Where: San Juan, Puerto Rico
When: February 23, 2014
With: Jennie and Jen
Puerto Rico will forever hold a very special place in my heart: as salvation during one of the coldest, snowiest winters we've ever had the non-pleasure of experiencing. Just when I had resolved that warmth only existed within the sleeves of my knee-length puffy coat, this tiny slice of heaven in the Caribbean showed me that warm weather does exist and can exist and can make me ever so happy when I get to experience it. For that, I thank you so very much, Puerto Rico. You helped me survive the winter of 2014.
The reason for this mid-winter excursion to this US commonwealth was a friend's bachelorette party. It would be a short and sweet trip, but oh so therapeutic. The healing began as soon as I caught sight of this out the window.
The good moods on this island are infectious. When the cab dropped us off at our hotel, we were greeted with giant smiles and an exuberant "we've been waiting for you!!" by the staff. Our hotel, La Concha, was right on the beach, so couple that with some friendly service, an evening rainbow and fruity cocktails, and the winter blues literally melted away instantly.
When: February 23, 2014
With: Jennie and Jen
Puerto Rico will forever hold a very special place in my heart: as salvation during one of the coldest, snowiest winters we've ever had the non-pleasure of experiencing. Just when I had resolved that warmth only existed within the sleeves of my knee-length puffy coat, this tiny slice of heaven in the Caribbean showed me that warm weather does exist and can exist and can make me ever so happy when I get to experience it. For that, I thank you so very much, Puerto Rico. You helped me survive the winter of 2014.
The reason for this mid-winter excursion to this US commonwealth was a friend's bachelorette party. It would be a short and sweet trip, but oh so therapeutic. The healing began as soon as I caught sight of this out the window.
The good moods on this island are infectious. When the cab dropped us off at our hotel, we were greeted with giant smiles and an exuberant "we've been waiting for you!!" by the staff. Our hotel, La Concha, was right on the beach, so couple that with some friendly service, an evening rainbow and fruity cocktails, and the winter blues literally melted away instantly.
Now, I haven't been to many places in the Caribbean, but I think Puerto Rico is unique in that it's more than just an island of resorts. It has a little bit of history mixed into the culture alongside its gorgeous beaches. This takes us to the item in the book: Old San Juan.
My accomplices for exploring the historic capital city were my friends and old coworkers, Jen and Jennie. As I said, we were on this trip for a bachelorette party, so it was extra appreciated that these girls were champs and willing to get up at 8am to head into town after going to bed at 4am! And all with big smiles on their faces :-)
San Juan is the capital of Puerto Rico and spans quite a large area. The "Old" part refers to a particular quarter of the city where the architecture has been almost perfectly preserved from its original colonization by the Spanish in the 17th century. Colorful buildings with wrought iron balconies line shady squares and cobblestone streets to make you feel as though you've stepped back in time.
The first order of business on this early morning exploration was breakfast. Our cab driver recommended a local spot that promised to serve some classic Puerto Rican dishes. His suggestion did not disappoint. We found ourselves in an old diner-like cafe, filled to the brim with people, both locals and tourists. An old Puerto Rican man slow-jammed on his trumpet as we sipped coffee and listened to the bustle around us. We also got to try mallorcas, a pastry filled with ham and cheese that is covered in powdered sugar (dream come true).
After breakfast, we were ready to do some more exploring. San Juan was founded by the Spanish in 1521. Given the time period, with conquistadors sailing all over the Caribbean, it's understandable they felt it important to fortify this little island to protect it. Now, the old castle-like fortifications line the edge of Old San Juan, working its way into the architecture and providing a charming walkway along the water.
At the end of the island, these fortifications culminate to a point. Here sits the Castillo San Felipe del Morro, a large fort on top of a huge grassy field. With the warm, ocean breeze nearly knocking us over as we climbed up to the fort and the stunning views surrounding us, we were a happy trio.
To enjoy the view, we partook in one of Puerto Rico's most notable foods - shaved ice, or piragua. Little carts like this one have men literally shaving a block of ice, then adding sweetened food coloring to create the perfect snack in the hot sun. We enjoyed ours overlooking the fort and ocean, debating how difficult it would be to move here permanently.
Afterwards, we did a bit of wandering through the city, exploring some of the side streets and shops. Lots of little boutiques were scattered between the typical tourist traps, but we had fun ducking into them all the same.
After half a day of exploring, it was time to head back to the hotel. It was a short time in Old San Juan, but added to the therapy session that was this trip to Puerto Rico. This weekend definitely helped get me through the rest of winter, and made me excited to explore some more Caribbean islands - maybe next year's therapy session.
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