When thinking of Old San Juan, you may envision the beautiful blue cobble stone roads that intertwine within the city or dream of the endless beaches that surround the crystal blue Caribbean waters. If you concentrate, perhaps you taste the fusion of ripe fresh fruit prepared with Puerto Rican traditions and seasoning. But the romance that flows within the city streets like a warm summer breeze? Well, that is something you have to experience for yourself to really appreciate.
Old San Juan was nothing less that a treat for us. We chose an extended weekend, arriving around noon on Friday and leaving the same time on Monday. We stayed at the San Juan Marriott and Stellaris Casino on Ashford Avenue. On our first night in San Juan, we tried the hotel's Ristorante Tuscany. The food was delicious and the wine list extensive. Our waiter, Sam, was phenomenal, describing each and every course in detail, providing us with the local history, and site seeing tips as well. After an exciting day of travel, a taste of Tuscany went a long way! The San Juan Marriott offers many amenities including a spa that with an array of pampering indulgences. Although I am not the gambling type, I didn't have to force myself to take a stroll through the on-site casino and pull a slot machine lever or two. The atmosphere was buzzing with music and laughter and the staff was delightful and accommodating.
We spent the next two days in Old San Juan, which is absolutely breathtaking. We roamed the Castles of El Morro and San Cristobal in awe of the architectural design and shear size. The city is famous for its brightly coral-colored buildings that run side by side, one more vibrant than the next. Within them, lie a cornucopia of shopping options. From Gucci to cigar shops, hand-carved souvineers or Puerto Rican trinkets it is all here. The food within the city is as plentiful as the charm. If it's art you desire, The Museo de Arte Contemporaneo offers a spectacular display of century masterpieces that will leave you with a stronger appreciation of their majestic culture.
Sunday in old San Juan feels like a dream. The Puerto Rico Tourism Company sponsors a free event called Romantic Sunset or Atardecer Romantico on the water in Old San Juan, where the trees line the promenade and lead to the Raices Fountain at the mouth of the San Juan Bay. As you stroll, you can shop the numerous vendors selling art, crafts, food and drink. With the steel salsa bands playing, we watched couples dance traditional Latin moves and could not resist joining in a few ourselves.
At the fountain, we watched the sun set as the sea engulfed the most beautiful display of colors in the sky I have ever seen. The courtyard was filled with locals and tourists alike. All activity seemed to stop, as no one wanted to miss a second of the gift madre terra was offering us. A kiss at the fountain under an dimming orange sky with the faint sound of island music bouncing of the slow rolling waves of the Caribbean Sea? Well, romance could not come more easy or more freely than it did at that moment. And to think for some it's an everyday opportunity. Ahhhhh...Old San Juan, we shall meet again soon.
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The author and her husband enjoyed a two-night complimentary stay at the San Juan Marriott for the purpose of this review.
