PUERTO RICO SAN JUAN   Having strong need for a "cooling neuronal" after a difficult period ... We left a few days at 1h30 flight from here, discover San Juan, capital of the state of Puerto Rico. and there ... EXPATRIATION GUARANTEED !!!!! 
   
    Dates:  
   1493: Christopher Columbus discovers the island inhabited by the Taino Indians. 
   1508: Ponce de Leon (companion of Columbus) named a bay called Puerto Rico ("rich port") and founded San Juan. 
   1898: Spain is obliged to cede the island to the United States. 
   1917: Jones Act gives U.S. citizenship to Puerto Ricans. 
   1952: Puerto Rico is a commonwealth status with the United States. 
   In November 1993, Puerto Ricans say NO to a referendum to the possibility of becoming the 51st state of the Union. 
   
    Population:  
   3.9 million inhabitants high figure for an area of 8897 km2 (slightly larger than Corsica) 
   
   2 million Puerto Ricans living in the U.S. (mostly NYC) 
   4 of 5 residents are white and 1 in 5 is black. 
   
   All this to explain this very SPANISH environment (architecture, monuments, language, music, ...) with a very American way of life. 
   
   
     Embarking on an ATR propeller 
      
       
  Overview of the island of Montserrat 
    
 
   Fortress El Moro built in 1539.
   Fortress El Moro built in 1539.         
     
     
  Main Plaza    
   
  Isla de Cabras 
     
   
 
 Santa Maria Magdalena Cemetery  
 
  
    walk through the narrow streets of Old San Juan
   walk through the narrow streets of Old San Juan      
 
   
      
         
  Bea waiting for a partner to do some of dominoes. 
   
 
   
        San Juan by night
  San Juan by night 
  
 
    
  
  
  
   Visit obliged as tasters of the Bacardi rum distillery, rum, world famous .... Their agricultural rum is significantly worse than our Bologna ...
  Visit obliged as tasters of the Bacardi rum distillery, rum, world famous .... Their agricultural rum is significantly worse than our Bologna ... 
   
  Palm Tree Park Bacardi. 
 One more abused than the other rum ...  
   
  
  
   few beautiful buildings in the town of San Juan 
  
    
  
 
    
  
  
   
  
 
   
        The Capitol
  The Capitol 
  
  
 
    
  
   
  
   Castillo de San Cristobal  
   Construction started in 1539  
   
        
     
  Part of hide and seek   
  
  Meeting "ball"    
   
  
  I do not think Bea would be interested in video on the handling of the gun! 
  
  
   Street Scenes  
    
  
 
 
   
         Breakfast 'on the terrace of the hotel overlooking the city.
  Breakfast 'on the terrace of the hotel overlooking the city. 
  Not unpleasant. 
  
 
    A boat in the city.
  A boat in the city. 
  
 
    tasting Doonuts before boarding.
  tasting Doonuts before boarding. 
  
   Bye Bye Puerto Rico.
   Bye Bye Puerto Rico.  
  It was an excellent stay.