Old San Juan Puerto Rico

Sailing into San Juan 

Puerto Rico is a US Territory located in the Caribbean 

Hurricane Season is from June to November so think of that when planning a visit to here

Old San Juan

Population of around 3.4 million citizens of an area of 3,500 sq miles 

Part of the Citadel know as Morro Castle 

Juan Ponce de Leon founded the original settlement in 1508

Inside the impressive fort

Walking the streets and viewing history everywhere 

Part of the moat system surrounding the fort

Puerto Rico means Rich or Good Port

In time the fort became part of a US post called Fort Brooke in the early 20th century.  In front of the structure the green space was used for baseball diamonds, hospitals, officers club.......even a golf course  

The cobblestone streets of San Juan came from the visting ships ballast......which then they used silver to replace the weight for the return trip across the ocean

The last action the fort seen was during the Spanish American War in 1898

To bring back the Old Town from disrepair the banks provided low interest loans to remodelers and the government gave tax exemptions 

San Juan is known as La Ciudad Amurallada or The Walled City 

The outer walls of the massive 16th century fort

The City has over 400 restored 16th century Spanish colonial buildings 

I seem to find at least one odd thing during my walkabouts lol

San Juan National Historic Site was established in 1949 to preserve the historic buildings

San Juan is the most visited spot in the Caribbean 

A good look at the 12.8 meter ( 42 feet ) walls that surround Old San Juan

The area was declared a UNESCO Heritage Site in 1983

San Juan is the oldest city under US jurisdiction 

In 1961 El Morro was officially retired and it then became part of the National Park Service for all of us to enjoy