Last month my mom and I took a much-needed vacation to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Chicago is a lot farther from home than DC, so I was getting a tad homesick and wanted some family bonding time. After long flight delays leading me to miss my connection to San Juan, I was so relieved to finally get there, albeit 5 hours late.
Our first full day in San Juan was filled with rain showers and storms. I had read that it rains daily, intermittently, (especially during the summer) so I was hoping the weather would eventually come around, and it did.
We stayed at the Conrad Condado San Juan, which proved to be an excellent choice. Although the hotel’s beach was smaller than some of the other resorts, we were in a prime location, equidistant to both Condado and Old San Juan. The first night we explored Condado, an oceanfront neighborhood consisting of designer shops, hotels, museums and vibrant nightlife.
The next day, we set off on our first adventure – exploring the quaint town of Old San Juan. Built while under Spanish possession, Old San Juan is located on a small island connected to mainland Puerto Rico by three bridges. Lined with cobblestone streets and brightly colored buildings, Old San Juan architecture dates back to the 16th and 17th century.
It was a perfect day – the sun was shining brightly over the water and visiting one of the city’s most famous landmarks, the Castillo San Felipe del Morro, was at the top of our agenda. Located at the entrance of the San Juan Harbor, el Morro is an intricately designed fort that was built by Spain to guard Puerto Rico – which at that time was considered the gem of the New World.
From the 1500s-1700s, Spain was successfully able to ward off attacks from the English and Dutch. However, during the Spanish-American war, the old cannons and structures at the fort were no match for US weapons. Parts of the fort were destroyed and rebuilt, including the lighthouse. During the war, US claimed Puerto Rico as US territory, and later used the fort during World War I and II.
It was amazing to walk around and view a structure that has gone through so many changes and modifications. To my left was a sentry box the Spanish used in the 1500s, while to my right was the modern observation deck the US used in the 1900s. Breathtaking views combined with centuries of history makes El Morro a must see in Puerto Rico.
Our next stop was the Cathedral of San Juan Batista, the second oldest church in the Western hemisphere and the oldest in the United States. The cathedral contains the tomb of Juan Ponce de Leon, the Spanish explorer that discovered Puerto Rico in 1508.
Built in 1521, the Cathedral boasts gorgeous stained glass windows and grand ceilings with intricate designs. As we entered the Cathedral quietly, there was a traditional Roman Catholic wedding ceremony in progress. We noticed that the wedding party was a group staying at our hotel – and we had briefly spoken with them at the pool earlier that day! The fact that we had spoken to the couple earlier in the day and just so happened to stop at the cathedral at the exact moment the vows were exchanged really made this trip special.
As we continued to navigate through the streets of Old San Juan, we saw a group of people admiring a variety of paintings and drawings on the side of a building. We stopped to ask a group of locals what was going on. They told us that once a month, children from all over Puerto Rico showcase their artwork in the hopes of being discovered.
We ended our day by grabbing a drink on the patio at a a Puerto Rican restaurant featuring live music. Looking around at the streets and buildings it was easy to forget that I was still in US territory. The vibrant Spanish influences continued to pulsate through this town on this lazy, hot day, turning it into a mysterious city with a culture all its own.
