We stopped in San Juan, Puerto Rico as part of our 2022 Caribbean Cruise. Puerto Rico, nicknamed âThe Island of Enchantmentâ is a territory of the United States. Along with the main island, it is made up of several smaller islands, including Vieques, Culebra, and Mona.
We stayed within the Old San Juan historic area and used a self-guided audio tour created by local sixth-graders as part of a school project. We enjoyed the stories told by the children as they took on the personas of historical buildings. The app is called VoiceMap, and the tour is named âTalking Buildings of Old San Juanâ â we highly recommend. It took us to about 20 different sites, including the Castillo San Cristobal and Castillo San Felipe del Morro forts.
Castillo San Cristobal, Plaza ColĂłn, Plaza de Armas
Castillo San Cristobal wasnât open for tours yet, so we just got some pictures from the outside and explored some of the nearby plazas. Plaza ColĂłn, similar to Plaza de ColĂłn in Madrid, commemorates the Spanish explorer Christopher Columbus (known as CristĂłbal ColĂłn in Spanish). Plaza de Armas was already decorated for Christmas with a huge tree with bows in the center of the Four Seasons fountain.
Umbrella Street
Fortaleza Street in front of La Fortaleza, the official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico, is decorated with changing displays of umbrellas. Due to increased security, the blocks around La Fortaleza were barricaded, but we were still able to get some pictures of the umbrella display.
Statues
A walk down the boardwalk El Paseo de la Princesa took us by several beautiful statues and fountains. The RaĂces Fountain was built to commemorate the New Worldâs 500th anniversary and represents a ship with leaping dolphins. The Eugenio Maria de Hostos Sculpture commemorates the famous Puerto Rican educator, philosopher, intellectual, lawyer, sociologist and independence advocate. The 3 intertwined figures of the Ballaja statue represent the struggle between the old and new generations of Puerto Rico.
Catedral of San Juan Bautista
The Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, is the second-oldest cathedral in the Americas. With a stunning blend of Gothic and Baroque styles, the cathedralâs ornately-decorated golden altar is a breathtaking sight. For centuries, it has been a pivotal cultural and spiritual center for Puerto Ricans, hosting numerous weddings, baptisms, and state occasions.
Adding to its historical significance, the cathedral is the final resting place of the famed Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de LeĂłn.
San José Church
Built from 1528 to 1735, the San JosĂ© Church was originally part of the Saint Aquinas Monastery. It is one of the earliest surviving examples of 16th-century Spanish Gothic architecture in the Western world. A restoration project was started in 2002 and finished in 2021 â good timing for us!
Castillo San Felipe del Morro
Castillo San Felipe del Morro, commonly known as El Morro, is a historic fortress located in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. This impressive structure was commissioned by King Charles I of Spain in 1539 and completed in 1787. El Morro is a six-level fortress that covers a 140-foot-high promontory at the entrance to San Juan Bay. Its design includes thick walls, bastions, and a lighthouse, all aimed at defending the city from sea attacks.
Santa Maria Cemetery
The Santa Maria Cemetery was started in 1863 and lies outside the walls of Old San Juan. Many prominent figures of Puerto Rico claim their final resting place here.
Authentic Puerto Rican Food
We stopped by La Verguenza restaurant for some authentic Puerto Rican food â fried plantains with pork and onions and chicken empanadas. We also sampled a couple of local beers and drinks. The outdoor deck had a lovely view of the ocean, with a cool breeze coming in.
Back to the ship
We returned to the ship to cool off in the pool before catching Sydâs Pourhouse Rock the House show.
The waters were a little rough coming out of the port at San Juan, causing some waves and currents in the wading pool! Unfortunately, Betsy stopped recording right before I went flying around the corner on my lounge chair! LOL
Summary
Puerto Rico uses the U.S. dollar, and both Spanish and English are official languages. Visitors from the U.S. do not need a passport to enter. The island is well-connected with major airports and ports, making travel convenient. For these reasons, weâd like to return and explore other areas of Puerto Rico, such as El Yunque National Forest, the pristine beaches of Vieques and Culebra, and maybe experience the bioluminescent bay in Fajardo.
