Old San Juan

While our boat sits at anchor, we have taken many opportunities to rent a car with other cruising friends.  One of our favorite places is Old San Juan.  The streets are narrow and filled with beautiful
colorful shops and houses.

   Beautiful murals along the street

 

Narrow streets

Finding a parking garage near the old fort we walk along with the soldiers.  Castillo San Felie del Morro, "El Morro"  The Spainish started building the fort in 1539 and it took over 250  years to complete.  It is located and the northwestern tip of Old San Juan and has a sister fort that was built in
1608.

Below is an elaborate statue outside the grounds of "El Morro"  We could never figure out what it represents as all the plaques are in Spanish.   

A massive cemetary is located south of "El Morro" with beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Selfie with a History Museum guide....she didn't speak English or Spanish

The jail had marvelous views of the Atlantic Ocean also

view from the jail

Cannons were everywhere

Turbulent waters below the fort's walls

This picture reminded me of growing up in Charleston SC.  Fort Sumter was no where the size of  "El Morro" but it did have cannons.  My parents wanted to take a pictue of their five children sitting on one of the cannons, but my brother Bill was too scared to get on it.  

Another interesting statue in one of the many squares

 

                            There is an upside baby at the top of this statue

These are real trees.  They are called rainbow eucalyptus trees.

If you ever get to take a cruise ship to San Juan or sail here on your sailboat, you can see these sights and hundreds more.   I could have spent a week in Old San Juan.

Horse Day in Salinas

The Christmas season in Salinas extends way past Christmas Day.  The Feast of the Three Kings also known as the Epiphany takes place every year on January 6th. It is an intricate part of Puerto Rican folklore. Traditionally, this day is very important, especially for children, for it is on this eve that they will receive their gifts. Children collect hay, straw or grass and place it in boxes or containers under their beds. This gesture is a gift of food for the Kings' Horses while they rest in between deliveries. Note:(There are noCamels in PR). If a child is good for the past year he will receive candies, sweets or toys. If the child was misbehaved or naughty he would instead find a lump of dirt or charcoal in his box. This tradition is much older than that of Santa's visit on Christmas Eve.

                                             Three kings on a rooftop in Old San Juan
On the Saturday after January 6th all horses descend on Salinas.  We happened to have a car that day and returned to the marina inching through the crowded streets.   There were estimated to be over 1,000 horses attending the celebration.