Colonial cities such as the old part of Ponce, the lush greenery of the El Yunque rainforest, endless sandy beaches such as Playa de Luquillo, and attractive towns such as San Juan are clustered in an archipelago consisting of the main island of Puerto Rico and several smaller islands such as Vieques, Culebra and Mona.
The ghost of the colonial past
We must begin our visit to the smallest archipelago of the Greater Antilles in the old quarter of San Juan, the oldest part of the island's capital. Footsteps on the streets of the old part of the city sound different, for which there is a perfectly clear explanation: the cobblestones used to pave the roads contain a lot of iron minerals, which were once used in the construction of Spanish ships. That's why walking on them sounds completely different, and when it rains they turn into sliding slides. But there is also a sentimental explanation: it talks about the sound of footsteps that has been echoing between the walls of colonial buildings for more than five hundred years - the rest of the story, with all the ghosts involved, we can create ourselves. Two fortresses - Sveti Kristof and El Morro (the Negro), which defended the city against attacks by pirates and other invaders - speak of the stormy past. While walking along the streets of San Juan, for example along the Calle del Hospital (Hospital Street) or the Calle de las Monjas (Nuns Street), looking at the pastel-colored facades, we can notice an interesting harmony made up of wooden balconies with artfully designed fences and feel the pulse of the past centuries, to the very beginnings, when in 1508 Juan Ponce de Leon became the first governor of the island, which the Spanish named Bogata luka (Puerto Rico). Due to the wealth of colonial architecture and quality restoration interventions that preserved buildings from the 16th and 17th centuries, the old part of the city of San Juan was also included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. One of the most important sights is the Fort of San Felipe del Morro, built by the Spanish to protect the city from pirate attacks, and today it offers the best view of the city and the sea. Its twin is the Castillo de San Cristobal fortress, which today serves as the residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico and is the oldest public administrative building in the New World.
Wandering around the island
The island, which is 177 kilometers long and 56 kilometers wide, can be easily explored in a day or two. Breakfast in Fajardo, known as the “metropolis where the Caribbean sun rises”, a short boat ride to the charming islands of Vieques and Culebra and ending the day with a juicy lobster in Rincon as the sun sinks into the sea, exploring the southern part of the coast in between , a visit to the colonial town of Ponce with a unique fire station and a visit to the Porta Coéli (Heaven's Gate) church in the city of San German, which is the oldest church in places under American jurisdiction. The constant interweaving of the urban and natural environment is especially attractive; although in the chaotic environment of San Juan we quickly forget the blue color of the sea and the warm sand that surrounds us on the beaches, we only have to drive a few kilometers inland or towards the coasts, where we will forget in an instant that we were only recently in an urban center. On the 414 kilometers of coastline, the possibilities for water sports are endless, and for the less active, there are countless calm and clean inlets. The most popular beaches are Luquillo and Vega Baja and of course those near the capital. A unique natural phenomenon can be observed in the eastern part of the archipelago, near the island of Vieques, where Mosquito Bay is located, where an unusual and unique phenomenon occurs. Thanks to millions of luminescent microorganisms that literally light up when the water moves, the sea surface turns a florescent blue color and the bay looks more like a scene from a science fiction movie than a hidden corner of the Vieques Islands. The island of Culebra is a real paradise for divers, as the coral reef is one of the most beautiful in the Caribbean archipelago, and on the sandy beaches you can observe various species of birds and sea turtles.
Inside
El Yunque, one of the natural wonders that ranks Puerto Rico among the important natural pearls of the Caribbean, is located in the Luquillo Mountains near the capital city. The Taíno Indians, who inhabited the island at the time of Columbus' arrival, were convinced that today's El Yunque Park was the only place where the god of luck could reside. Lush growth with a dominant fern that hugs the falls gives the rainforest, which can be explored while walking along various paths, a special charm. On the other side of the island is Ponce, Puerto Rico's second largest city, which has recently been renovated. During the renovation, the architectural wealth of the city, which combines architectural styles from different eras, shone again, and the old town area from the 17th century is particularly attractive. While winding through the streets of the city, we can discover colonial houses, squares with fountains, monastic buildings and cars from the 1950s that still stand the test of time.
Gourmet pleasures
Like so many other aspects of the Puerto Rican way of life, the cuisine is distinguished by its mixture of customs and tastes. The basis of the local cuisine is rice, fish, beans and bananas, but the influence of the original inhabitants of the island can also be felt, which is why yucca, corn or potatoes are often found on the plates. The Spanish influence can be felt in the use of onions, garlic and chickpeas, and African immigrants also left their influence. Some of the most famous dishes are mofongo (meat, roasted bananas and garlic), asoapo (soup, usually made with chicken), banana toast, empandils with meat or seafood, and the most famous dessert is tembleque (coconut and milk). We will be able to enjoy most of the aforementioned delicacies together with Hollywood connections at the Parrot Club restaurant, where head chef Robert Trevino prepares a Euribbean mix of culinary specialties. Everyone who follows the current fashion trends should not miss dinner at the Urdin restaurant, famous for its seafood and huge steaks. One of the most famous restaurants is also located in the El Convento Hotel, which is considered one of the most beautiful hotels in Puerto Rico. The El Picoteo restaurant offers excellent tapas - snacks that will remind us of Spain when looking at the spacious terrace and with flamenco in the background. Mark's at the Melia and Shipwreck Bar & Grille are top restaurants in Rincon. A visit to San Juan will not be complete without at least one tropical cocktail. The address 104 Calle La Fortaleza in the old part of the city is an ideal corner, because, as it says on the sign, in the house that stood on this spot in 1963, Don Ramón Portas Mingot discovered the drink piña colada. Lovers of a stronger drop will go to the small town of Cataño, on the other side of the bay, where they can visit the Bacardi distillery and, with a free tasting, make sure that the famous white rum is really of high quality.
The party can continue in one of the many nightclubs in the city, where we will learn, over brilliant cocktails, why Puerto Rico is such a notorious address for hedonists and night owls.
Information:
- Official website of the Puerto Rico Tourist Office: www.topuertorico.org
- Mosquito Bay Overnight Tours: Island Adventures Inc., leaving every evening from Casa Del Frances Bar, www.biobay.com
– El Yunque Rainforest: www.elyunque.com
– Parrot Club Restaurant 363 Calle La Fortaleza, San Juan; www.oofrestaurants.com
– Restaurant Urdin 1105 Avda. Magdalena, Condado;
– Restaurant El Picoteo / Hotel El Convento, 100 Calle Cristo, San Juan; www.elconvento.com
– Restaurant Mark's at the Meliá, 75 Cristina, Ste. 1, Ponce
– Restaurant Shipwreck Bar & Grille, Black Eagle Marina, Rincón; www.rinconshipwreck.com
– Club Rumba, 152 Calle San Sebastián
– Club Carli Café Concierto, 206 Calle Tetuán, Plazoleta Rafael Carrión; www.carlicafeconcierto.com
