Swing of Sixty Degrees

Sunday was finally the first snow fall in Boston. Luckily, I went from this (on my deck)......to this. My work sent me to Puerto Rico again!Last time I was mostly in the hotel for a conference, but this time I was out and about trying to find different locations. The one thing I couldn't believe is that it is even more confusing than Boston! Example one: I asked for an address to an office and was told it is on Road #2. When I pressed for more info, I was told that they don't use house numbers. Now, this may not have been so confusing, but you can imagine that by generally using numbers rather than street names, there were many a road #2. I found a road #2 and drove the entire length of it three times before parking and trying on foot so I could ask people. It turned out that the office was on highway 2. Example two: One area did use street names, however, my Garmin GPS had completely different names for the streets than the signs I was seeing... and, like Boston, there is more than one street with the same name. I didn't mind the trouble so much, though. The landscape is amazingly green and tropical... and did I mention how sunny and blue the sky was? A nice change from the cold and gray.

I did manage to find a little time to see some sights (for Mel... the longest word we found in Russian: dostoprimachatelnocti). My favorite place was Viejo San Juan. It was built by the Spanish Empire and I imagine it to be what Spain would look like. I'll need to go there just to make sure. ;) There are also two castles/fortresses that were built hundreds of years ago, as early as 1539, and continually fortified for over 250 years. They had to protect the riches they gathered on the island.

First, I went to Castillo San Cristóbal. It was built second of the two and protected San Juan from land based attacks. This little guy somehow found his way into the castle and was hanging out.
Underground, they built mazes of tunnels connecting different parts of the castle, as well as access to outside. This was the dungeon. Really old graffiti of Spanish ships on the walls. Amazing, right?These three flags are the old Spanish military flag (known as the Cross of Burgundy), the Puerto Rican flag, and you probably recognize the US flag.

This is one of the four troop barracks, restored to what it would have looked like in the the late 18th century.

Castillo San Felipe del Morro (or El Morro, as commonly called) was built to protect this port city from sea going enemies.The half circles on the ground were tracks for the cannons, so they could swing and shoot them any direction.The main plaza where troops assembled for parades, inspections, and guard mounts.I also walked down to La Puerta de San Juan. This door was the official entrance to the city, through which everyone had to pass.Looking to the right of the gate along the shore.Old San Juan has amazing artwork scattered throughout the town. This was remembering fighting against the British when they attacked in 1598.

These blue bricks were used as ballasts, loaded in Spain to stabilize the ships until they could be replaced with gold bars in Puerto Rico.

One night, I attended a Festival at San Cristobal celebrating Puerto Rican culture. I love the horses on these three wise men costumes, who come on January 5th. Christmas is celebrated from the day after Thanksgiving until the middle of January.

Another tradition for parades.The many costumes were beautiful. Puerto Rico had influence from many different countries. For the last number, each of the crew brought up someone from the audience to dance. I went up and was awarded a travel book of Puerto Rico.This is the Plaza del Colon, all decorated for Christmas.

I really enjoy Puerto Rico, especially the warm weather this time of year. It caught up to me, though. As soon as I got back to Boston, I caught a cold. I wonder is the drop in temperature of sixty degrees had anything to do with it.