Art Deco in San Juan - Neat stuff.

This is the check in desk at the Conrad Hotel in San Juan.


Just down the street from our hotel, this is a good example of the art deco style we so enjoyed seeing.


And this is a building Ed says we should purchase and renovate...we had such fun renovating our kitchen! 8-)

Castillo de San Christobal, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Castillo de San Felipe del Morro

This was an amazing day, I really loved seeing these forts. I could not get a tour, so I took a public bus (.75) to the old San Juan, then the free Trolley to run around. It was beautiful, but very very breezy.

The pretty domed building is the Capitol building in Old San Juan.

Castillo De San Christobal

Castillo de San Christobal

Bacardi Distillery, San Juan, Puerto Rico 2011

The day got off to an auspicious beginning, when the concierge called to let me know they had CANCELLED my tour for the day!!
Being the determined woman I am, I decided to get to Bacardi's on my own. So I set off, not speaking a word of Spanish. I couldn't figure out the bus system, so I took a taxi to Old San Juan from the hotel. Cost me $15.00
From there, I found a ferry to cross the water to Catano, where the distillery is. Ferry was .50

So far so good. However I had a little problem finding the taxi on the Catano side= finally found them, jumped in a van with some other American tourists and paid $3.00 for the ride to Bacardi's. The return ride to the ferry was $12.00 because I couldn't find the tourists to share with!

Bacardi uses solar energy for the visitor center and gift shop.


But who knew their emblem is a fruit bat?

It seems the old Mrs. Bacardi felt they were a symbol of good health and well being for the family. Kind of freaks me out though.

Views clear to the Atlantic El Yunque Feb. 8, 2011 Puerto Rico

La Coca Falls in El Yunque

Basa Grande, built by the CCC.

These fern trees grow 40 feet high~!

Today's View is pretty cool.

Today when I had to get up so early - you know Ed likes to get to Dulles at the butt crack of dawn - I thought briefly, "Oh crap, I should have just stayed home and slept."
But, I slept on the plane, and the I woke up and saw sunshine out my window - then I saw an island in the distance, surrounded by beautiful blue water. I could feel my poor feeble heart smiling!

This is really really a lovely place, a lovely country!

This hotel is very 1970's - it reminds me of the South Beach Miami scene. This shower is really pretty. I'll get some photos tomorrow of the art deco buildings around us. There are beautiful buildings and next to them are abandoned buildings. Quit a mix. We are in the Condado area.

There are two pools at our hotel, one is salt water and the other is fresh water. The swim up bar seats about 24 people. There is a volleyball net up on one part of one of the pools.

I am going to see El Yunque Caribbean National Forest tomorrow.