Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Muy Rapido!
After a very strange flight schedule that had us arriving in San Juan, Puerto Rico at 3:30am, we checked into Casa del Caribe B&B.
1 After a very strange flight schedule that had us arriving in San Juan, Puerto Rico at 3:30am, we checked into Casa del Caribe B&B.
 Our little room at Casa del Caribe, and our home base for our Puerto Rican weekend!
2 Our little room at Casa del Caribe, and our home base for our Puerto Rican weekend!
 A whimsical fountain at a park near our B&B.
3 A whimsical fountain at a park near our B&B.
 After checking in, we set out to San Juan's National Historic Site- the Castillo San Cristobal fort overlooking the ocean's edge.
4 After checking in, we set out to San Juan's National Historic Site- the Castillo San Cristobal fort overlooking the ocean's edge.
 The fort's ruined walls surround a lovely park and San Juan's Old Town.
5 The fort's ruined walls surround a lovely park and San Juan's Old Town.
The fort overlooking the Atlantic.
6 The fort overlooking the Atlantic.
 Fort seflie!
7 Fort seflie!
 Overlooking the ocean.
8 Overlooking the ocean.
 San Juan's famous turreted walls.
9 San Juan's famous turreted walls.
 Selfie #2!
10 Selfie #2!
A walk along the fort's edge leads to this beautiful park, El Morro, filled with kite flyers.
11 A walk along the fort's edge leads to this beautiful park, El Morro, filled with kite flyers.
 The National Park sign to El Morro!
12 The National Park sign to El Morro!
 Kites and ocean breezes :)
13 Kites and ocean breezes :)
 Walking out to the edge of the ocean bluff at El Morro.
14 Walking out to the edge of the ocean bluff at El Morro.
 The amazing view from the end of El Morro
15 The amazing view from the end of El Morro
A closeup of the old graveyard bordering the ocean
16 A closeup of the old graveyard bordering the ocean
 Hangin' on the fort walls :)
17 Hangin' on the fort walls :)
 A wider shot of the Atlantic on the left, and Old Town on the right
18 A wider shot of the Atlantic on the left, and Old Town on the right
 Lovely Spanish colonial buildings border El Morro Park.
19 Lovely Spanish colonial buildings border El Morro Park.
 After El Morro, we explored the alleyways of Old Town.
20 After El Morro, we explored the alleyways of Old Town.
Enjoying rum in a typical San Juan outdoor cafe :)
21 Enjoying rum in a typical San Juan outdoor cafe :)
 The lovely wrought iron balconies, vibrant colors, and cobblestone streets of Old San Juan.
22 The lovely wrought iron balconies, vibrant colors, and cobblestone streets of Old San Juan.
 Lunch at a classic San Juan restaurant includes El Presidente cerveza.
23 Lunch at a classic San Juan restaurant includes El Presidente cerveza.
 A local recommended this place to us when we asked for a good, cheap, authentic local diner. Despite its deliciousness and cheapness, we were the only diners!
24 A local recommended this place to us when we asked for a good, cheap, authentic local diner. Despite its deliciousness and cheapness, we were the only diners!
 MMMMMMMofongo (plaintains stuffed with meat).......
25 MMMMMMMofongo (plaintains stuffed with meat).......
And, of course, Cuba Libres. Viva Puerto Rico!
26 And, of course, Cuba Libres. Viva Puerto Rico!
 After lunch, we boarded a ferry for the 15-minute ride to Catano, to the Bacardi Rum Factory!
27 After lunch, we boarded a ferry for the 15-minute ride to Catano, to the Bacardi Rum Factory!
 Docking in Catano, and heading off for some rum samples.
28 Docking in Catano, and heading off for some rum samples.
 Our Lonely Planet guide advised us not to waste $5 on a cab ride to the Bacardi Factory- it was a "short 15-minute walk." Lonely Planet lied. It was over an hour. So we flagged down an ice cream truck to sustain our hungry, rum-less selves.
29 Our Lonely Planet guide advised us not to waste $5 on a cab ride to the Bacardi Factory- it was a "short 15-minute walk." Lonely Planet lied. It was over an hour. So we flagged down an ice cream truck to sustain our hungry, rum-less selves.
 After a long, hot hour of walking, we arrived at the Bacardi Factory!
30 After a long, hot hour of walking, we arrived at the Bacardi Factory!
Yay for free tours and free booze!
31 Yay for free tours and free booze!
 The strange design of the factory: Behind Matt is the open-air bar.
32 The strange design of the factory: Behind Matt is the open-air bar.
 Inside the bar, and stockin' up on free rum!
33 Inside the bar, and stockin' up on free rum!
 Me and 500 of my closest friends
34 Me and 500 of my closest friends
 He'll take one of everything, thanks
35 He'll take one of everything, thanks
The Art Deco-style Bacardi factory building
36 The Art Deco-style Bacardi factory building
 Wheeee RUM!
37 Wheeee RUM!
 After the Bacardi Tour, we headed back to Old San Juan to watch the sun set over Old Town.
38 After the Bacardi Tour, we headed back to Old San Juan to watch the sun set over Old Town.
 San Juan's Paseo de la Princesa, a lovely oceanfront promenade along the city's walls.
39 San Juan's Paseo de la Princesa, a lovely oceanfront promenade along the city's walls.
 Sculptures line the promenade.
40 Sculptures line the promenade.
The fountains on the waterfront.
41 The fountains on the waterfront.
 Enjoying a late afternoon walk....
42 Enjoying a late afternoon walk....
 The sun setting over Old San Juan's turreted fort, which is a symbol of the city.
43 The sun setting over Old San Juan's turreted fort, which is a symbol of the city.
 Our afternoon stroll.
44 Our afternoon stroll.
 Watching people watching the sun set :)
45 Watching people watching the sun set :)
One of the many lovely sitting areas on the promenade, ringed by the Old Town walls and banyan trees.
46 One of the many lovely sitting areas on the promenade, ringed by the Old Town walls and banyan trees.
 KITTIES!!!!!!!!!!
47 KITTIES!!!!!!!!!!
 More beautiful Caribbean color in Old Town.
48 More beautiful Caribbean color in Old Town.
 As we headed back to our B&B, the light was perfect on the colonial buildings outside Old Town.
49 As we headed back to our B&B, the light was perfect on the colonial buildings outside Old Town.
 The entryway up to the old fort.
50 The entryway up to the old fort.
Entry selfie!
51 Entry selfie!
 That night, we searched for a cheap, authentic meal in Condado, the Miami Beach of San Juan. We found an empty, divey place and walked in...only to find that the diners were in the back, at tables hanging over the ocean. This is my (and my drink's) late evening view.
52 That night, we searched for a cheap, authentic meal in Condado, the Miami Beach of San Juan. We found an empty, divey place and walked in...only to find that the diners were in the back, at tables hanging over the ocean. This is my (and my drink's) late evening view.
 The next day, we rented a car and set out to visit El Yunque National Park.
53 The next day, we rented a car and set out to visit El Yunque National Park.
 El Yunque's La Coca Falls Viewing Area!
54 El Yunque's La Coca Falls Viewing Area!
 The lovely waterfalls- not huge, but pretty nonetheless.
55 The lovely waterfalls- not huge, but pretty nonetheless.
El Yunque waterfall selfie!
56 El Yunque waterfall selfie!
 El Yunque is the only rainforest in the US Parks System. On the 20-minute drive to the park, the temperature went from 90F to 70F, and from sunny blue sky to pouring rain.
57 El Yunque is the only rainforest in the US Parks System. On the 20-minute drive to the park, the temperature went from 90F to 70F, and from sunny blue sky to pouring rain.
 A lovely pond (man-made, but still! Pretty!) at El Yunque.
58 A lovely pond (man-made, but still! Pretty!) at El Yunque.
 After the rainforest, we headed 15 minutes farther east to Luquillo Beach.
59 After the rainforest, we headed 15 minutes farther east to Luquillo Beach.
 Luquillo is known as the Riveria of Puerto Rico. And given that it was a Monday during the offseason, the normally crowded beach was wonderfully empty.
60 Luquillo is known as the Riveria of Puerto Rico. And given that it was a Monday during the offseason, the normally crowded beach was wonderfully empty.
The setting was like a movie set: Blue water, palm trees ringing the beach, and El Yunque hovering the background.
61 The setting was like a movie set: Blue water, palm trees ringing the beach, and El Yunque hovering the background.
 Caribbean beach awesomeness!
62 Caribbean beach awesomeness!
 Heading out for a swim...
63 Heading out for a swim...
 Playing in the ocean...
64 Playing in the ocean...
 Action shot!
65 Action shot!
I think I have this photo of Matt in at least 5 countries :)
66 I think I have this photo of Matt in at least 5 countries :)
 Our afternoon's view.
67 Our afternoon's view.
 I couldn't resist taking a photo of Matt while he slept in paradise. :)
68 I couldn't resist taking a photo of Matt while he slept in paradise. :)
 A long shot of the picture-perfect Luquillo Beach.
69 A long shot of the picture-perfect Luquillo Beach.
 Apparently Matt borrowed my camera when I played in the water.
70 Apparently Matt borrowed my camera when I played in the water.
Stolen photo #2
71 Stolen photo #2
 Stolen photo #3
72 Stolen photo #3
 After a long day of rainforests, waterfalls, and beaches, we deserve 2 rum punches in Old Town!!
73 After a long day of rainforests, waterfalls, and beaches, we deserve 2 rum punches in Old Town!!
 For our final dinner, we went to Cafe Puerto Rico on a picturesque plaza in Old Town.
74 For our final dinner, we went to Cafe Puerto Rico on a picturesque plaza in Old Town.
 Mmmm....more mofongo, strip steak, and octopus salad for me (after just 2 days, I needed VEGETABLES).
75 Mmmm....more mofongo, strip steak, and octopus salad for me (after just 2 days, I needed VEGETABLES).