The "The Streets Of Old San Juan" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Walking on the deep-blue cobblestone streets in the heart of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico.  The stones were originally used as ballast on Spanish ships, but eventually were used for the streets in the old city.  Old San Juan, founded in 1521, is the oldest city that flies a United States flag and is a compact, colorful mini-city that seems to be made for walking.  The town of close to half a million residents is only three square miles and is dominated with Spanish colonial-style buildings that date back to the 16th and 17th centuries.  On either end of the north side of the city stand their two forts, El Morro and Castillo de San Cristobal which are less than a mile apart.  Old San Juan, the second oldest European-founded city in the Americas (Santo Domingo being the oldest), is one of the most vibrant cities in the Caribbean that features overhanging ironwork balconies, pastel facades and courtyards galore.  The city is known as La Ciudad Amurallada, since it is surrounded by over 3 miles of walls that at one time circled the entire colonial capital.  Sometime in the 20th century the city partially removed some of the wall to incorporate expansion into Miramar, Santurce, Condado Hato Rey and Rio Piedras.  The city with its fortresses and walls was recognized by the United Nations as a World Heritage Site, one of only 12 U.S. National Park units to be so designated.  Today I will take you along as Carol and I explored the city by foot as well as by trolley.  I hope my photographs are able to capture the uniqueness and old-world charm that lines the walls of the city of Old San Juan.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - Remember to click on the photos to enlarge them. 

To start the tour ….. This Government building built in the 1840s is known as the Asilo de Beneficencia and is the home for the poor and indigent people of the city.

The Totem Telurico is located in Quincentennial Plaza and was designed by Puerto Rican artist Jaime Suarez.  It's made of clay from across the Americas.

Colorful buildings line this street in Old San Juan.

This pastel stucco home has the overhanging balcony that is featured on many of the homes in the city.

I love the way the street's names are embedded into the walls of the house or store.  The signs are mostly in tiles.

More ironwork balconies and one house in the foreground has a wrought iron light.

A variety of musicians were seen throughout the city with a hat or jar presented for tips.  This gentleman was playing my favorite, Lady of Spain, on his accordion.  Almost stopped to ask if I could try playing the song.

The pastel colors, tiled street and balconies make this automobile deficient street a wonderful sight. 

These tiled steps direct the viewer towards the Crucifix in the open window above.

Another minstrel playing his guitar along the sidewalk.

This archway between two city homes leads to a courtyard in the distance. 

This tree-lined street was just so romantic!  Too bad the cars had to be along the curb.

This photo was taken through an open window that had wrought-iron bars for protection. 

Another lovely home with wrought-iron balconies and arched openings.  

This home added the canvas awnings to protect from the afternoon heat.

Strays and feral cats were abundant on the streets of the city.  This little cat had such a forlorn look.

I took this photograph in what is known as the Plaza de Armas.  The plaza stands in front of City Hall and there you will also find this bench with a statue called Tite Curet Alonso, a world famous Puerto Rican "Salsa" composer who wrote over 2,000 songs during his career.  He is sitting on the bench, waiting for people to sit and have their photo taken with him.  Tite was humble, friendly, open and inviting just as his statue is today.

All the trolley signs are displayed above the stop which carries the number of the stop.

The trolley is approaching us.  Notice how little space it has to traverse the streets of Old San Juan.  A few times we had to stop and wait for someone or something to move before we could continue.

A church to the left with another beautiful home lined with wrought-iron balconies.

This is actually a Pizza Hut restaurant placed in an old building with beautiful architecture.

Corner home with pastel colors and a tile roof.

I was not at a loss for buildings to photograph.  Here is another example of the Spanish architecture of the city of Old San Juan.

Some of the tile work on the edges of the second floor of a home in the city.

And here are some architectural enhancements to another home.

Another sculpture which lines the streets of the city.  This one is dedicated to Eugenio Maria De Hostos on behalf of a grateful homeland.

This is the roofline of the Cathedral de San Juan built in 1521.  I have already posted a story about this beautiful cathedral. 

This roofline of the Capillo de Cristo or Chapel of the Pigeons is located along the wall of the city.  I have also written a story about this beautiful location.

The final two photos are of the San Juan Gate which is near the Governor's House on the San Juan wall.  It is reached by walking down the street across from the Cathedral towards the water.  The street is beautiful, lined with old trees and gorgeous houses.