Then in 1508, Juan Ponce de Leon, a soldier who traveled with Columbus in 1493, invaded Puerto Rico with a small army of soldiers and became Puerto Rico’s first Governor.
About 30,000 Taino Aborigines who lived on the island in small tribes were enslaved to work the mines, but by 1514 the Tainos numbered less than 4,000, and African slaves were brought to cultivate sugarcane, the new agricultural industry.
The Spanish built a rich empire in the new world. Convoys of ships loaded with silver, pearls and all kinds of treasures from the new world sailed the Caribbean Sea and were often attacked by French, English and Dutch pirates. Spain authorized the fortification of San Juan in 1539 and the construction of El Morro de San Felipi Castle began in 1539. The city was completely encircled by a 50 foot wall in the 1630’s, made of solid sandstone blocks and held together with mortar, limestone, sand and water, and later the San Cristobal Castle was constructed to protect the eastern part of the city.
OLD SAN JUAN: Today, the streets are paved with cobbles of adoquine, a blue stone cast from furnace slag; they were brought over as ballast on Spanish ships and time and moisture have lent them their characteristic color. The city includes more than 400 carefully restored 16th and 17th-century Spanish colonial buildings. Especially significant are the exterior patios, plazas, hanging balconies and chapels making the historic city a charming and picturesque place to visit.
The Old San Juan attracts many tourists, who enjoy the gambling casinos, fine beaches, and tropical climate.
A leisurely walking tour is recommended for those who really want to experience this bit of Old World, especially because of the narrow, steep streets and frequently heavy traffic. Be sure to visit one of the main historic forts: Castillo San Felipi de Morro (El Morro is a six level castle 140 feet above the sea overlooking the Atlantic ocean and San Juan Bay) or Castillo San Cristobal (San Cristobal completed in 1771, this castle was designed to protect the city from land invasions.) There is a free trolley ride that covers some areas of Old San Juan.
Over 500 years old, Old San Juan was originally conceived as a military stronghold. This seven square-block walled city has evolved into a charming residential and commercial district. It has been designated a world-class historic site by the United Nations.
At the Tourist information Center (La Casita) you can pick up free literature and maps for your tour of Old San Juan and all of Puerto Rico. La Casita is located next to Plaza de la Darsena, overlooking San Juan Bay, near Pier I. Tel: 787-1709 0r 787-724-4788.
CULTURE: Puerto Rican culture is somewhat complex and colorful. Culture is a series of visual manifestations and interactions with the environment that make a region and/or a group of people different from the rest of the world. Puerto Rico, without a doubt has several unique characteristics that distinguish their culture from any other.
The people of Puerto Rico represent a cultural and racial mix. During the early 18th-century, the Spaniards in order to populate the country took Taino Indian women as brides. Later on as labor was needed to maintain crops and build roads, African slaves were imported, followed by the Chinese, Italian, French, German Lebanese immigrants. American expatriates came to the island after 1898. Long after Spain had lost control of Puerto Rico, Spanish immigrants continued to arrive on the island. The most significant new immigrant population arrived in the 1960s, when thousands of Cubans fled Fidel Castro’s Communist state. The latest arrivals have come from economically depressed Dominican Republic. This historic intermingling has resulted in a contemporary Puerto Rico practically without racial problems.
Puerto Rican food, cuisine and eating habits, music and family traditions define Puerto Rico.
Puerto Ricans love their country, and at the same time accept the free association with the United States, always emphasizing loyalty to their own culture, folklore and way of life.
The Casals festival and the San Juan Print Triennial, as well as a tour of Old San Juan and visits to San Juan’s delightful museums and art galleries provided a cultural adventure Latin-style!
The Casals Festival, founded in 1957 by famous cellist, conductor and composer Pablo Casals, brings the world’s most important musical talent to the island. This past season, Justino Diaz and Elias Lopez Soba celebrated their third year directing this festival musically and artistically. They are the first Puerto Ricans to hold these positions. www.festcasalpr.gobierno.pr
The San Juan Print Triennial: Latin America and the Caribbean, the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture was featured throughout galleries all over the San Juan Metropolitan area, the exhibition “Tran-Migrations: Printmaking As Contemporary Art,” Puerto Rico’s cultural event of the year. www.icp.gobierno.pf/apl/apl_noticlas.htm
Tourism Company Headquarters has a permanent collection of museum quality. It is located on Paseo de la Princesa, one of the most picturesque walkways in the Caribbean. It passes a romantic, former jail, now known as Puerto Rico Tourism Company Headquarters.
The San Juan Gate as it appears on Puerto Rico license plates is at one end of the walkway while a magnificent fountain Raices (Root) is at the other end. This fountain is a representation of Puerto Rico, an island emerging from the sea. The figures represent Puerto Rico’s heritage (Spanish, African and Taino Indian). The main cluster of figures is a family, Puerto Rico’s most important group. The central figure represents the freedom and uniqueness of Puerto Rican people. Throughout the fountain you will find details of their customs, like the woman dancing bomba, agricultural products that are staples and typical foods.
The tours of Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico was highlighted by giant 70 foot mural (all colors of Puerto Rico) depicting Puerto Rican culture in its theater.
At the MAC (Museum of Contemporary Art) there was the permanent collection plus the visiting exhibit by Puerto Rico’s Melquiades Rosario-Sastre. He is the most complex, original and profound sculptor of the Caribbean. Most of his interesting and thought-provoking sculptures were as tall as five feet made of wood .He expresses wit and an astonishing imaginative freedom. He was initially a carver and it shows in the meticulously labor-intense pieces.
Not to be missed are the art exhibits and collections of historic items that can easily be found throughout Old San Juan historic neighborhood: Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, which houses Puerto Rican paintings; Museo de Las Americas for Archaeological findings, Santos (wood carvings of saints), and crafts; Museo de Arte Historia exhibits Puerto Rican art and music. Many concerts and festivals are held here.
And don’t forget to enjoy the beautiful public Blue Flag Beach that hugs the coast.
Some of the trendiest restaurants are in the SOFO (South Fortaleza) district of Old San Juan.
The Parrot Club not only offers a varied and inventive menu, it also has a full bar service. The menu is written in Spanglish with a mix of Latino-Caribbean-Creole flavorings offers something for everyone. I had the blackened tuna in dark rum and orange essence sauce with yucca mash and it was outstanding. The menu changes periodically and is supervised by Chef Roberto Trevino, a recent contender in Iron Chef America.
The restaurant has a yellow-and-green-hued decorative theme conceived by Zafero that blends Caribbean culture and history with a splash of family musical lore. The paintings on the wall are created by her late father, George. The paintings to me will be my last impression of my trip…San Juan is one big beautiful canvas!