They say that when you are in Puerto Rico you may as well be in Cuba. The two places are the wings of the same bird. The only difference is the cars. Puerto Rico = new cars. Cuba = very old cars. It wasn’t until I looked up at the roof tops that I began to see what they meant. In this part of Old San Juan the streets are paved with ballast from Spanish ship that sailed to this archipelago 500 years ago and the power lines were put in sometime in the middle 20th century (an educated guess).
I have never been to Cuba. I am spending 8 days in Puerto Rico walking and talking while my daughter works. I am very lucky.
I had friends say once that she felt as though she were amphibious because of the humidity. It is very like that here this week. The water will begin to leak from the air before the clouds arrive. We have been treated to thunder and lightning, down pours and sunny, hot and humid. I have to say that it is the perfect Puerto Rico weather. I am loving it.
We are staying at the Sheraton Old San Juan. Our location is just across from the cruise ship docks, a short walk up the hill takes us to the Castillo de San Cristobal. This walled city is still kept like it was back in the sands of time. Cobble stone are many hundred years old and no building inside the walls can be remodeled...restoration is the catch word here.
Spanish and English are intermixed naturally...Spanglish is the lanquage and people transfer from one to the other without thinking. My waiter a breakfast came out and knelt beside me as he explained to me that the "guacamole was no more". I turned to face him..."tell me the part about the guacamole again". I wanted to say a prayer for the poor departed guacamole. I love to travel.
At the age of 77 people are very gentle with me. I never thought I would say this but I really do appreciate their kind attention and help. Aging is turning out to be just fine. I know you will find that reassuring.
I had lunch yesterday and Restaurante Cinema 1950. The outdoor patio looks over the lawns of Castillo San Felipa del Morro San Juan where children play with kites and families picnic. The day before we visited the Parque Las Palomas where families bring their children to feed the pigeons to boost their immune system. And so the gathering of cultural difference continue in my life. We were on a food/history tour.
So many people that know us were telling us to be safe. One friend ask me if I was going to do good. That was interesting I thought. How would I do good here? Now my answer would be that I am visiting, shopping and learning about what could possible me our 51 state (what the Puerto Rican’s have asked for many times).
This is such a beautiful place. I wish you could all be here. Have a wonderful day.
b+
NOTE: I am writing on my iPad and it is not a easy as it should be. Please overlook strange stuff..I tried! :(
I have never been to Cuba. I am spending 8 days in Puerto Rico walking and talking while my daughter works. I am very lucky.
I had friends say once that she felt as though she were amphibious because of the humidity. It is very like that here this week. The water will begin to leak from the air before the clouds arrive. We have been treated to thunder and lightning, down pours and sunny, hot and humid. I have to say that it is the perfect Puerto Rico weather. I am loving it.
We are staying at the Sheraton Old San Juan. Our location is just across from the cruise ship docks, a short walk up the hill takes us to the Castillo de San Cristobal. This walled city is still kept like it was back in the sands of time. Cobble stone are many hundred years old and no building inside the walls can be remodeled...restoration is the catch word here.
Spanish and English are intermixed naturally...Spanglish is the lanquage and people transfer from one to the other without thinking. My waiter a breakfast came out and knelt beside me as he explained to me that the "guacamole was no more". I turned to face him..."tell me the part about the guacamole again". I wanted to say a prayer for the poor departed guacamole. I love to travel.
At the age of 77 people are very gentle with me. I never thought I would say this but I really do appreciate their kind attention and help. Aging is turning out to be just fine. I know you will find that reassuring.
I had lunch yesterday and Restaurante Cinema 1950. The outdoor patio looks over the lawns of Castillo San Felipa del Morro San Juan where children play with kites and families picnic. The day before we visited the Parque Las Palomas where families bring their children to feed the pigeons to boost their immune system. And so the gathering of cultural difference continue in my life. We were on a food/history tour.
I looked up to see the power lines.
I was reminded of China or Vietnam.
The Bacardi Distillery was
A lot of fun. We took a mixology class for no real reason
other than it sounded like a party waitin to happen.
Old San Juan at night is very beautiful and safe.
So many people that know us were telling us to be safe. One friend ask me if I was going to do good. That was interesting I thought. How would I do good here? Now my answer would be that I am visiting, shopping and learning about what could possible me our 51 state (what the Puerto Rican’s have asked for many times).
b+
NOTE: I am writing on my iPad and it is not a easy as it should be. Please overlook strange stuff..I tried! :(
In my younger years, I lived in Puerto Rico, the other side of the island where the Air Force Base used to be located. I remember being there during a hurricane (a small one, I guess) and the weather was indeed wonderful otherwise. The temperature of the days changed very little through the months, and I remember how the downpours came out of the sky, warm and refreshing, and then the air was clean and clear. :-)
ReplyDeleteDJan, I think you would be surprised at how little has changed. Those things built during that time that you were there are crumbling away but as with all places, the new slowly comes in to replace the old. Old San Juan is frozen in time and any place that is crumpling and being worked on is restored to it's former look. It is very interesting.
DeleteTake care.
Oh dear... I'm sorry you're getting this awful spam. I get them too. I'm just stopping by from Tom's blog. I enjoyed this post since I've never been to Puerto Rico, but have had friends from there. I'm so glad you're having such a wonderful time. I could never do a post with my iPad. Maybe if I upgrade. It's far too difficult with the iPad I have.
ReplyDeleteKay...oh well, the spam is a result of neglecting the blog.
DeleteThank you for stopping by. I often need the positive feedback. :)
Barbara