Old San Juan

Our Posts about Old San Juan

Steve
Steve

Timelapsing Around El Morro in Old San Juan

morro

With magical memories of The Epic Side of Trinidad timelapse video still fresh in our minds, we simply couldn’t resist sharing this similarly amazing timelapse perspective on El Morro, the sprawling 16th century fort that’s as much a symbol of Old San Juan and Puerto Rico as anything else.

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Steve
Steve

On-Site Old San Juan: Boozing with Actress Amanda Redman at Maria’s

Maria's Bar, Old San Juan/SBPR

Just about anywhere you go, especially in the Caribbean, you’re bound to find one or two bars that exemplify the soul of each destination. Generally, these bars are old, dark and gritty, like the old Moonraker Bar in Christiansted. They’re places with strong character that often attract strange characters with strong drinks, like the amazing Painkillers they used to serve at the Sundowner in Frederiksted. Catering in no special way to no specific group in particular, but somehow welcoming to all, these are my kinds of bars.
In tiny Old San Juan, the bar that best fits this bill is Maria’s.

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Steve
Steve

On-Site Old San Juan: Reggae Night at La Sombrilla Rosa

Jesus watches over the revelers at La Sombrilla Rosa/SBPR

Anyone who likes to party would absolutely love Old San Juan. If you haven’t been there in awhile, though, take note: it’s now illegal to wander the streets of the old city with drink in-hand.
No really, take note! This party-pooping precept doesn’t fall under the broad and nebulous category of illegal activities that aren’t necessarily enforced with vigor in the region. They’re actually serious about this, something I learned first-hand when I happened upon the bar pictured here during my most recent trip to Puerto Rico last September.
This is La Sombrilla Rosa, a small, out of the way bar located in the back streets along the northern section of Old San Juan.

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Steve
Steve

On-Site Old San Juan: My Night in the ‘Museum’ Called The Gallery Inn

Even keychains are original art/SBPR

Stay in special places and you’ll meet special people. It’s a rule I’ve followed over the years that has spawned many great friendships and brushes with fame. Case in point, my last trip to Old San Juan, where no more than 10 minutes after checking into The Gallery Inn, I met Anton Kuerti.
Who’s he? Oh, only one of the most accomplished classical pianists of our time; a master in the works of Beethoven who initially rose to fame after performing with the Boston Pops in 1949… at the tender age of 11. Most of us guys will remember age 11 as a time when we were still riotously amused by games like Pull My Finger.

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Steve
Steve

On-Site Old San Juan: Brickhaus Bar Serves Sports with a Side of Samba

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I’m a really big football fan. College, NFL, high school – I’m always up for watching a game. I also really love Brazilian jazz. My tastes mostly skew toward old school artists like Gilberto Gil, Cesaria Evora and Stan Getz, but I’m also big on the stars of today – Bebel Gilberto, Céu and others. As you can imagine, it’s not often that these disparate loves come together, but when you travel the Uncommon Caribbean way you should always expect the unexpected.
While wandering around Old San Juan following my adventure in playing dominoes with a few locals, I happened upon a bar called Brickhaus.

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Steve
Steve

Deal of the Week: Scary-Good Savings at San Juan’s Most Haunted Hotel

El Convento in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico/SBPR

In a town so old that the word “old” is actually in its name; where signs of spirituality are everywhere; and legions of soldiers, pirates and other assorted colorful characters have fought and died, it stands to follow that Old San Juan has a rich haunted history. Among the best places to enjoy the ancient city’s paranormal pursuits: Hotel El Convento.
A former Carmelite Convent dating back to the 1640′s, El Convento is today one of the finest boutique hotels in the Caribbean. Not only is El Convento rated as a AAA four-diamond property, but it’s also the only hotel in Puerto Rico that can boast membership in The Small Luxury Hotels of the World, and it’s the oldest member of the Historic Hotels in America – talk about prestige!

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Steve
Steve

My ‘For Dummies’ Guide to Taking Pictures in Old San Juan

La Rogativa

I am not a photographer. I’ve loved taking pictures for as long as I can remember, though. Some of them, I’m told, are even pretty good. But unlike my brother Patrick, whose photo essays of New York Carnival, Fort-de-France and people watching planes in St. Maarten are some of my favorite posts we’ve run, I’m no photo pro. This, of course, is another reason why I love Old San Juan.
The ancient city is so beautiful in so many different ways that it’s almost impossible not to come away with at least a few treasured snapshots. I have a ton of pics captured in normal auto settings from my many trips to the city through the years, but this time I decided to try something a little different.

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