Day 2 ~ San Juan, Puerto Rico and embarcation

San Juan, Puerto Rico. I want to come back here and spend a week. We didn't have time to do and see all that we wanted to do. But, as I am learning with traveling, the first trip is just a sample of what you want to see when you return!

San Juan is known as "La Ciudad Amurallada" (the walled city). San Juan was founded in 1521. In 1508 Juan Ponce de León founded the original settlement, Caparra, now known as Pueblo Viejo, behind the almost land-locked harbor.

A year later, the settlement was abandoned and moved to the site of what is now called Old San Juan. San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean and is the second oldest European-founded city in the US.

There is so much beauty and history here. And of course, any place with Native Spanish speaking is a bonus for me!

Ready to rock and roll! We woke up, ate our "made-to-order" breakfast (and I thought to myself, "let the binging begin!") and headed out to Old San Juan for the day.

Somebody, (not naming names) forgot to pre-register us for the cruise. So we had to get to the boat a couple hours early. I've never been good at the details! More of the big picture kind of gal.

The atrium at The Embassy Suites, Isla Verde.

Tommy, the planner. His first agenda item, WALK to the ferry terminal to take a boat to the Bacardi Rum Distillery. Just what a girl, who drinks, maybe once in a blue moon, wants to experience. But hey, isn't traveling with friends about the give and take?

On our walk, (in the rain) the taxi drivers kept pulling over and saying, "It's raining. Where are you going? I'll give you a ride." But we kept walking. And then walked some more. And we did not walk through the scenic part of town, but did get to see lots of shipyards and housing projects! I did not complain. Well, maybe a little. But not much whining, I promise.

The Bacardi Rum Distillery tour was an interactive tour through the history of Barcardi. It was an educational field trip of sorts. My knowledge on Barcardi was pretty non-existent. And now I can tell you that Bacardi is "crafted – with only the finest quality sugar cane molasses in the world." I observed how to make a perfect mojito, Bacardi and Coke (also known as a Cuba Libre) and to never ask for a "rum and coke."

Before the tour we were given 2 free drinks. You're crazy if you think I can drink that stuff (or anything for that matter) straight. Thought I might like it with Coke... but not so much. I passed mine off to a very willing taker...

and it's not even noon!

The Bacardi Rum Distillery daily produces 100,000 gallons of their, "Tom Thumb."

The story of the Bat Device begins in Santiago de Cuba, where the founder of Bacardi, Don Facundo Bacardí Massó began experimenting with the distillation of rum. In order to supply his rums beyond his friends and family, he purchased a small tin-roofed distillery for the price of 3,500 pesos. After entering the distillery, his wife noticed a colony of fruit bats hanging from the rafters. In search of an identifiable emblem Don Facundo employed a Bat as the Trademark for his new rum. He regarded bats as symbols for good health, fortune and family unity. Proclaimed, "Better than any Cognac" BACARDI rum became known as "el Ron del Murcielago" or the rum of the bat.

So know you know!

Simma' down now.

Our next stop was the San Juan Cathedral. From rum to church. That's how we roll!

It was beautiful. We even witnessed a wedding!

We walked along the sea to the top of El Castillo San Felipe del Morro.

I don't know the history behind this statue but think it's a great piece.

A typical street.

This is what I picture New Orleans looking like.

The flag was created in 1895, by the Puerto Rican section of the Cuban Revolutionary Party, which advocated independence for Puerto Rico and Cuba from Spanish rule. Its design is the same as the Cuban flag, but with the colors inverted. Before 1952, police arrested anyone displaying the flag on charges of insubordination against the United States. When Puerto Rico became a Commonwealth that year, the flag became the island's official emblem.

El Castillo San Felipe del Morro was quite a sight. El Morro is Puerto Rico's best known fortress. Spanish troops fortified this 'morro'. which means 'promontory', to keep seaborne enemies out of San Juan.

It was a windy day and there were lots of people out in the sun, flying kites and running around.

A cemetary by the sea. My grandmother's family (The Watters) make tombstones in New Castle, Pennsylvania. So, it's in my blood.

I've always found graveyards to be peaceful places; even more so when they're by the ocean.

Cooling off...

We shopped for a bit and then took a taxi to the port to board our ship, Royal Caribbean's Serenade of The Seas. It seemed familiar... come to find out it's the sister ship of Radiance of the Seas, the ship that I sailed to Alaska on.

The itinerary:

Day 1: San Juan Puerto Rico

Day 2: Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

Day 3: St. John's, Antigua

Day 4: Philipsburg, St. Maarten

Day 5: Castries, St. Lucia

Day 6: Bridgetown, Barbados

Day 7: At Sea

Day 8: San Juan, Puerto Rico

The "compulsary muster drill..." everybody in their life jackets heading to their stations. Last year somebody had, no joke, urinated on mine and I kept asking to take it off and they made me wear it.

Let the games begin!