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port of call:
puerto rico

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.


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Pam is ready to find the shops
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 Street signage pointed the way
​ to Castillo San Cristobal... Of course,
​signs beg for a photo op, right?
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We passed a public park (left) and went past colorful buildings lining narrow streets.

Photos by North Palm Beach Life

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

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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

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The view of a side street
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Parks dot the thoroughfares
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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.
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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

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Mary Poppins would feel right at home on this street. 
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This shop features
hats of every description
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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"
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Pam didn't buy a hat, but
​she did buy a purse. 
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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.
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Contact us: [email protected]

© COPYRIGHT  2024  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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  • Home
    • Weather >
      • Hurricane Readiness
  • Cruise/Travel
    • Cruise Reviews and Stories
  • Gigi in the 561
    • Gigi's Wine Shelf
    • Gigi in the 561 Interviews
    • Cora
    • My Father's Tales >
      • My Father's Tales - Photo Album
    • Travel Bistro
  • Blogs
    • Gerry Pronounced Gary
    • Rock and Roll Rewind
    • Susan Goldfein -- Blog >
      • Susan Goldfein
  • Video
  • Explore
    • October Odyssey >
      • Cartagena, Columbia
      • Panama Canal
      • Antigua, Guatemala
      • Cabo San Lucas
      • Birds and Bees Speakeasy in Los Angeles
      • We Love LA
      • Coast Starlight
      • Napa Wine Tour
      • California Zephyr
      • California Zephyr Part Two
      • Chicago
      • Amtrak Capitol Limited
      • Washington DC
    • Pam - Traveling in Style
    • Road Trip! >
      • Road Trip! -- Tucumcari, New Mexico
      • Road Trip! -- The Painted Desert
      • Road Trip! - Sedona, Arizona
      • Road Trip! - Sedona Wineries
      • Road Trip! Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
      • Road Trip! - Mogollon Rim
      • Road Trip! - Verde Canyon Railroad
      • Road Trip! - Jerome, Arizona
      • Road Trip! - California
      • Road Trip! - Palm Springs Celebrity Tour
      • Road Trip! - Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
      • Road Trip! - Festival in Palm Springs
      • Road Trip! - Willcox, Arizona and Apple Annie's Orchard
      • Road Trip! Willcox Wineries
      • Road Trip! Chiricahua National Monument
      • Road Trip! Tombstone, Arizona
      • Tombstone, Part Two
      • Road Trip! - Epilogue
    • Traveling With Joe >
      • Beartooth Highway
      • North Cascades National Park
      • A Visit to the Philippines
      • Grand Canyon National Park
      • Glacier National Park
      • Yellowstone National Park
      • Hiking in Bear Country
      • Crater Lake National Park
      • Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
      • The Kerrville Folk Festival
      • Building Hope in the Rio Grande Valley
      • Yellowstone Camping Tales
    • Unknown Yellowstone >
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Heart Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Summit Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Shoshone Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Grizzly Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Riddle Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Pelican Cone
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Mt. Washburn
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Specimen Ridge
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Avalanche Peak
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Divide Creek
  • Contact
    • Media Kit
    • Pamela Barker - Author
    • The Story of StarText
  • Search