Here's a nice aerial view of the San Juan area I found before we made the trip ... Old San Juan sits at the end of this islet, capped by the magnificent El Morro.

Most of our time there was spent wandering the wonderful, cobblestoned streets of Old San Juan ... the seaside edges of this city island are fortified by great walls, ramparts, castles, garitas ... with the tip enclosed by Fuerte San Felipe Del Morro, one of the great forts of the Caribbean. The area was originally established as a military stronghold in 1510; El Morro was built to protect San Juan harbor in 1539, then was changed, moved around and came to exist as it is today, in 1783.

Just about everyone attacked this place at one time or another: pirates, Carib indians, the English, Dutch, and the US, during the Spanish-American war. Whew. Apparently it held up pretty well. The location, design and architecture, make it a true (massive!) work of art, as well as an awfully strong fortress.

 

 

The huge grassy plain leading up to the fort is a great place to fly kites, hang out, enjoy life.

 

 


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