From a distance on these flat, outer islands next to Tortuga, we spotted spikes or spires which almost looked like high rises. We couldn't imagine what we were observing. On closer approach it was Venezuelan powerboat towers anchored in Cayo Heraduro, the most popular anchorage in Tortuga. There was not a palm tree, or any other kind of tree for that matter, on this little sandspit in the Caribbean.

It was still fairly early on Friday afternoon, which we later discovered was the start of the Independence Day long weekend. We were planning on staying here but the navigation was a little scary and on the horizon was a steady stream of powerboats, racing toward us. It reminded me of the Indy 500 and continued for the rest of the afternoon. We learned later there were over 120 boats staying on this tiny little island for the weekend.

Thankfully we made the right choice not to stay and found a secluded little bay about 2 miles away. We could hear the steady thump of a base player late into the night and from a distance it looked like downtown Manhattan.