Puerto Rico and Then Home

Sat Feb 12

Iguana on Wall of Castillo San Cristobal

Castillo San Cristobal

Wall Along Seashore between Castillos

Sentry Lookout

And Here is the Sentry (Are we Safe?)

Castillo San Cristobal

Castillo San Cristobal

Castillo San Cristobal from Inside Old City

Castillo San Filipe del Morro

Cemetary near Castillo San Filipe del Morro

Historic Colonial Building

Statue of Christopher Columbus

Old Town Street

Street Vendor Booth in Old Town

This morning in San Juan brought our cruise to and end as all good things must. We said goodbye to all the kids and then began a tour of both colonial and modern sections of the city. The tour ended by us being dropped off at the airport to begin our flights home to Phoenix where our good Canadian friends, Jo and Peter Campbell brought us home from the airport at 11PM. The colonial section was most intriguing due to the huge wall that surrounded it historically. Much of this wall still exists, particularly along the seashore. Also included in this fortification were two huge complexes that provided quarters for the armies, prisons, sentry lookouts and fire power erected by the Spaniards over several generations hundreds of years ago. The work is so massive it is difficult to conceive the effort it took to build in those primitive times. Our tour focused on the fort called Castillo San Cristobal on the Eastern end of the complex. But we were able to hike most of the distance to the fort Castillo San Felipe del Morro on the Western tip of the peninsula at the entrance to the San Juan harbor. We also had a little time to wander around the narrow streets near Castillo San Cristobal. From there we passed through the new section of the city on the way to the airport with the guide pointing out significant landmarks. We have had a most memorable trip with our family. We only wish that all our kids could have been with us. Perhaps another time we hope.