“Forto Rico”

The island of Puerto Rico is a fortress.   As the ship docked in San Juan we walked to the well preserved site of Castillo San Cristobal.   As you look down the coast you can see the rock wall has surrounded the city.     The turrets around the forts are shaped like Spanish  helmets.   Conquistadors   We enjoyed seeing the history of the island.   We walked down the coast toward the other, very famous, fort, “El Morro”   Between the two forts is a cemetery built in the early 1800’s        The entrance to “El Morro” in front of the gate is a large field, where most of the battles were fought, hopping to keep the battle outside the fort itself.  A light house was built in the mid 1800’s  Many countries wanted to have Puerto Rico for their island.    It was a very desired piece if real estate.  The doors of old San Juan!        As we walked the cobblestone roads of the city, we saw so many doors.   They were so colorful and unique.    We couldn’t resist stopping by a street vendor and tasting the food of “Old San Juan”

The large red door was the entrance to the city for the very honored guests and dignitaries of other countries.   There are other sea entrances, but this was for the very privileged. 

goodbye “Forto Rico”  and the governors blue mansion.    And goodbye to the leper hospital across the way.    Sickness in the fort had to be separated with so many people in close quarters. Here is our “towel turtle”                  Buenos notches