Sunday, March 4, 2018

Old San Juan Food Tour and Shopping

  We flew into San Juan a few days early to support tourism and enjoy our favorite city. We landed at 14:30 and had a 17:00 Food tour. We stayed at the Marriott Stellaris in Condado. We taxied to Old San Juan. We booked the Flavors of Old San Juan Food Tour. We looked for a guide with a green shirt. The directions for the food tour put us on the opposite side of the bank from where our guide was/tour started.  The Banco Popular was a beautiful building with art deco from the 1930 and facing the sea.We got there a tad early and ran across the street to a bar to use the bathroom. It was for customers only so we saw an excuse to buy a local beer, Medalla.





We met Carlos, a pre-med student who lived in the US mainland for his first 8 years. He came home and announced to his father I am not Puerto Rican, you are. The family immediately moved back to Puero Rico and they've never left. His father must so proud of his Puerto Rican son!
    We had a group of 6. Two couples were in from Canada and New England and were sailing out on Adventure of the Seas the next day. We were sailing on Jewel of the Seas Sunday. We were all in our 50s, one person walked with a cane from a motorcycle injury. Other than 2 areas where we had a 15-20% incline, it was an easy tour. A wheelchair could probably do it but I would think the company would need to know in advance. Totally doable though.

Our first stop was at Cuatro Sombras for a ham and cheese sandwich with guava jelly. It was pressed and warm. Very good....but I forget the official name for it! It was served with a latte.





    We walked further and learned about the Spanish, French and Moorish influences on their architecture. We went to the edge of the city to a park, near a fort wall and learned the history of rum as we saw the sunset over the Bacardi Rum factory across the bay.







     We stopped at Senor Paletta's for a popsicle. The flavor was passion fruit, with no added sugar. It was very sweet and tart. Usually there is a line out the door, so make sure you visit them on your next trip!

 We walked around and visited pigeon park and enjoyed the mother trying to teach her son that pigeons are to be fed, not chased.


  The stone streets were blue from oxidation and very old- 1500s. The streets sometime flood during heavy rains due to poor drainage.
   We saw the Governor's mansion and how to tell if the Governor is in residence. We went to the city gate where all visitors entered into the city. 
    We then visited our favorite restaurant- Cafe El Punto . Where we ate ceviche (which I was initially hesitant to do, but it was fabulous!) and beef tampanadas,equally delicious.
     We then went int


        The masks are made from coconuts and are worn before lent, much like Mardi Gras. The balconies are decorated for Lent right now.
         The rum below is the preferred Puerto Rican Rum. Buy the 3 start version over the 2 star!






   We then went into the restaurant and drank a mojito, while making our own mofongo. It was really good as we mashed in the garlic and topped it with chicken in a delicious sauce.





    We walked into the town square where a local girl was playing guitar and singing. Th fountains represent the four seasons. Jim is standing in front of summer & fall. Carlos is in front of winter & spring.
      We then walked a bit (we were full!) and came upon an impromptu dance party where a little girl was learning how to wave her skirt around and dance with her mother. The night was falling and the coquis (frogs that are local only to San Juan and sound like birds) were coming out.



    We ended at the Chocobar, home of the original Puerto Rican Cortez Chocolate. They take a block of choclate and drop it in warm milk or water and makes a very creamy drink. Puerto Ricans also like to dip their cheese into the chocolate for a nice sweet/salt combination. After that we ate home made churros.
 




 Put this tour and a visit to San Juan on your to do list. They are open for business! Good night San Juan. Thank you for being such a great host!

No comments:

Post a Comment