First stop!

Hello travelers and welcome to our first stop!

What better way to start a winding journey than at my hometown of San Juan, Puerto Rico?

For all of those who skipped a few classes of geography in middle school, Puerto Rico is located in the Caribbean and is about 1,019 miles to the southern right corner of the coast of Florida (travelmath.com). It is an island that’s 100×35 in size and all of its roads lead to the ocean… of course.

Our first stop on this journey is its capital city, San Juan. This city is located towards the northeastern coast of the island and the best part is that it stays a toasty warm 80-90 degrees all-year-round. San Juan is made up of many districts, but I’ll be talking to you about the most historic part. Old San Juan, is San Juan’s historic district. It was founded during colonial times when the Spanish settled on the island around 1493. However, it was not founded until 1521.

Old San Juan is full of shops, restaurants, historical sightseeing, breathtaking views, and, the best of all, the warmth of its people. If you take a tour around Old San Juan, you may be able to shop in its many souvenir stores, where they’ll have small Puerto Rican knickknacks, distinctive clothing, or hand-made items. If you’re looking for a little bit more, it hosts shops to a Guess, Polo Ralph Lauren, and a Dooney and Bourke outlet.

Photo Credit: farm3.staticflickr.com

Midday through your trip, you may want to take a break from the heat. Go to one of its famous restaurants, Raíces, and treat yourself to a delicious Puerto Rican “mofongo,” a popular native dish. After a delicious meal, the trip continues towards the fort Castillo San Felipe Del Morro, or as the locals call it “El Morro.” This fort served as Puerto Rico’s main defense system during colonial times. Given the importance of the island’s strategical location, it suffered many attacks, but definitely held on. The fort can be toured alone or with guides and, on the outside, it has a great span of land where people picnic, fly kites, eat snowcones or “piraguas,” or just lie down on the grass and take in some sun.

Apart from the fort, there are other historical buildings to see around the city like La Fotaleza, which is where the governor lives, El Fortin San Cristobal, La Casa Rosa, El Palacio de Santa Catalina, La Catederal de San Juan Bautista, and the museum of Ballajá. All of these buildings share the same historical, Spanish architecture. There are also some interesting pieces of art around Old San Juan, so make sure to keep an eye out for its many statues and fountains. As well, try to remain steady as its impending views take your breath away.

Photo Credit: Bibiana Ruiz

If you’re staying in for the nightlife, no need to worry. Old San Juan offers a great nightlife scene. If you’re in for dancing, there’s “La Rumba” down at the docks, a boat that takes a trip around the bay while playing great, latin music. There are also many restaurants along the streets that are perfect for dining-out on a fancy evening, or casual, whichever suits the mood. The plazas are sometimes filled with local artists exhibiting their works, for anyone interested in souvenirs or a local piece to take home.

All in all, Old San Juan never fails to charm its visitors. If you happen to be one of them one day, enjoy the ride that this small gem has to offer you.