Down the west coast we drove, until we reached our next destination: Boquerón, in the southwest corner of Puerto Rico. A small town with narrow roads, situated on the inside arc of Bahia de Boquerón. Here we'd stay at the Parador Boquemar. Because our first experience at a parador had been so nice, we were looking forward to this stay ... We drove through and around the center of town three times looking for it — how could we miss it in this small area?

Oh. Under all that scaffolding and plywood— there it was. Not exactly as I'd imagined it. Some extensive renovation was going on, but our room was unaffected. It was large, very bright, and yes, there was the hard, crunchy mattress. I felt right at home.

The playa Boquerón was a beautiful beach. We enjoyed walking and jogging along it. Seems this is a popular vacation getaway for Puerto Ricans themselves, i.e., those that live in cities like San Juan. They come for weekends and stay at small cement cottages that run the length of the beach. Extended families cook out, talk, laugh, and enjoy the water. It was one big beach party.

We finally "did" a beach ourselves when we went to El Combate, a few miles further south. How nice to sit on the sand, read a book, and be accosted by vendors selling home-made sweets.

After that timeout, we went south again, as far as we could go. The paved road ended and we continued on a very bumpy dirt road for several more miles. End of the line, then a gradual climb on foot up a hill to the Cabo Rojo lighthouse.

Then wonder. At this southwesternmost point of Puerto Rico. The view in all directions was spectacular. The ocean all shades of blue, from midnight to aqua. Very dramatic and scary cliffs. The old, elegant pastel-colored lighthouse. A shimmering bay with a white sand rim wedged inside the narrow peninsula. A beautiful place, and we had it to ourselves.