Escudo de Puerto Rico

Welcome to my dear home, Old San Juan. It is quite a place. One of the oldest cities under the US Flag. We are a Commonwealth of the United States. San Juan has almost 500 years of history behind it. Puerto Rico was discovered by Cristofero Colombo (Christopher Columbus' real name) in 1493. San Juan eventually became the intermediary stop were almost all ships would restock before making their long trans-Atlantic crossing back to Spain. Also, all ships arriving from Europe to the Caribbean usually would first stop at this very important port. The Spanish Galleons would pass through here for supplies,loaded with all their gold and booty from Mexico and Mezo-America. For the Spaniards Puerto Rico was only important because of its location. Its Gold was quickly exhausted and the Taino Indians proved to be poor workers(slaves). We have a saying here: "The Spaniard took all the gold in trade for "adoquines" (cobblestones)". Needless to say, Old San Juan is one of the Gems of the Caribbean with it's beautiful blue skies,quaint, colorful colonial style homes and balmy weather....a paradise indeed. Enjoy your trip....!!!!

Antonio

Roberto,Maria Angelica and Jorge ( My Nephews and Niece) enjoy the sun at Paseo de la Pricesa (park overlooking the Bay),with el Morro fortress in the background.

"La Rogativa", a statue overlooking the Bay of San Juan,commemorates the ingenuity of the Puerto Rican people. Back in the 1700's ,San Juan's Port was a desirable strategic point to control the Caribbean and many powers wanted to rule it. When the English launched a naval attack to take posession of the city by night, the local Bishop came up with a brilliant plan that sent the invaders on a retreat. He gathered all the women and children and formed a procession. They all carried tourches, and from the English's viewpoint they appeared to be legions of armed soldiers. Thusly they made an about face, thinking it not worth their while to lauch an attack on this well protected city.

La Perla, located outside the fortress city walls of San Juan, was originally the neighborhood where the outcasts of the city would live,as well as some of the poor families of the soldiers who were stationed at El Morro. This "barrio" was full of wooden huts and notorious individuals. It still is considered a racy part of town, comparable to Hell's Kitchen in New York,years back. The HBO movie "Arturo Sandoval, for love and Country" was filmed here. La perla bears quite a resemblance to some of the "barrios" of Havana.

Music "En Mi Viejo San Juan" by Noel Estrada

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