Maynard High School Spanish Club Trip June 24-30, 2006

Puerto Rico:  June 24-30, 2006

Palm tree in Vieques Island

Old San Juan and El Morro Fortress

   Our first morning in San Juan had us walking as a group to a nearby restaurant called, “Bebo’s” to have a quick breakfast. We then got back in our bus and headed to Old San Juan and El Morro Fortress. On the way we were able to see the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista where the remains of Ponce de Leon rest.  We also saw the equivalent of our State House in Puerto Rico (we went inside and marveled at the beautiful artwork in the domed ceiling and walls among other things), and also some other historically significant buildings that date back to the 1500’s (they were built by Ponce de Leon’s men).

  We toured the El Morro Fortress and learned how it was used even as late as World War II to fend off German submarines (according to our tour guide, “Papa Lion”).  The weather was super hot and humid.

  We walked through the tiny winding streets of Old San Juan and saw the beautifully colored buildings that are so European-looking because of the Spanish influence, as Puerto Rico was a Spanish Colony for a very long time.  We then had some time to shop and eat some lunch on our own before heading back to the hotel.  Some of us had lunch with Papa Lion who Knew the best local places to eat. We were able to try some yummy authentic cuisine (“tostones” or fried plantains, chicken and rice with beans on the side or “arroz con pollo y habichuelas” and some awesome freshly-squeezed slushy, cold lemonade, and even some “mallorcas” for dessert which are lightly crepe-like fried dough).

  We headed back to the hotel and had some time before dinner at Bebo’s so some of us took a dip in the pool and others checked out the local art museum down the street.

El Morro Fortress

At El Morro

Left: The streets of Old San Juan; Above: Our group in front of the Capitol Building; Below: Those of us who ate in Downtown Old San Juan at La Bonbonera.

Left: Beautiful artwork on the ceiling of the Capital building; Below: Another view of El Morro Fortress (also a part of the U.S. National Parks System).