San Juan, Puerto Rico

San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, is the oldest city on US territory.

Isla de Cabras - a former leper colony.

My arrival coincided with a weekend and a chance to explore this region of the Caribbean.  San Juan old town looks quaint from the sea, but I was reliably informed to take care after dark, with 50 + slayings already so far this year!

The obligatory sampling of the local brew (Bacardi) helps make the short stay more enjoyable.  Plenty of walks to keep me busy, with visits to the Fort guarding the entrance to the harbour – very impressive and full of interesting history.  Sunday seems to be kite flying day for all the kids on the hill near the Fort. 

The history of San Juan began a long time before its official foundation in 1493.  During his second voyage, Christopher Columbus landed in Puerto Rico, he named the island "San Juan Bautista", in honour of John the Baptist.   But it was not until 1508, that the Spanish government appointed Juan Ponce de León as the first Governor of the island.  He founded the original settlement in Caparra, now known as Pueblo Viejo, and the city quickly became Spain's most important military outpost in the Caribbean.

Today, San Juan is known as "La Ciudad Amurallada" (the walled city) and is one of the biggest and best natural harbours in the Caribbean.  The port is one of the busiest in the World and a major Caribbean cruise ship destination.  It obviously does well from the passing cruise liners I counted fifteen in and out of port during my brief visit.  San Juan is the largest processing centre of the island, the metropolitan area has facilities for petroleum and sugar refining, brewing and distilling and produces cement, pharmaceuticals, metal products clothing, and tobacco.   San Juan is the country's financial capital, with many U.S. banks and corporations maintain offices or distributing centres based here.  



Old San Juan is a 465-year-old neighbourhood originally conceived as a military stronghold.   Its 7-square-block area has evolved into a charming residential and commercial district.   The streets here are paved with cobbles of adoquine, a blue stone cast from furnace slag; this was brought over as ballast in Spanish ships and time and moisture have lent them their characteristic colour.  The city includes more than 400 carefully restored 16th- and 17th-century Spanish colonial buildings.  The Old San Juan attracts many tourists, who also enjoy the gambling casinos, fine beaches, and tropical climate.  More tourists visit San Juan each year than any other spot in the Caribbean.   A leisurely foot tour is advisable for those who really want to experience this bit of the Old World, especially given the narrow, steep streets and frequently heavy traffic.  

El Morro Fort is a maze of tunnels, dungeons, barracks, outposts and ramps.  The fort is studded with small, circular sentry boxes called "garitas" that have become a national symbol.  The views of San Juan Bay from El Morro are spectacular.

San Juan Cemetery is located between El Morro and the rocky cliffs above the Atlantic, it is considered one of the most picturesque of burial grounds anywhere.  The cemetery is particularly noteworthy for its elaborate tombstones and the circular neoclassical chapel dedicated to Mary Magdalene.  The most notable piece is a circular, red-domed chapel, which dates back to the late 19th century.

San Juan enjoys year round summer temperatures, an average annual temperature of 79.9°F (26.6°C) on average.  The warmest month is June and the coolest month is February.  San Juan averages 50.75 inches (1,289 mm) of rain per year.  November is generally the wettest month.