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Taking to the ocean with Rana

Humberto Granado Lugo, or “Rana” for short, is our Sanjuaneño for this edition. Rana takes his name from his Father, Granado who was also called Rana for short. When Umberto started his water taxi business on the front of the beach he thought it was fitting to call it “Rana Tours”.

Rana manning his kiosk on the beach in San Juan.

Rana was born here in SJdS fifty-five years ago. “As a child, it was very quiet, just a few houses and to see a vehicle was rare” he said.

His first job was a carpenter, making furniture, something he did for 4 years before taking to the sea or rather, under the sea. For twenty-five years Rana worked as a lobster diver, strapping on his tanks and going down at night for betwen two and a half to three hours every day. Why at night? Rana gives a big smile and says “The lobsters are sleepy at night and were easier to catch”

Rana has four pangas operating on the water. Typically he has three out taking tourists to the beaches and one works as a fishing boat. One of his employees, daughter Meylin, can be found on the weekends working out of the small white kiosk in front of Hotel Estrella. During the week, she is studying Business Administration and English.

The next stage of Rana’s business plan is to open a small hotel he is building at the side of his property. He wants to open up twelve rooms to start with, and maybe later as SJdS grows, add a second floor to the house and have twelve more. “Its a slow process, building bit by bit as we can” he said. “It will be a nice retirement job” he adds with a chuckle.

Rana plans to enter two pangas in this year’s tournament.

And what does he like to do to relax when he has some free time of his own? “I like to sit and chat with my friends at “El Globo”.

Toña or Victoria? “Toña” he replied, as though there was only one brand of beer.

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