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Vieques.(Vieques Island & Culebra Island)
- Article from:
- Puerto Rico Adventure Guide
- Article date:
- January 1, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Hunter Publishing, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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From the Taino word bieque, meaning "small island," Vieques is often referred to by mainland Puerto Ricans as la isla nena, or "little girl island." The term of endearment strikes a nostalgic chord among those who see in Vieques an innocence that Puerto Rico has in some senses lost. Just seven miles from eastern Puerto Rico, Vieques feels worlds apart. Wild horses are more common on the roads than cars. Viequenses still spend their days in an unhurried manner. For many Puerto Ricans, Vieques is a magical place where they spent--and continue to spend--childhood summer vacations, camping and picnicking on the beach with their families.
Vieques is also squarely in ...