8-Puerto Rico

8-Puerto Rico

Monday, 3/18/2024

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At 100 miles long and 35 miles wide, Puerto Rico is an American Territory, and as such, people born there are U.S. Citizens. Residing in Puerto Rico does not give one any Federal voting rights and since they are not a state, they do not have any representation/voting for Congress. However, if they move and reside in a state, they have the same voting rights as any other citizen in that state. Puerto Rico packs a fantastic diversity of sights, scenery, and culture. I was pleasantly surprised at how modern and clean San Juan was and how clearly many natives spoke English, in many cases, with little or no accent. It primarily depends on whether they went to public or private school in Puerto Rico.

Photos that are of the Walkway of the Presidents will be prefixed by (PR) and photos of the Saint Christopher Castle fort will be prefixed by (FT).

Approaching San Juan, Puerto Rico

This sign (of many) in the port terminal emphasizes that tourism is a significant part of Puerto Rico’s economy, contributing over $5 billion annually and providing more than 70,000 jobs. Tourism represents about 10% of Puerto Rico’s GDP.

This Canadian ship on display in San Juan, is the HMCS Ville de Québec (FFH 332). This Halifax-class frigate is part of the Royal Canadian Navy and is showcased as part of naval exercises and goodwill visits. The USA maintains a military presence in Puerto Rico which includes reserve units, Air National Guard and U.S. Coast Guard.

"Capitolio de Puerto Rico," often referred to as "El Capitolio (The Capitol)" is Puerto Rico's capital building.

The inscription on the capital building "El derecho, la liberta y la dignidad por encima de todo" translates to "Law, freedom, and dignity above all."

"Paseo de los Presidentes" (The Walkway of the Presidents) sits on Constitution Avenue right across the street from the Capitol building. The walkway celebrates all the presidents who've visited Puerto Rico since the end of the Spanish-American war in 1898. The next three photos show the nine statues.

Herbert Hoover, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt

Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy

Lyndon B. Johnson, Gerald R. Ford, Barack Obama

The statue of "San Juan de Bautista" is dedicated to St. John the Baptist. Columbus first named the island of Puerto Rico "San Juan Bautista" after John the Baptist. Later the island's name was changed to Puerto Rico and the name San Juan was retained for the capital city.

Built in 1913, "Casa Olímpica" (Olympic House) in Old San Juan is a neoclassical home that currently houses Puerto Rico's Olympic Committee. The committee has multiple event spaces that it rents out for special events.

The "Ateneo Puertorriqueño" (Puerto Rican Athenaeum) serves as a museum, school, library, and performance hall for the arts in Puerto Rico and is among Puerto Rico's oldest cultural institutions.

The "Biblioteca Carnegie" (Carnegie Library) completed in 1915 was the first building erected for the 'specific use of a public library in Puerto Rico.

Casa de España (House of Spain) is the headquarters of a private social organization whose members are of Spanish descent.

"El Monumento de la Recordación" (The Monument of Remembrance) is a memorial monument in San Juan that honors Puerto Ricans who have fallen in combat in service of the United States Armed Forces.

"Museo de la Guardia Nacional de Puerto Rico" (Puerto Rico National Guard Museum)

Public Park in San Juan.

Monument to Christopher Columbus, in the Plaza Colón (Columbus Plaza or square), located the heart of Old San Juan. Columbus discovered Puerto Rico in 1493.

"Plaza Ventana del Mar" is a small park in the upscale Condado section of San Juan.

Puerto Rico has both Rocky Shores and beaches.

For those who might miss the US Mainland, there are some familiar places.

A few hotels and condos in ocean-side San Juan.

Old San Juan's cobblestone streets are lined with colorful buildings of shops and restaurants boasting local art and cuisine.

The colorful San Juan neighborhood of "La Perla" originated in the 1700's as a minority/slave/servant area and still has a reputation for being a rough area. While many are trying to transition it, it is not considered a safe place for tourists to explore on their own.

"Castillo San Felipe del Morro" (Promontory Castle of Saint Philip) is a large fortress and citadel in the historic district of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico constructed to protect San Juan from attack by sea.

A final view of the San Juan skyline as we depart.

Copyright on All Photos: © 2024 Mark A. Nutting Created on 9/1/2024 10:55:17 PM
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