Another Adventure:S/V "MEGERIN": A Change in Latitude

While we love our lifestyle living on a boat, recently we had been pretty homesick - actually "familysick". We needed to see everyone we love and care about, and, truth be told, a little break from the boating life sounded more than fine. Change is always good - it makes you appreciate what you have and keeps life from becoming stale. And at our ages now we try not to get in a rut. Soooo - we found a very good air fare from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Chicago and set off for the 3 hour sail from the Virgin Islands to Culebra, one of the Spanish Virgins 20 miles off the mainland of PR. We found Culebra unchanged from previous visits, which means it is still a somewhat shabby little place with lots of dogs and chickens running around. But the anchorage in Ensonada Honda is safe with a large number of boats anchored around us to watch over Megerin while we are gone. The cruising community is active and friendly and the dinghy dock easy to reach. We discovered a place called Zaco's Taco's with delicious fresh ingredients - yum. The ferry ride to the mainland is $1 for seniors, so off to San Juan and then the US for 2 weeks. When we return we will sail back to St. John and then the BVI's with only 40 days before our return June 1st for summer/fall in Sewickley.

View from our hotel in Old Town San Juan

Old San Juan

Narrow Cobblestone streets in Old San Juan

Our hotel the El Convento

Old San Juan

Narrow streets lead right to the water

A non-stop flight from San Juan took us to some chilly but mostly pretty weather in the Windy City.
Of course, we had no clothes but a trip to Macy's solved that problem for the week. We had some great meals, especially Joe's Crab House, and a new one - City Winery in the West Loop.

Definitely a change in latitude - and attitude - view from street in front of Megan's building in the West Loop of Chicago. We love this area as it has been gentrified the past few years and all the "in" restaurants are here.

This sweet silly dog-person named Audrey was waiting for us when we got to Chicago. She is so lucky to be adopted by Megan! What a life she leads with comfortable cushy surfaces to lie on, an abundance of toys, elevator rides up and down to her walks. Life is good for Audrey. We also like this city life - nice doormen, walk to numerous eating/drinking establishments, a 5 minute bus ride downtown for shopping - not too shabby for boat people.

Audrey thinks she should also be at the buffet.

Signs of Spring in Chicago

Amazing breakfast pizza in Chicago

The limited availability of good fresh food in the islands have made us appreciate these kinds of scenes in the USA. Amazing. This is the French Market in Chicago.

Couldn't resist one last picture.

After a week in Chicago we drove Megan's car to Pittsburgh (she left on a trip to Amsterdam and Italy),
and took Audrey with us to visit family and new additions to the Madson family - puppies Henry and Theo. Guess Erin and Mark just have to have a full house ! It was great to have some beautiful Spring days in Pittsburgh. Here are a few pics. Now back to the Caribbean we go !