Sunday, November 18, 2012

November 18. Old San Juan


November 18

After little sleep last night, we had a lazy morning, only stressed by Delta Airlines problems with its webpage as we were trying to check in online for tomorrow.

We went for a walk around Old Town and I took a photo through a locked gate at one of the beautiful inner gardens.  You know, when I used to read about these inner courtyards in novels about New Orleans and the Old South, I never realized how the outsides of the homes  could be so very plain and unassuming, while the insides could be fabulous.


We stopped at a music store to purchase a CD of typical Puerto Rican music before heading to the Plaza de Armas to catch one of the free trolleys.  We waited and waited, while Jim took photos of the pigeons in the plaza, who were everywhere now after yesterday's rain.  He even asked me if it was my friend, Marian, who would not like this situation.


We piled into the bus along with a multitude of others.  Jim gave up his seat to an older woman.  Even if you are a senior citizen yourself, there are always even older senior citizens.  I kind of like being on the bottom end of the category.

I did not like the crowded conditions on the trolley or the inability to communicate with Jim about where we wanted to go.  We finally got off, walked for a bit, and headed to the Old Harbor Brewery to cool off and have a bite to eat.  There. we listened to music while sampling Puerto Ricon food and local beer,


Refreshed, we walked by the high wall that surrounds the Old Town to protect it from pirates and other invading countries.

We walked along the Paseo de la Princesa where we remembered from two years ago that there was music, dancing, local artisans, and lots of fun on Sunday afternoons.


We watched a local artisan, painting on feathers.  She did very detailed and beautiful work.  She said that the blue feathers were from macaws and the green feathers were from parrots.  I bought a coqui on a blue feather.

Where the Paseo de la Princesa meets the Bay, there is an intriguing statue, with a very lengthy explanation about all the figures.  When I put this trip online on my webpage and also when I make a DVD of it after we return, I will fully explain this statue.


We walked along the malecon outside the wall and could easily see how it would stop invaders.
El Morro (the fort) is on the left.  The photo shows the outside of the wall which is above the malecon where people are walking.  The town is behind it.

Jim is befriending a local kitty.
Jim called these "Pokers for the Wall" as they were on the outside of the wall around the Old City.  Actually, my friend, Marian, translated a plaque in the midst of these obelisks.   While we had thought it would describe what they were, actually it was more of a positive or spiritual message that seemed to be meant to be uplifting (as the statues were, of course).


One of the Guard Towers on the Wall

Here you can see the wall on both the side and back, with the town safely behind it.
We stopped at the massive banyon tree outside an entrance through the wall.


This is the San Juan Gate.  If  you were a dignitary arriving from Spain in the 1500s through the 1800s, you would enter the city through this gate.  Access to and from the city was tightly controlled through five gates.  As the formal entrance, San Juan Gate meant protection and relief for weary travelers.  Through its doors passed the documents, money, and people to carry out the Crown's will in this colony.


An entrance to this city probably existed here in some form as early as 1540.  The San Juan Gate as seen today was built in 1635.  Notice how thick the walls are.

Through the gate, we passed the historic hotel, El Convento, where some sort of demonstration was taking place.  While interesting, I suppose, when they supposedly lit the cannon, it sounded like a weak firecracker.



We stopped by the hotel to check it out as it is so well-known, and Vicki took a short rest break before heading back to the Casablanca.

After resting a bit, we went to our favorte restaurant, Parila's on Forteleza St, less than a 1/2 block from our hotel, the Casablanca.  I again had Empanadalittas Argentina and Jim had pizza this time.  The food was out-of-this-world and the wait staff was extrordinary.  We cannot recommend it enough.









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