San Juan, Puerto Rico
The Viking Sun docked in San Juan for 3-days to resupply and exchange 650 passengers. On board there are 180 Travelers (those doing the 1/2 or full world cruise) and 650 Tourists (aka HoHo's, short for Hop-on Hop-off ) that embark for a 2-week segment of the trip. During the first few days of each segment, the Travelers assist the HoHo's helping them find the restaurants, gang way, sick bay, theater and most important, the bars.
At the center of the forest was Yukahu Tower reaching 1,575 feet above sea level (only 98 steps to the top). From there it was possible to view most of the south-eastern portion of Puerto Rico.
In the distance, the mountain top formed what appears to be the head of a person on his back. (Forehead on the right, nose in the middle.)
Notice the holes in the banana plant leafs. They are cause by fruit bats that perch on the leafs. When it rains, the leafs sag from the weight of the bats who are then forced to re-secure their perch or face falling to the ground.
Returning back to the ship we stopped at Playa de Luquillo. The fine sand and warm, calm water of this crescent shaped beach makes it one of the most popular in Puerto Rico.
Our second day was dedicated to shopping in Old Town.
The residential streets of Old Town features houses splashed in tropical colors. One of the earliest structures in Old Town, La Casa Blanca, was both it earliest fortress, built in 1521, and home to its earliest family, the de Leons. Although conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon died before ever living there (he departed Puerto Rico for the Bahamas in search of the Fountain of Youth), his descendants occupied the home for 200 years.
The third day Gene headed out to explore the two historic forts. His mile walk to the el Morro Fortress was interrupted by a morning tropical shower.
Lying on the northwestern-most point of the islet of Old San Juan, Castillo San Felipe del Morro is named in honor of King Philip II of Spain. The fortification, also referred to as el Morro was designed to guard the entrance to the San Juan Bay, and defend the Spanish colonial port city of San Juan from seaborne enemies.
Construction began in the early 1500s and was continually expanded for the next 300 years. It successfully defended San Juan against French privateers, the British, and the Dutch, finally falling to the U.S. Navy during the Spanish American War in 1898.
The three flags that today fly over El Morro are the Spanish flag (circa 1600), the Puerto Rician flag and the U.S. flag.
By mid-day the tropical showers were over and children were flying kits on the public areas in front of the fort.
Nautical Term of the Day -- By and Large
Meaning "in all cases" or "in any case," this term has nautical origins: "by" means into the wind" and "large" means "with the wind"," as "By and large the ship handles very well."
San Juan's Old Town boasts 500 years of history with colorful colonial architecture and massive fortresses. Standing above the town is Castillo de San Cristobal whose cannons, ramparts and layered defenses have guarded the city for centuries.
The first day in port we visited El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. national forest system. At nearly 29,000 acres it is one of the smallest in size, yet one of the most biological diverse of the national forests. It hosts hundreds of animal and plant species, many of which are found only here. Above is the beautiful La Coca Falls.
At the center of the forest was Yukahu Tower reaching 1,575 feet above sea level (only 98 steps to the top). From there it was possible to view most of the south-eastern portion of Puerto Rico.
In the distance, the mountain top formed what appears to be the head of a person on his back. (Forehead on the right, nose in the middle.)
Notice the holes in the banana plant leafs. They are cause by fruit bats that perch on the leafs. When it rains, the leafs sag from the weight of the bats who are then forced to re-secure their perch or face falling to the ground.
Returning back to the ship we stopped at Playa de Luquillo. The fine sand and warm, calm water of this crescent shaped beach makes it one of the most popular in Puerto Rico.
Our second day was dedicated to shopping in Old Town.
The residential streets of Old Town features houses splashed in tropical colors. One of the earliest structures in Old Town, La Casa Blanca, was both it earliest fortress, built in 1521, and home to its earliest family, the de Leons. Although conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon died before ever living there (he departed Puerto Rico for the Bahamas in search of the Fountain of Youth), his descendants occupied the home for 200 years.
The third day Gene headed out to explore the two historic forts. His mile walk to the el Morro Fortress was interrupted by a morning tropical shower.
Lying on the northwestern-most point of the islet of Old San Juan, Castillo San Felipe del Morro is named in honor of King Philip II of Spain. The fortification, also referred to as el Morro was designed to guard the entrance to the San Juan Bay, and defend the Spanish colonial port city of San Juan from seaborne enemies.
Construction began in the early 1500s and was continually expanded for the next 300 years. It successfully defended San Juan against French privateers, the British, and the Dutch, finally falling to the U.S. Navy during the Spanish American War in 1898.
The three flags that today fly over El Morro are the Spanish flag (circa 1600), the Puerto Rician flag and the U.S. flag.
By mid-day the tropical showers were over and children were flying kits on the public areas in front of the fort.
Nautical Term of the Day -- By and Large
Meaning "in all cases" or "in any case," this term has nautical origins: "by" means into the wind" and "large" means "with the wind"," as "By and large the ship handles very well."
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