Friday, February 13, 2015

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.


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