Our day in Old San Juan, P.R...

Wow... there is so much to tell regarding our trip to Puerto Rico. The main thing I can think of is that a 4 hour tour of Old San Juan isn't nearly enough!! We barely scratched the surface and, honestly, we could spend another few days there. Maybe someday we will!

We arrived at the San Juan airport at 11AM. We were met by our tour guide, Victor. Since it was a Sunday and we weren't with a large group, the only kind of tour we could arrange was a private tour. It was well worth the extra money to have a tour guide devoted solely to Jason and I. We went at our own pace, saw what we wanted to see and had wonderful conversations with Victor.

We walked around some of "The Old City" of San Juan. These are the parts that are inside the old walls. There were only a few doors that let you past the walls of the city. The wood used for these doors is still there and the date is etched on the doors.

I was struck by the beauty of the architecture. The use of stone and natural elements as well as the paint colors. You can see influences from all the different cultures that have moved here.

We saw the former home of Ponce de Leon. He had beautiful gardens and fountains all around his house. It was a representation of who he was as a man. He enjoyed having places to reflect and "be refreshed". Victor told us all about the different fauna and where it originated from. He also talked about the political struggles and developments during de Leon's time in that house.

We then went to "El Morro" which is a huge fort that is one of two still standing in the city. They were pivotal during the attacks of all the different countries that have wanted control of P.R. throughout the years. It was an amazing sight. This was another reason it was great to have Victor to ourselves... he told us everything!!

After the fort, Victor took us to a wonderful little place for lunch. I can't say that I have ever had Puerto Rican food... but I am now a fan! It was called Cafe Puerto Rico and there were only 10 tables inside and a line down the sidewalk to get in! It was very yummy.

Then we did some souvenir shopping before heading back to the airport. The day went SO fast and it was sad to leave because we only saw a very small part of the island. During our drive back, I asked Victor how the political system works. They are US citizens, but their government is very different from ours. It was a fascinating talk.

When Victor dropped us off, we felt like we had a new friend. He had shared so much with us regarding his heritage, his family (8 daughters!) and his love of his home Puerto Rico. If anyone EVER wants to go there, I can highly a great tour service!!

We got back to the hotel exhausted. We enjoyed a very nice and quiet dinner at the Caribe restaurant in the hotel. Then we went back to our room and passed out!