A walk along the magnificence of the Old San Juan, Puerto Rico Part 1
Gold spells so much about Puerto Rico. The first economy that characterized Puerto Rico is the mining of gold and silver. They transport gold to Spain and to protect this, the Spaniards built massive walls and forts around San Juan. Today, Puerto Rico is no longer mining gold, but the massive walls and forts still mean a lot to its economy because it brings golden opportunity to the island as a major tourist attraction.
Tourism in Puerto Rico brings over a million cruise ship visitors every year, making tourism a major economic resource for Puerto Rico.
One of the most pleasing experiences anyone could get in Puerto Rico is a walking tour along the picturesque cobble stone streets, patios, hanging balconies, plazas and chapels that present a marriage of the past and the present of this historic city.
You can either reserve for a guided walking tour or leisurely walk while exploring the marvelous sites among the colorful colonial buildings and centuries-old fortress where you can marvel the site and the tropical breeze of the Atlantic Ocean.
This guided walking tour will grant you the golden experience of walking where Puerto Rico ancestors once walk, among the panoramic road leading to the wonderful sceneries and culture that make up the history of Puerto Rico.
Among the important places one will visit on a walking tour around the Old San Juan is the El Morro experience.
El Morro is a six-level fortress which begun construction in 1540 and was only completed construction 49 years thereafter. The final additions and completion of the entire El Morro known only happened in 1787.
El Morro stands tall 140 feet above sea with 18-foot thick walls, which makes up Fuerte San Felipe del Morro. This structural characteristic of El Morro stood strong amidst countless attacks including the 1898 Spanish-American War where American ships fired heavily destroying the fort’s lighthouse. As a proof of its formidability, its structures did not hurt as much except the destruction of its lighthouse, which was later on reinstated.
The tour to El Morro includes a visit to hidden passages and a cool stroll on the fort’s lawns where soldiers used to march while on guard.
This is Part 1 of a two part series. Part 2 of this Article will appear in our next online issue entitled "Old San Juan, Puerto Rico".
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