Day 5 - Old San Juan

Old San Juan is a 7 square block section of town that is walled in and dominated by two old forts or castles. The one above is called Castillo de San Cristóbal. It is the largest fortification built by the Spanish in the New World. It is the newer of the two castles and therefore has a more elaborate design. When it was finished in 1783, it covered about 27 acres of land and basically wrapped around the city of San Juan. Entry to the city was sealed by San Cristóbal's double gates. The walls are well over 100 feet high in many places and can be more than 20 feet thick.
Pirates of the Caribbean, On Stranger Tides was filmed here to act as a Spanish castle in Cadiz. Also in the Wizards of Waverly Place movie the Wizard Battle between Justin and Alex was filmed here. It is a grand multi-level fortress well worth an hour or two to explore. Let's get going...
Instead of climbing a mountain, today we are using stairs! it is still climbing! wow, this place is huge! I'm not sure if it is a good idea to store the cannon balls where there is a cannon...some boys could get ideas! like my dad! The view is terrific!
Everywhere you look there are these "sentry boxes" or "garitas". One is known as the "The Devil's Guerite" ("La Garita del Diablo"). This particular guerite is one of the oldest parts of the fort being built in 1634. Legend says that soldiers disappeared randomly from the guerite. However, it is mostly believed - and told so in various local stories - that the only soldier that apparently disappeared did so to escape with his girlfriend. However, the legend still surrounds the guerite. I don't think I'd like to be a sentry! trapped in this little box for 6-7 hours looking out to sea? They were only attacked 5 times in over 100 years! And this was in the age before DS games! Nope-mom-not doin' it!
There are little bits of grass here and there in the fort. This one was guarded by an Iquana.
I think this is close enough...and so does he!

I accidentally went into the dungeon and mom closed the gate! wait! no more complaining! I'll be good promise!

Another room had a replica of the Santa Maria. I didn't realize that it actually sunk after hitting a reef near Haiti in 1492. It never made it back to Spain!

Well that about wraps up Cristobal. Time to head over to "El Morro".

The forts were built facing different directions to provide full protection to San Juan. For all that effort they were only under attack 5 times! I guess knowing the strength of the defense resulted in safety for the island.

You can see El Morro in the distance in the shot below...it is taken through a WWII gun battery window. Spooky!
let's get goin'!

OK...first thing to get straightened out right away is don't get suckered into taking the trolley! It is packed, hot and sweaty! it also moves at a snails pace!

It is better to just get out and walk, that way you get to see all the sites like the Totem Telúrico marking the highest point in the city. There was supposed to be a fountain but it wasn't running. We went a bit farther and this plaza had a fountain going. Feels good! there were also lots of vendors here selling art, crafts and ice cream.
Fort San Felipe del Morro or just "El Morro" meaning promontory was named in honor of King Philip II of Spain. It lies on the northwestern-most point of the islet of San Juan, Puerto Rico. The construction of El Morro began in 1539 when King Charles V of Spain authorized its construction, including the surrounding walls. The purpose was to defend the port of San Juan.It was also constructed to control the entry to the harbor. Construction started the same year with a tiny proto-fortress that was "completed" in 1589. This small section comprises perhaps 10% of the structure people see today. Many complex additional new structures were added to El Morro over the next 400 years. The outer walls are 18 feet thick. Today El Morro has six levels that rise from sea level to 145 feet. The vast grounds in front of the fort are filled with kids flying kites! fun to watch!
This fort has similar parapets, sentry boxes and views as the other fort but is older.
There were lots of nooks and crannys to explore. Is my dad is supposed to walk on the wall? dad! get down from there!

OK...that is about all of El Morro. It is a cool fort but we liked Cristobal better. It had a few more unexpected crannies.

By linking the two forts together by tunnels and placing forts across the bay the city of San Juan was well protected and a safe harbor.

That is proven by the fact that they were only attacked 5 times! They were finally overwhelmed by modern gunpower and came over to the US after losses by Spain.

We left the forts and hit the streets. The cobblestone in many places is very pretty and very old! The stones were baked in Spain in the 1800's and brought to Puerto Rico as ballast in the ships. They are known as Aquinas for their beautiful bluish gray color. We finally got to the San Juan Gate that was built in the late 1700s, is one of six heavy wooden doors in the wall which for centuries were closed at sundown to cut off access to the city and protect the city from invaders. The wall is up to 20 feet thick and up to 40 feet tall. We went above the gate to these metal gates that were partway open. Mom told me to scoot through to see what was on the other side. A guard sent me right back out the gate! Thanks Mom! in trouble again and he was surly! Apparently the govenors mansion is behind the gate...who knew? Walking the streets we came upon a Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream shop that also served lunch. We were starved and this was a great little stop!

That about does it for Old San Juan! you still there? Come along to Day 6...I promise we won't walk so far this time!