed directly to another gate. Now this time we were in time because the flight to Puerto Rico was delayed too.
  飞机下了跑道,像个大轿车在跑道上开呀开呀,就是不停。妈妈说,为什么飞机不往空港开,而是越来越远了?可不是,这是怎么回事?这时机长又通知了,现在没有空出来的位置,我们要稍等一下。等就等吧,反正我们也是早到了。等啊等啊,不对啊,已经都02:40了,就算是准时到也该下机了。除了我们的飞机,旁边也有一架停着准备进停机坪。好像达拉斯是美洲航空的大本营,看到好多AA的飞机。妈妈在旁边等不及了,开始念叨说赶不上下一班飞机了。我想人应该是没问题的,登机口离的不远,我们跑两步就到了,但托运的行李怎么办?如果行李赶不上的话,我们就惨了。西雅图是冬天,四十多度,出来穿的都比较多。而波多离哥有七八十度,带的夏天的衣服都在托运的行李里,如果出点纰漏,我们到了终点,没衣服换,这不要命吗!想到这里,白毛汗开始往外冒。
  又等了五分钟。这五分钟简直比五个小时还难熬。脑子里一幕一幕过着如果怎么样,那该怎么样的假设。还在担心紧张生气的同时,让妈妈照了一张掉在达拉斯停机坪上的两个行李的照片。不知是哪个倒霉的旅行者的。这两个箱子就那么孤零零地躺在地上,半天才有个人开车来把它们扔到车上。对机场的工作人员的工作态度有了点看法。
  终于,我们的飞机开始挪动了。02:45,我们才下飞机了。一挤出人群,没头脑健步如飞,在前面狂走,后面紧跟着不高兴。爸爸走的也比较快,妈妈一路小跑跟着。到了下一个登机口,远远地看到有很多人在那里等着,好像还没有开始登机。一问,果然是晚点了。太好了!――真是不厚道啊,没办法,不是什么时候都能不自私的。现在有时间了,可以好好看看达拉斯机场。我们是第一次来,看着一切都很新鲜――德州风情一下子浓了起来:信息处的工作人员都戴着牛仔帽,快餐店里的装饰和西雅图的不一样。
Skyline - Dallas Int'l Airport Popeyes in Dallas airport
  等了三十分钟,上了飞机。四个小时漫长的煎熬和打盹,到达圣胡安国际机场。一股温暖的湿气扑面而来,零零星星下了点雨。都是我们的错,把西雅图的天气带来了。
  After 4 hours, we landed in San Juan. It was 9:40. The airport was like in the States except the air was warm and wet – now we smelled the vacation. After we rented a car in Carolina, it was already 11pm and we still had one-hour drive to the resort. Per the map, we had to take Highway 3 to east, find the U-shape Highway 66, and then back to No.3. Even though I questioned the need to Hwy 66 but it was better to follow the direction in the evening. Later we found out that there was $3.00 toll on Hwy 66 but it would skip many traffic lights. If there was no hurry and in the midnight of a weekday, Hwy 3 is slower but not bad at all. However at that night, saving 10 minutes was worth for a tired family.
  这里看着和在美国本土一样,领行李出机场都很顺利。到马路边等去租车的中巴,大概五分钟就来了一趟。到了租车行,柜台服务人员吓唬我,要买车的保险,每天二十美元。我坚持说我的运通卡上保的已经够了,她说那如果出事,除了卡上保的金额,我们就会让你再出一千美刀。听了这话,我心里也是一哆嗦,但又一想,也不是第一次出门租车了,老革命了,还是相信自己一把。就坚持着没买保险。这回是一个灰色的起亚。比较小,窗户还是要自己摇的那种,不过,价钱在那儿摆着,不能什么都占全了不是?!
  Driving and driving, in a dark evening, everything seemed curious and mysterious. The familiar store names proved to us that we were still in US territory. But a sudden short tropical shower reminded us the weather we left behind in Seattle and a new rainforest adventure was waiting for us to explorer. The humidity and roadside village buildings were somehow similar to southern cities in China.
  平时租车还是以廉价为主,人生地不熟的,小车虽不宽敞,但很灵活。有时在「八戒的」或「逗乐儿」也能选到较好的车。这次「恩特不来事儿」的车座位还行,后箱稍显小了点儿。凑合吧。晚上十一点多,开车朝着度假村开去。一出车行,只见高速上的标志都是西班牙文。没头脑的西班牙语可忘的差不多了,除了Salida(傻立达――俺一个朋友的名字:)是出口的意思,其他的都是会发音,不明白什么意思。好在有不高兴这个活GPS,在他的一路指引下,我们顺利地到达了度假村,登记,入住。
  As we drove into the resort area, the singing of frogs and unnamed creatures was like welcome and happiness in a paradise. The moist became much cooler and such quietness in peaceful noises accompanied us for the first night in Caribbean.

Dec 04 – Rio Mar and Rainforest

Day 2 in Puerto Rico, Dec 4 – Rio Mar and Rainforest
波多黎哥第二天,12月4日,度假村和热带雨林

  Puerto Rico, sand, beach, coco
  As warm as weather, rhythm, mambo, tango
  As vivid as from painter, avocado and mango
  You can enjoy a day, rest on a pillow
  You can get away, like ocean breeze blow
  After a sudden shower, skyline rainbow
  It's an ancient mountain echo
  From thousands years ago

  The first morning in Rio Mar Beach Resort had not waken us up fully to enjoy the vacation. In order to have a low rate for staying in this 4-star hotel, we were obligated to attend a meeting with time-share sales. This was not a big deal. I got up early to book the time. One interesting thing at the service counter was the guy told me his name was "Jesus" and wrote down his number in case we needed any help.
Hotel Pond in Rio Mar Beach Resort Fish in The Pond
  当初订这个度假村的时候就有一个条款,如果想少花钱住到这样条件的酒店,就必须参加两个小时的度假村讲座。这种讲座我们参加的多了,在墨西哥还挣了几百块钱,最知道怎么对付那些销售人员。想想反正到了一个地方,总是要花时间了解一下当地的情况,就没觉得是个负担。像我们这样住五天四晚,如果是相当条件的酒店,至少八百多美金,而这里,我们只付$498。
  一大早没头脑就起来去看什么时候需要去听讲座。服务台的小伙子帮我们订了中午11点45的。另外一个领班名叫Jesus(基督?),热情地给我介绍可以去哪儿玩,还把他的电话留给我,说他今天在这里工作到下午三点,如果有问题给他打电话。
  仔细看看地图,我们住的地方还真不错,在波多离哥的东西角,离机场,圣胡安老城,热带雨林和发光的海都不远。回到房间,做出了如下安排:今天上午在酒店里逛逛,中午听讲座,下午去老城;明天去热带雨林和附近的沙滩;后天环岛游。周日就要上邮轮了,不打算安排什么大的活动。爸爸妈妈一致同意这个计划。不高兴没空理我,他忙着给我们楼下照相呢。我们楼下有一个池塘,里面游着漂亮的花雨,慢悠悠的乌龟和懒洋洋晒太阳的蜥蜴。酒店这里属于热带雨林的一部分,所以一会儿晴,一会儿雨。这里的绿和西雅图的绿不一样,华盛顿州号称常青州,那里树木高大茂盛,波多黎哥儿是沁入心里的绿。按不高兴的话讲,这里像极了中国的南方城市。
Rio Mar Beach Resort
  There were couple hours before the meeting. We wandered on the beach. It was quite windy and did not take us long to come back into the hotel. The hotel used to be Westin. Now it belonged to Wyndham, which was managing our WorldMark resorts and also trying to sell us time-share here. This hotel resort was big. Last night we drove 5 minutes from the gate to the parking. There were golf course and a group of other recreation areas in a whole big garden. The hotel building was facing the beach. In the building, there were also 3~4 big conference rooms and/or ball rooms.

  吃点东西,换上夏天的衣服,全家出门开始正式的游玩了。只见家里四个人拿了三个相机,没见过这么爱好摄影的家庭:)。
Windy beach at Rio Mar
  先到后面的沙滩上走走。沙子软极了,踩在上面特舒服。虽然早上风有点大,但一点都不冷。不高兴开始工作,他最喜欢的事情之一就是摄影。这回他可以大施拳脚了。我们在这边照相,那边干活的工人看着我们笑。我现在脸皮也厚了,有人看着也照样搔首弄姿,摆出POSE。
Pose in front of Rio Mar
  到了讲座的时间,老爹老娘拿着相机去附近转转,没头脑和不高兴留下来应战。第一次见识这样的讲座还有些好奇,后来就发现都是一个套路。先是一个经验比较少的销售人员,大谈这个公司的品牌,总之是全球规模,世界第一。然后开始探问是否喜欢旅游(那不是废话吗,不喜欢旅游我们跑这儿来干吗呀?),每年旅游几次,去过哪里,最想去的地方是哪里等等。总之是为了帮助您论证和计算出三十年旅游要花多少钱(住酒店)。算出来的数字(加上通货膨胀)一定是一个让人吃惊的大数目,起码大几万甚至上十万。中间还得穿插着一些感情交流,从家庭到人生不一而足。这次这位小弟还给我们打印了一首挺感人的诗。他还说了些我很赞同的话,大意是每次旅游留下的是回忆,家庭的欢聚是没有什么可以补偿的等等。我们也饶有兴趣地追问着他的背景呀,哪里好玩呀之类的,反正是聊天,要不然多累呀?
  接下来当然是这个公司的计划怎样帮助您省钱了。而且必须是当天购买,才有多少多少的折扣。目前所有公司都鼓吹类似的算法,无论是算点算分,目的就是让你购买一个从一两万至七八万不等的一个贵宾旅游计划,可以在他们的酒店每年享用两个星期至一个月的假期。而且号称这些点数可以折换成任何其他从机票租车到桑拿按摩一系列服务,还能和臭名昭著的阿西哎公司交换酒店或邮轮。又是录像又是彩页,少不了总结一句说只要你理解了这个计划的好处,如果还不买的话,要么是没钱,要么是不爱旅游,要么按这位先生的话就是不喜欢他。多诚恳呀,都磨了我们两个小时了。然后搬出他的经理(一个更干练的)、和他的经理的经理(一个最能吹的)。就是副总裁出来也没用,除非他的度假村开到了非洲,还得给我一个网上能比的价格,否则我只能说不。理由:不适合我们的玩儿法!
El Portal Rain Forest Center Bamboo tree along the road
  After the meeting, it started raining. We changed plan and headed to the rain forest. It was cloudy and late. We tried to find a fall but were lost in trails in the forest. After we went back to a lighthouse, it was already closed. We actually did not see much in the park except paying $10 at the information to get a map.
  一出来,老爹老娘都等急了。没办法,天下没有免费的好事。一看天也阴了,还下着雨,干脆去热带雨林吧。后来这几天才意识到我们住的地方的优势,就是南下北上都方便。这热带雨林离着最近,开车一二十分钟就到了。左拐右拐,看见一个公园的标志就右转进去了。门口有个收钱的亭子,一算人数要九美元。卖票的大姐还很认真地问我们是不是要进去。大家的语言都有限,也没明白她什么意思。交了钱一直开车到停车场,走过一个桥,桥上的牌子说明两边都是面包果树,觉得挺新鲜。到一个建筑前面,看到布告上说明年门票涨价,还庆幸了一番。拿了一张免费的地图,和酒店给的也没什么区别。一看去山上的瀑布还要出公园,而且时间不早了,晚上六点就要封园了。赶紧上车找路。
Tropical tree at roadside Map in the information center
  等开车绕上盘山公路,我们才渐渐意识到门票和这热带雨林好像没什么关系,整个儿耽误功夫去买一张度假村已经给的免费地图去了。这全岛的路况都不咋样,和夏威夷没法比,路标不清,坷坷坎坎颠得厉害。不高兴对新买的防震镜头还不很熟悉,照了一路,回家一看没挑出一两张。找了一路,在雨林里走了半里地也没见到瀑布,再回到一个塔楼,门也关了,只好照个到此一游。在路边看到好多野姜,可是都被人切走了,只剩了根茎。热带的花草植物也很有特色,还有一片一片的竹林,可老爸说这个季节还没有竹笋。我们也不懂这么多,总的说来没看到什么特别的东西。
In Rainforest - A Big Leaf Bread Fruits Wild Ginger
  六点钟热带雨林就要关门,我们也就打道回府了。真是应了那句话“不来很遗憾,来了更遗憾”。

  在路边看到一个去荧光海湾的广告牌,赶紧抄下电话号码。

  回来的路上,一辆警车闪着灯不急不徐地一直跟着我们。因为看不到限速标识,也不知道应该开快点还是慢点儿,只好找个岔路拐出去,给警车让路。看别人的博客介绍说,这里的警车有事儿没事儿就开着警灯。一般人开车倒是不快,可是换道超车都没有打方向灯的习惯。多窄的路大家都是很温柔地向前挤,很有点像在第三世界发展中国家。好在这些动作不算太强悍霸道。这不,我们在三号公路口等着换灯的时候,因为没有白线,可能停得不够靠前。后面来了两位,一左一右蹭着车边儿就摆在我们前方的路口了。
  On our way back, we experienced with driving in Puerto Rico: a police car could flash its top light without reason; local drivers did not bother give any signal before changing lane and cutting into your front; luckily, most people did not drive very fast, even if there is no sign of speed limit; and if they squeezed you at the traffic light, they behaved gently and mildly (like these two in the picture).
Two cars jamed up before the traffic light

Dec 05 – San Juan and Bio Bay

Day 3 in Puerto Rico, Dec 5 – San Juan and Bio Bay
波多黎哥第三天,12月5日,圣胡安老城;泛舟荧光海湾

  In today's trip, we drove to the Old Town of San Juan. The traffic was bad (so that one should count the time in the plan). We did not enter into the castle but mostly wandered on the street. It was interesting to see a lot of colorful houses and old buildings. And it was the only city I saw many fashion stores side by side with those local small ancient shops. You could find some candies and souvenirs that no where can buy.
  The evening program was kayaking in Bio Bay. We could not take any pictures and I found limited words to describe such bioluminescent phenomenon. It was so much fun. There were web sites about the tour, such as www.biobay.com, explaining how the mysterioius light was created and how you experience "fireflies in the sea". But you'd better see it by yourself -- and you can forget about everything else in this blog.

圣胡安老城
  看来不高兴昨天在雨林不够尽兴,天没亮就起床到沙滩上找日出去了。可惜方向不对,只拍到一点朝霞。
Sunrise Rio Mar Sunrise at Rio Mar Beach Resort
  回来后又在阳台上比划了几张。这时候鱼儿也出来了,还有几只乌龟。
View from the balcony In the pond
  早饭后,就向圣胡安老城出发。从住的地方到老城三十多分钟就到了。来的那晚是从Carolina上66号收费公路再转回三号路到的酒店,今天特意只走三号公里。反正我们也不着急,用不着跑收费高速。另外,也想考察一下民情民风。一路下来,路上还好,限速不算低(五十迈),加上大家都开的比限速高,所以感觉还好。和收费路不同的是这段三号上的红绿灯很多,开开停停的。没头脑见路标就照,说是如果我们走丢了,至少还可以通过照的路标来看我们走过的路。多聪明的孩子啊,不专心看地图还找理由来对付。

  到了老城,东拐西拐就不知道跑哪儿去了,没看到游客信息中心,拿不到市区地图。我说反正这个地方也不大,我们就干脆把车存了开始玩吧。本想省钱把车像别人那样停到马路边,一个是没人家那个技术,另外毕竟没给租的车买保险,心里还是有点不踏实。于是找了个古堡旁边的地下车库把车存下了。

  从车库出来,就见到了这个中心雕塑。太阳很大,对付来两张。

  古堡在对面,我们懒得进去,就在周围转了转。这是我今年九月回国在北京买的裙子,大摆。买的时候特喜欢,但回来后觉得平时没什么机会穿。这回可以在这里感受一下风吹的感觉。


  接下来我们向城区走去。发现这里好多名牌店,像是GUESS,TOMMY,PUMA什么的。马路都是石头子的,我没见过,觉得很新鲜。不时的一阵雨,打湿了小巷间的石阶,泛着青色,愈发古镇情调。
Starbuck in Old San Juan New waitress in Starbuck
  天特别热,一抬头看到了星巴克,太高兴了,赶紧进去一人来一杯!旁边是个小型超市,买了些水果。不高兴在里面还买了两包糖果,说是很像小时候吃的椰子糖和水果冻。

  下午三点多,我们准备回度假村,稍事休息,准备晚上的独木舟行动。回去的路上,三位乘客都睡着了,司机靠喝水,掐腿等等自虐方式坚守岗位。一不留神,上了收费高速66号。其实,走66就对了,花点钱省时间,是划算的。再说,没头脑还想练习硬币投篮——还别说,没头脑后来真是学到了真髓。快到收费口的时候,只见没头脑减速,停车,摇窗(没辙,图便宜租的不带电动窗户的车),扔钱,摇窗,加速,走人,活脱脱一个浅色皮肤的波多黎各老司机形象。

泛舟荧光海湾
  话说当初没头脑做旅游前准备的时候就知道世界上五个荧光海湾,有三个都在波多黎各。别问我另外两个在哪儿。去看这个发光的海不是那么容易的——去那里的路不好找;我们没划过独木舟;又都不会游泳;看海的价格也不便宜(每人四十五美金)。但毕竟全世界才五个地方啊!!!不管怎么样,这个海我们一定是要看的!
  自己开车确实不太好找,快到海边了还绕了一个圈。要不是问了一个当地人,真的不知道一个入口就在路边。进去一看,是一个很开阔的海滨公园。看到沿岸有几个码头都停了装着皮划艇的卡车。正要询问,一个帅哥走过来,竟然开口用中文问是不是来租船的,让我们着实惊奇了半晌。知道我们是约好了别的公司,就很礼貌地指了方向。看来这里游客多,会说中文都不算稀奇。
  去之前,没头脑磨碎了嘴皮子才说服不高兴不要带他的新相机去。不高兴开始有点不高兴,但到了那里知道他的相机根本拍不出来,又听说电视台的专业摄影来折腾了好几天也没能拍出荧光的效果,才算勉强停止了对没头脑的唠叨。带了个小相机,随便掐两张,就是个意思呗。
  我们每人穿了件救生衣,没头脑和不高兴一船,爸爸妈妈和导游一船。导游简单地教我们大家怎么划,大家就张牙舞爪地练开了。这架势怎么像红卫兵呢?还是孙悟空的金箍棒?
Paddle in Bio Bay Bio Bay
  七点多,等夜黑风高,我们十几条小舟和别的公司的几十条船向着目的地出发了。没头脑和不高兴落在最后,因为实在是没玩过独木舟,一路上跌跌撞撞,不是左倾,就是右斜,要不就是和前面的船亲密接触。合着不是自家的船,撞了也不心疼。为了能顺利地赶上前面的大部队,最后不高兴干脆剥夺了没头脑的划船权,由他一人控制前进的方向和速度。还别说,他一人划的还不错。我乐得撩撩发光的水,看看没有星星的天,思绪不知飞到了哪里。在这一刻,只有身边的这个人,和离的不远的父母。这不是幸福,啥子是幸福......
  划了二十多分钟,到了海湾的中心。四围无尽的漆黑,若不是远处城市的灯火和时不时从云中露出的月亮,就像是迷入了深渊,连嘈杂的人声都吞噬了。非得拼命地划桨去惊动一片片浪花,才能挣脱出黑暗的笼罩。可是力气就快用完了,沉重的寂静又拥裹了上来。终于,导游把所有的船系在一起,开始给我们讲这个发光的海的故事。享受着水波的轻扬,我是懒得去细听任何解说了。一边玩水,一边看着鱼儿跳跃带起来的一朵朵晶荧。真是太美了,我喜欢这个海,这个水,这荧光。
  回航的时候,真有些恋恋不舍。如此奇景,不知何时才能再来了。据说有人用瓶子装了水回去,但那就变成失去了魔法的凡物,再也不能重现灵光。这微弱的荧光,好像思绪的火花,一眨眼都会被从心里抹去。一个不能带走、不能拍照的异象,只在头脑中留藏的记忆,谁又知道它不是一个虚无的梦境?
  只有奋力地划桨,才感觉我们渺小的存在;船边的浪花,仿佛能照亮我们心里的航线。又划了三十分钟回到岸边,每个人的衣服都湿透了。只是运动过多,倒也不觉着凉。好在我早有准备,到车里把衣服一换,就往度假村开。完美的一天结束了,伴着疲劳和珍贵的记忆进入了梦乡。
  P.S. See other people's pictures and a link about "How to photogragh bioluminescent bay". (附笔:在网上找到荧光海的照片以及和摄影有关的链接。)
Kayaking in Bio Bay Bio Bay in Vieques