Day 53: Explosions on Culebra

Okay, all you history buffs! This day is meant for YOU!!! 


This morning at school we headed to Flamenco Beach for our weekly sports day. Juan, a father of two students, is our talented instructor in the game of soccer, and I was paired with him for the event. After we had been there a little while, a man in a sort of uniform came over and informed us they would be detonating an explosive on one of the hills (small mountains) near us. 


You see, during the fight against Communism, the U.S. decided Culebra was a rather strategic spot based upon its location in the Caribbean, especially in relation to Cuba. Quite a bit of naval training took place here and in the course of that training many explosives were planted around the island for various reasons. As a matter of fact, the island currently forbids any type of excavation around Flamenco Beach due to the risk of detonation!


Recently the U.S. took action to remove the explosive devices from the island in order to make it safer. A company has been locating and then safely detonating each one in order for the island to be totally bomb-free. What a concept, huh??


The kids thought it was a pretty amazing experience when we felt the ground shake from the explosion and heard the deafening sound it made. They also thought it was cool to see the black smoke rising from where the land mine was, and then watch as it actually took the shape of a heart. That was weird...wish I had my camera!

The rest of the day was sort of non-descript, I guess, in comparison with the 8:30 detonation!


Thank You, God, that someone who has the power has made the call to remove the dangerous bombs from this little island. Thank You that we were able to witness one of those removals today, quite by accident!