My least favorite part of travel is actually traveling. I’ve never been fond of airplanes, undressing for seemingly dazed TSA agents, airport food, the fluorescent indistinguishability of different airports around the world. I’ve always thought that when one is an airport, one could very well be anywhere in the world. They all have evenly spaced Starbucks, bookstores with the same publications, Cinnabon, and garbled announcements about a gate change or lost elderly person or some such thing. So, needless to say, I wasn’t thrilled to find myself facing the possibility of six long hours of contemplating how my wonderful dive vacation is over and the imminent return of my daily routine in the Puerto Rico airport on the way home from St. Croix.
Fortunately for me, the Oceanic Ventures trip leaders had something planned. I felt an overwhelming surge of relief when David Morris causally announced “we’re going into town, who’s coming?” Of course I was going to tour Old San Juan. Luckily enough, Donna, John, Yuliya, Deeba, and Kendall all decided to join David and I.
We left our bags with Eric, and hopped into Israel’s cab. He dropped us off at Castillo San Felipe del Morro, an old Spanish Fort dating back to the 15th Century. Castillo San Felipe del Morro is a grand site, the surrounding brick walls are enormous, the grassy expanse on the pathway in seemed to stretch straight out into the sea. After the obligatory group photo–thanks, Yuliya!–we started out tour of the Fort. We walked through barracks living quarters, holding cells–apparently, according to the sign, one does not want to strike a white person in the 15th century. We went up to the top levels and took in the view of Old San Juan and of the sea we had been diving in only the day before. After our curiosity had been sated, and a few more photos snapped, we took the tram to the second fort, Castillo San Cristobal. This is where, according to David, Kiera Knightley takes a dive into the sea in the first Pirates of the Caribbean film. After seeing that spot we took a brief at stroll over the grounds.
It was about this time that group hunger directed us to the Parrot Club, which was closed. A happy accident, though, as the tapas bar we were directed to was delicious. I had a bacon chorizo burger with garlic aioli that easily makes my top ten burgers list, not an easy feat. After lunch, David had another idea up his sleeve. He took us down to Cruzan House where we learned what “proof” really means and sampled some delicious frozen drinks.
With only a bit more time before Israel came to pick us up, we toured the side streets off the town square in Old San Juan. Donna took photos, John and Kendall toured around, Yuliya and Deeba walked into peculiar looking antique shop while David and I set off on a quest for a quest for a Panama hat–aka “my rum drinking hat”–though, to no avail.
When Israel returned to the town square it was with heavy hearts that we boarded the cab for the return to the airport, Houston, and home. But I’m very glad to have gotten to tour Old San Juan with some very good friends on such a fine day.
