First-time Visitors Find Charm in Old San Juan

By GERRY and PAMELA BARKER
North Palm Beach Life
June 9, 2019

SAN JUAN_ It's always exciting to visit a new port for the first time. While we had landed in Puerto Rico once before, it was only to change planes. As the first stop on our recent cruise on MSC Seaside, we were looking forward to getting a real taste of this island, an unicorporated terrtory of the United States.

The stop here was brief -- seven hours or so -- so we had done some homework on what to see and do, Since the historic district of Old San Juan surrounded the cruise terminal, we opted to do our own walking tour. 

As we prepared to dock, guests are greeted with a dramatic view of Castillo San Felipe del Morro ("the promontory"), part of the fortifications that ring the harbor. Built by the Spanish to guard San Juan Bay, construction dates back to 1539. One can just imagine the awe 17th Century sailors must have felt as they approached the city.

After getting off the ship, we heaed up the cobblestone streets to visit one of the forts -- Castillo San Cristobal, a national historic site that was a closer walk than El Morro.

Pam is ready to find the shops

 Street signage pointed the way
​ to Castillo San Cristobal... Of course,
​signs beg for a photo op, right?

We passed a public park (left) and went past colorful buildings lining narrow streets.

Photos by North Palm Beach Life

This was the largest fort built by the Spanish in the New World

Left and above is one of the fort's sentry boxes, or guerites, where soliders kept a wary eye for invaders. Today it affords magnificent views instead of serving as a lookout for pirates.

After leaving the fort, we headed for the other side of Old San Juan

The view of a side street

Parks dot the thoroughfares

We stopped at the El Convento Hotel, where we enjoyed a drink in their lovely courtyard. The hotel can trace its roots back 350 years, when it served as a convent.

Across the street from the hotel is the Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Saint John the Baptist, the oldest cathedral in the United States. Inside it houses the tomb of Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon.

As the sun began to set, we headed back to the ship

Mary Poppins would feel right at home on this street. 

This shop features
hats of every description

We headed to Barrachina, the restaurant where the Pina Colada was created. It was packed so maybe next time.  "In 1978 Puerto Rico officially proclaimed the cocktail
​ its national drink"

Pam didn't buy a hat, but
​she did buy a purse. 

Much too soon, time to say adios to Puerto Rico. We definitey plan to
come back and see more of this beautiful
island, still recovering from the 2017 hurricanes.