San Juan, Puerto Rico on Liberty of the Seas 8/26/2010

I am back in San Juan, Puerto Rico after 15 years has passed.  When I was a shoppie on Princess Cruises I was doing 10 days thru the Panama Canal so this port was our turn around port.  I know the downtown area very well; except I was pleasantly surprised to see how they have beautified it.  It looks great.  It still has that old town charm and very safe, you see armed Police all over.  This is a view from the ship and if you look closely, you can see the old Forte in the background.  I left the ship early and walked a bit of the streets before settling in at Starbucks. 

On the ship we get a flyer before each port that tells of the shopping and points of interest.  This other picture is my view outside of Starbucks.  Through out the cobble stoned streets are small street vendors selling all kinds of things for the passengers of the Ship. 

Here are more pictures of the streets of downtown Puerto Rico.  I stopped into the United States Post Office which is strange to see but what it is hard to remember that San Juan is part of the US.  I had to buy post card stamps and while I was buying them, I was talking to the man at the counter, and he told me that they fought hard to get their own quarter and finally when they got it, they all partied in the streets.  He said that in the States they probably didn't care, and I agreed that I didn't remember hearing about it, and I watch a lot of news.  He also told me that they call the Polar Bear stamps their Puerto Rician Polar Bear, lol.  He was fun to talk to but then people started lining up and he was the only one working.  He told me a few other fun facts about his city, but I don't remember at this time, I will think about it and add it when I do.  They are friendly there except at Starbucks I have to say that they were a bit grumpy.  While I was working on my computer a few of the shoppies came in and joined me at this very small table and we all had laptops.  Funny how they didn't want to get another table and have more room, I choose the corner table in the front to be alone and watch the outside traffic.  Anyway, I finished and left Starbucks to take a few more pictures.

This is a closer picture of the Forte that I took from the ship.  It looks small but old.  The next time I visit I will take a tour of it and pictures of course.

This is a monument in the center of town.  As you can see it is a beautiful day out.

Here is what you can see on almost every corner, and I am not sure if this is every day or just when a ship is in port.  I will have to ask the next time.  But is very assuring to see.

After leaving the Post office I headed back to the ship for an early sailing.  Much to my surprise we had to show a photo ID to be able to enter the pier area.  We did not have to at any of the other ports but maybe because it is the US territory, lucky I had my wallet on me because I left my passport on the ship.

I decided to take a picture of the dock as our ship pulled away.  It is a nice looking pier, it amazes me how this ship can turn on a dime.  After pulling away sideways from the dock the ship turns within minutes and we a full speed ahead to Labadee, Haiti. 

And now for the shoreline of Puerto Rico.  The water is a magnificent blue and the shore is lined with old and more modern buildings.  Some are colorful, which I assume are the older ones and then the more modern a simple white or off white and very tall.  The very old forte like at the end of the point interested me and as we got closer, I see they have made it into a Golf Course, hmmm, too bad, I guess.
It is another day off for me so up to the gym and then to the steam room.

My bed buddy tonight.  Can you guess what it is?