Early March, 2012
OK, Let's Go!
The Beach Downtown San Juan, Puerto Rico
Old San Juan
A skipper asked me several times to sail with him from Norfolk, VA to the Caribbean. He really wanted me to go because I was the person with the most experience cruising. The troubling part was that he had about 5 crew on his 50’ boat with no water maker. Six people living on a boat is not that much fun much less with a shortage of water. I declined the trip.
Several months later, he again asked me to join the boat. It was now in Puerto Rico going to the Caribbean Islands and he had less crew. He said I would have a great time. So I flew to Puerto Rico. Once on the boat, there was an air of discontent with two distinct groups of people…the skipper and the crew. They seemed totally separate and the crew wanted to mutiny. It was not a happy boat. I was given a salon bunk out in the open with no place to put any of my things. It was not a good living arrangement nor would the lack of positive energy be fun. Then the captain told me there was a slight change in plans. The boat was going to Panama and then bashing up to San Francisco against the current the entire way. So no Caribbean trip and a horrible trip instead to a destination that I didn’t want to go. Woops.
So after one night on the boat, and fortunately it was at the dock, I made arrangements to stay on a 50’ Swan sail boat down the dock while I regrouped. I had the good fortune of being invited on a 38’ catamaran in St. Martin going down the Caribbean Islands toward Trinidad. I jumped at the chance and flew to St. Martin.
I had several days to enjoy downtown San Juan, Puerto Rico as the marina was right there. I had been there 25 years ago and it was just as lovely today as it was back then.
Old San Juan
Hat shop for stying while dancing salsa.
Paseo de la Princessa by the water.
Live music with salsa dancing on Sunday afternoon. Everyone dances!
The fountain at the end of the paseo with a welcome shower.
A famous creole restaurant - Raices,
eating 'mofongo' and 'mojado raices'. Delicious!
eating 'mofongo' and 'mojado raices'. Delicious!
The wall for defending the coastline during the 17th and 18th centuries.
The cemetary is just below.
Outside the museum kids play in the jumping fountains.
The cemetery, morrow and coastline.
Museo de Las Americas. Definitively work a visit.
An interesting shaker.
Native American Ceremony Costume. The size is enormous!
Costumes
This costume head appeared to be of painted wood.
It must have been heavy but it was or ornate and exotic.
