Friday 24th Jan 2020
The walled city of San Juan, Puerto Rico's capital and largest city founded in 1521, sits on the island's Atlantic coast. Cobblestoned Old San Juan features 400 colourful restored buildings from the 16th and 17th-century Spanish colonial period. A flurry of forts around its shores were built to ward off interest from other European powers. among them are Fort San Cristobal, the immense defensive fortification completed in 1783, and San Felipe del Morro, a 16th-century citadel with well-preserved barracks, tunnels and dungeons.
The perfect berth for today, just a few minutes walk from Old San Juan. So once the breakfast time drizzle cleared up it’s ashore for a leisurely stroll through the narrow streets. Certainly they seem to like their colours here.
Quite a few signs of the recent earthquakes, mostly minor. Very hot and rather humid but an easy pace kept us going. Much graffiti on many buildings, not quite sure but got the impression that the police and the US authorities were not loved, maybe in reference to a recently found warehouse full of aid for the hurricane of 3 years ago had been found to be untouched and had been liberated by the population!
A welcome aboard Queen Victoria and back into the air conditioning and a chance for a cold drink. Time for a few more minutes out in the sun for some more acclimatisation. An opportunity today while the ship’s still quiet for formal afternoon tea in the Queens Room, to be served by the white gloved and jacketed waiters on the best crockery and the best silverware.
Sailaway at dusk with views of the Morro Fort which protects the harbour mouth.
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