Is anyone here from San Juan??

[Weluv2cruise2007]

We will be in San Juan on Christmas Eve this year. The timings are very odd...4pm-10pm. We've been to SJ before, so not concerned about the typicla toursity sites, but would love to experience some sort of local Christmas celebration (I read there may be fireworks? Is there a church service?) and food. If anyone here is from SJ or has been there Christmas eve, any advice on where to go would be greatly appreciated. I wasn't sure if even restaurants would be open, but we would definitely love a traditional holiday meal.

[Aviator of the Seas]

I live in San Juan. Christmas is absolutely the best time of the year in San Juan. You'll find plenty of activities. The biggest event is the midnight Mass but you would have sailed out already. Regardless, the city is always beautifully decked out, the air is fresh and the people are at their happiest.

Most restaurants and bars should be open. Stores usually open for late shoppers until about 7:00 PM.

If you have any questions, I'll check this thread back every hour on the hour.

[Weluv2cruise2007]

Originally Posted by Aviator of the Seas

I live in San Juan. Christmas is absolutely the best time of the year in San Juan. You'll find plenty of activities. The biggest event is the midnight Mass but you would have sailed out already. Regardless, the city is always beautifully decked out, the air is fresh and the people are at their happiest.

Most restaurants and bars should be open. Stores usually open for late shoppers until about 7:00 PM.

If you have any questions, I'll check this thread back every hour on the hour.

Thank-you so much! Do you have any idea if restaurants will be serving a traditional Christmas meal, and what would that include? We love to sample local cuisine, so if you have any recommendations for a great local restaurant that won't break the bank, I'd be most appreciative!

[Nole0202]

One of our neighbors is from SJ. She says that the Christmas lights are spectacular in OSJ, especially along the walkway that runs along the city wall.

You should really enjoy being there after dark.

[Aviator of the Seas]

Originally Posted by Weluv2cruise2007

Thank-you so much! Do you have any idea if restaurants will be serving a traditional Christmas meal, and what would that include? We love to sample local cuisine, so if you have any recommendations for a great local restaurant that won't break the bank, I'd be most appreciative!

As a local, I am not allowed to make any specific recommendations. In the general sense, you have different types of restaurants. Those in hotels serving continental fare, then there are those tourist-trap ones, then you have international cuisine (japanese, turkish, etc.), then the gourmet or new cuisine restaurants, and finally, the ones that specialize in creole (Spanish: criollo, or cocina criolla). Cocina criolla is our favorite Christmas time food. Those are the types you should be looking for.

A typical meal would include:

Pernil - Roasted pork. Usually dressed in lots of garlic and spices and roasted whole over an open pit. In the alternative, a baked leg dressed in the same fashion.

Arroz con gandules - Rice with pigeon peas. Not white rice, but "guisado" or cooked with spices that give it a yellow color.

Pasteles - It's hard to explain this but it's like a cuban tamale but larger. Its mass made either of mashed plantains or yucca. Filled with pork, beef or chicken.

Other trimmings include blood sausage, boiled green bananas, salads, etc.

[Aviator of the Seas]

I must add the whole roasted pig is usually called "lechon" or "lechon asado". The baked leg is usually called "pernil".

[texancruzer]

Not exactly "traditional Christmas meal" but YUM YUM YUM !!!!!

We have traveled many times over holiday (Thanksgiving and Christmas) and relish the idea of NOT having the traditional but rather going for the local cuisine and not once have we been disappointed Give it a try !

[jbranch]

Aviator, I will be in San Juan Jan !( nineteen to twentysecond. What can We expect with the san sebastian festival going on. Will the crowds be everywhere ?

[Aviator of the Seas]

Originally Posted by jbranch

Aviator, I will be in San Juan Jan !( nineteen to twentysecond. What can We expect with the san sebastian festival going on. Will the crowds be everywhere ?

Everywhere in Old San Juan and its approaches. Get to wherever you want to go early and use public transportation or taxis. It's lots of fun, but it is the biggest party or carnaval of the year.

[Weluv2cruise2007]

Originally Posted by Aviator of the Seas

As a local, I am not allowed to make any specific recommendations. In the general sense, you have different types of restaurants. Those in hotels serving continental fare, then there are those tourist-trap ones, then you have international cuisine (japanese, turkish, etc.), then the gourmet or new cuisine restaurants, and finally, the ones that specialize in creole (Spanish: criollo, or cocina criolla). Cocina criolla is our favorite Christmas time food. Those are the types you should be looking for.

A typical meal would include:

Pernil - Roasted pork. Usually dressed in lots of garlic and spices and roasted whole over an open pit. In the alternative, a baked leg dressed in the same fashion.

Arroz con gandules - Rice with pigeon peas. Not white rice, but "guisado" or cooked with spices that give it a yellow color.

Pasteles - It's hard to explain this but it's like a cuban tamale but larger. Its mass made either of mashed plantains or yucca. Filled with pork, beef or chicken.

Other trimmings include blood sausage, boiled green bananas, salads, etc.

Thanks so much! That's exactly what we would be looking for! I hope we can find somewhere to go NOT a tourist trap! If you would like to suggest a street on which we might have some luck...perhaps that would be allowed!?

[Weluv2cruise2007]

Originally Posted by texancruzer

Not exactly "traditional Christmas meal" but YUM YUM YUM !!!!!

We have traveled many times over holiday (Thanksgiving and Christmas) and relish the idea of NOT having the traditional but rather going for the local cuisine and not once have we been disappointed Give it a try !

We don't want "our" traditional...we want LOCAL traditional!

[Aviator of the Seas]

Originally Posted by Weluv2cruise2007

Thanks so much! That's exactly what we would be looking for! I hope we can find somewhere to go NOT a tourist trap! If you would like to suggest a street on which we might have some luck...perhaps that would be allowed!?

On Recinto Sur street, across from the two large parking garages, there's sort of a restaurant row, with places of all kinds like the ones mentioned above. In reality, hole-in-the-wall places and even dive bars will probably offer typical food over the holidays.

[dantheman611]

Thanks for the information AoS, any idea what will or will not be open on Christmas Day? We are in port only from 3:00PM - 9:00PM (wishing it was longer...), our thought was to do some walking on our own, and find a restaurant for a local "traditional" Christmas meal, just wondering if many will be open. Looking forward to having some Pasteles, have not had those since our trip to Brazil a few years ago!!

[Aviator of the Seas]

Well, Christmas eve is one thing, and Christmas day is another. It's still a major Holiday here and most places will be closed. Old San Juan, however, is a wonderful place to walk around regardless of what's open or closed. Most likely, the "tourist trap" places will be open for drinks and meals, and even them will make a genuine attempt at offering a fun experience.

If anything, you will enjoy peace and quiet in a historic and beautiful district.

God Bless.

[girlscruise2011]

Originally Posted by Aviator of the Seas

Everywhere in Old San Juan and its approaches. Get to wherever you want to go early and use public transportation or taxis. It's lots of fun, but it is the biggest party or carnaval of the year.

When is the festival in 2014? I am booked on a cruise going out of SJ on 1/12/14 until 1/19/14. I was planning on coming in one day precruise and staying one day after our return. If I am there during the festival at all, I would think hotels would be limited or expensive

[Aviator of the Seas]

The official schedule is not out yet, and San Juan has a new mayor so everything is subject to change, but most likely the 2014 San Sebastian Festival will be on the weekend of January 16 - 19. So you should be okay.

[girlscruise2011]

Originally Posted by Aviator of the Seas

The official schedule is not out yet, and San Juan has a new mayor so everything is subject to change, but most likely the 2014 San Sebastian Festival will be on the weekend of January 16 - 19. So you should be okay.

Thank you. I'm thinking of switching my cruise until February 2014 and if this was going to be an issue, it may help me with my decision.