La Isla del Encanto

​Greetings from beautiful San Juan, Puerto Rico!  Upon arrival in San Juan, a cab carried us  to our hotel – La Concha Renaissance. The front desk upgraded to suites at check in, so we’re enjoying some extra space this evening. The hotel is beautiful, with a lovely enclosed courtyard, ocean vistas, and fountains throughout. It makes us wish we had snuck away to La Isla Encanta a day sooner, to have more time to enjoy the ambiance.

After refreshing from our red-eye flight, we headed off to Viejo San Juan. Dropped off by the Cristobal Colon statue, we lunched outside near the plaza.  Soaking up the ocean breeze and tropical music, we slowly slipped into vacation mode. It was a long, leisurely lunch. Dave and I shared some grilled chicken and beef, as well as fried plantains. Yummy!

​With full, happy bellies, we were ready to begin exploring the island. Our goal was to get to the end of the cape, to visit El Morro, but to see whatever we found on our path. What ensued was a lovely stroll down El Paseo de la Princesa, past the Raices fountain, and up El Morro promenade. The beauty of Old San Juan is the interspersing of new and old, the ancient city walls surrounded by newer, vibrantly painted buildings. Set against the backdrop of the sea, the scene that’s painted is truly remarkable.

​Turning the corner we saw San Felipe Del Morro Castle, (otherwise known as El Morro). Set between the green cliff grass and the turquoise sea, it was truly stunning. Add in the charm of the locals flying their colorful kites on the lawn and it was spectacular. We spent some time exploring the fort, being careful not to slip and fall on the uneven surfaces. (If anyone was going to do that, it would have been me!) The simple beauty of the place was overwhelming. The erosion of time on the structure is great, but in that age there is also immense beauty.

​Exiting the fort, we wound our way back to where we started, and a last stop for the day.: San Cristobal Castle. Another massive fortification, full of rich history, it is also beautiful in its ways, created in a different time period and unique architectural style. By this point were running out of steam, so we didn’t stay long, but I’m so glad we were able to experience it.

San Juan truly blends the old and new in its own special way, creating an island experience unlike any other. I’m so thankful we had today to appreciate the history and beauty of this place. I will remember it fondly!