OLD SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO: Top Things to Know Before You Go! Cruise Port Tour & Travel Guide

This next port visit turned out to be one of our favorites! As soon as we walked off the ship, San Juan, Puerto Rico surprised us with its rich history and culture as we walked to National Parks and downtown to visit the oldest Catholic Cathedral. We take a break to try some local cuisine and pina coladas. San Juan is the birthplace of the pina colada. We visit Barrachina, the restaurant claiming to be the original home of this delicious frozen cocktail. Another hotel down the road made the same claim, but we don't care. Barrachina had great drinks and great food, as we had the seafood mofongo. Puerto Rico's history is a rich tapestry influenced by its indigenous roots, European colonization, and its status as a U.S. territory. Before the arrival of Europeans, Puerto Rico was inhabited by the **Taíno people**, who were part of the Arawak group that migrated from South America. The Taíno developed a rich culture and were known for agriculture, fishing, and skilled craftsmanship. Puerto Rico was claimed by **Christopher Columbus** on his second voyage to the Americas. It was officially named **San Juan Bautista** by Columbus, though the island later became known as **Puerto Rico** (Rich Port), and its capital retained the name San Juan. - During this period, Puerto Rico became a crucial military outpost for Spain and a hub for sugar and coffee plantations. Enslaved Africans were brought to the island to work the plantations, mixing with the Taíno and Spanish populations, creating the island's multicultural identity. - **1917**: The **Jones-Shafroth Act** granted U.S. citizenship to Puerto Ricans. The island's residents could now be drafted into military service, which played a significant role during both World Wars. - **1952**: Puerto Rico officially became a **U.S. Commonwealth** (Estado Libre Asociado), granting it more local autonomy while maintaining its connection to the U.S. The island has its own constitution, but many laws and policies remain under U.S. control. A fine example of the local history is the Castillo San Felipe del Morro. **Castillo San Felipe del Morro**, commonly known as **El Morro**, is a historic fortress located in **Old San Juan, Puerto Rico**. Built by the Spanish between 1539 and 1790, it was designed to protect the entrance to **San Juan Bay** from seaborne invaders, primarily pirates and rival nations like the British and Dutch. The fort is perched on a cliff at the tip of San Juan, providing a commanding view of the Atlantic Ocean and the bay. El Morro is a massive structure with six levels of walls, dungeons, barracks, and cannon batteries. Its thick walls and imposing towers were built to withstand sieges and attacks. Over the centuries, it withstood several major attacks, including assaults by Sir Francis Drake in 1595 and Dutch forces in 1625. Today, El Morro is one of Puerto Rico’s most visited attractions. Visitors can explore its fortifications, learn about its history, and enjoy panoramic views of the ocean and the city. Castillo San Cristóbal is a historic fortress located in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and is one of the largest fortifications built by the Spanish in the Americas. Completed in 1783, it was constructed to protect the city of San Juan from land-based attacks. Unlike the nearby Castillo San Felipe del Morro, which guards the entrance to San Juan Bay, San Cristóbal was designed to defend against invaders approaching by land. #sanjuan #puertorico #ncl #usvirginislands #norwegiansky Our Equipment: GoPro5 : https://amzn.to/3W706JP GoPro10 : https://amzn.to/3JoNRRt Nikon Z30 : https://amzn.to/4d2bOvo Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra DJI Mini 2 Our Software and Subscription Services: https://share.epidemicsound.com/cyumoq Adobe Premier Pro Adobe Photoshop Adobe Illustrator 🎉🎈🥳Please subscribe to our channel to stay in touch so we can share what we are up to!🐕🌋🌅 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYptpWdN5KNCq5pwdvGNrhQ?sub_confirmation=1 Website : www.justramblinaround.com Facebook: Just Ramblin Around Instagram: @justrambinaround Email: jrawithronandjodi@gmail.com ****About**** We are Ron and Jodi. We have been traveling and exploring around the Pacific Northwest and beyond for decades. Please join us as we go rambling around our next 30 years while living our “work hard, play hard” philosophy. We will try to show as much of our adventures, tips and reviews as we can through our journey practicing for retirement. This channel will be about adventures big and small, weekend getaways traveling in the motorhome exploring our region to flying away on extended vacations discovering new destinations. We hope to inspire others to make time to travel, explore and discover what our land has to offer.