GAPearl's Second Valor Review- Solo Southern Caribbean Cruise! (2/24/13)

[ATL2LAS]

Taking a break from the Imagination? LOL :D Another solo trip for you?

This is the friends trip...LOL. The solo will be later in November. You have given me alot to research for this trip. I have to hit the Imagination before she heads to the West Coast next year

Edited March 6, 2013 by ATL2LAS

[gapearl]

San Juan- Day 3!

 

I wanted to get up and go for a run, but that didn't happen. :rolleyes: No need anyways because I ended up walking about 6 miles today. I had lunch at Fattie's, a Jamaican restaurant less than 5 minutes from Da House. They don't start serving until 12, and they're only open until 4 or 5 pm. There is nothing fancy about this place. There's no air conditioning and only 4 tables, but the food is incredible. It's a homey kind of place, kind of like your aunt is back in the kitchen cooking. They have a special menu every day, but also a regular menu you can order from. If you order from the regular menu, expect about a 30 minute wait for them to prepare and cook your food.

 

 

 

 

 

I had the yellow rice with chicken. OMG this was so good! And only $8!

 

[JustinAllen]

El Hamburguer Restaurant. I hear the food is good. Must be because it was packed.

 

 

 

Hey gapearl! Been to San Juan quite a few times and yes, El Hamburguer is great! Every time my wife and I go, we get her dad to take us there..yeah i know it's just a hamburger and fries place..but wow..they are awesome! You definitely need to check it out next time you visit!

Edited March 6, 2013 by JustinAllen

[gapearl]

I left Fattie's and got some more pictures around the forts.

 

 

 

I've read about this area of San Juan called La Perla. It's a residential area between the two forts right on the water. If you Google it, you'll read that a lot of drug activity happens here. It seems to be a dangerous area where even the police avoid. If you're tempted to go down there for a look around, don't.

 

 

 

 

[bigdaddyvoges]

subscribed!! Can't wait til September!!

[gapearl]

Don't go too far down there! It reeks of pee! :eek:

 

 

Illegal activity, right on the the edge of history. What a shame.

 

 

That little face is called the Taino Sun.

 

 

NBA player Carmelo Anthony built this basketball court.

 

[gapearl]

 

This one smells much better than that other one. LOL

 

 

A farmer's market is here on Saturday afternoons.

 

 

 

What a fun house!

 

 

[gapearl]

Local school and church.

 

 

 

 

 

I had to cool off with a icy treat.

 

 

[gapearl]

Kids playing in the square.

 

 

El Morro.

 

 

A couple of museums right across the street, definitely worth checking out. Only a couple of dollars to get in.

 

 

I only had about 45 minutes at the Museum of the Americas before they closed. About an hour and a half is best. Lots of great exhibits here.

 

 

 

[gapearl]

From the Indian history exhibit.

 

 

 

 

 

[gapearl]

 

This man was a famous Puerto Rican artist.

 

 

Many of his paintings were on display.

 

 

I don't remember which exhibit this was from, but it made for a cool picture.

 

 

Back outside.

 

[gapearl]

After completing my tourist activities for the afternoon, I headed down to CVS to grab some sodas and a bottle of wine for embarkation the next day. I was worn out from another busy afternoon and was in desperate need of anything fruity with rum in it. Blessed Cafe, another Jamaican spot, was right by Da House. With Bob Marley blasting onto the street as you pass by, you know this has got to be a good place.

 

 

I think I had the Montego bay.

 

 

 

 

 

I came back later on that evening for a jerk chicken dinner.

 

What's up with every restaurant in San Juan only giving out 1 piece of broccoli? Is there a broccoli shortage or something? Anyways, the food was great. That was REAL jerk chicken. Very spicy! Blessed Cafe only accepts cash, no credit or debit cards, so make sure you stop by the ATM first if you have to.

 

[cloverseeker]

Loving your review with all the pictures, doing the same cruise in Aug for my birthday:D Keep up the excellent work

[LDR]

I have often wondered the same thing about the stingy broccoli portions! ;) Most of the time my DH or kids gives me theirs!

[gapearl]

My Saturday night shenanigans began here at Colmado Bar Moreno, right next to the Starbucks.

 

 

It's a restaurant by day, club by night on the weekend. I love reggaeton music (especially by my honey Daddy Yankee) and they were playing some good music as I was passing by, so I had to stop in. I was mad after I ordered a $7 mojito when I saw everyone else drinking the $2 gasolinas. I had one of those next. The place filled up fast with a lot of really young looking people. I'm as positive as a Maury Povich paternity test that I was the oldest one in there. I was brave and asked one guy his age. He was 19! :eek: OMG I'm going to jail!

 

As much as I was enjoying dancing in place and getting the name of every song through my Shazam app, it eventually got too crowded and I left. I was there about an hour.

 

 

There was a long line of folks waiting to get in when I left. I'd say the age range was about 18-24. Funny thing is, I'd go back! LOL

 

 

Back to the Nuyorican Cafe for some more salsa dancing with Oscar.

 

 

 

Next installment: I finally get on the ship!

[annaspjs]

I can't wait!!!:D

[camgsf]

I am having so much fun reading about your adventures.

[Deb922]

Great review so far. Love your outfits! It's all about the cute clothes on vacation, isn't it lol!

[anniversarytravels919]

i am all new to this cruising and cruise critic website. we are going on our 2nd cruise first with carnival in sept out of puerto rico on the carnival valor to st thomas,barbados,st lucia,st kitts and st marteen. someone on our roll call told me to subscribe to this board but im not exactly sure how to do that or what im doing. i dont even know how to get to the review!!! help! lol

[jaxstiles]

Having fun! I feel like I'm right there with ya!! :D

[t1adams]

Great review so far! I'm loving all the pics. Loved the pic of you with the band. The guy on the very right looked sooo tired, lol. There's a restaurant down in Old Town I wanted to ask you about. Can't remember the name. I'll have to go look and come back.:cool:

[adrianypr]

I'm also sailing on the valor in October, so far this is an awesome review thanks!

[Leo's Rule]

 

 

I warned you about the humor and sarcasm at the very beginning! :p Have fun on your cruise! You're gonna have a blast! Be social and you'll meet plenty of people. They normally seat solo cruisers together so you'll meet more people that way too.

 

By the way, I bought some of that Cockspur rum and rum punch you told me about! Oh man that stuff was strong!

 

LOL. I told you it would put hair on your chest! I wasn't ready. I still have my unopened bottle of the Cockspur Rum Punch. Sometimes I'm a social butterfly and other times I'm so shy, but I didn't spend good $$$ to be shy...I'm going to be footloose and fancy free! :D

[Leo's Rule]

The Capitol building.

 

 

Random thought- If Puerto Rico eventually becomes a state, where will the 51st star go on the flag? :confused:

Girl, you're stupid...in a good way...but you do have a point.:p

 

 

 

 

Why does it look like he's pointing the middle finger? LOL:eek::p:D

 

Speaking of Puerto Rico becoming a state, I encourage those of you taking this cruise in the near future to ask the locals at your hotel, restaurant, taxi drivers, etc. what they think about it. I think I've asked 20 people and have gotten 20 different answers. Some will say yes, I'm all for it, and some will say no, I don't want it. I'm big on talking to people and learning about them and their lifestyle when I travel. I recommend everyone doing that. You can really learn a lot.

 

Yeah, some people were gung ho for it and others not so much. They want to be independent, but then they'd lose the money the US is sending to them and would be worse off than they already are.

[Leo's Rule]

 

It was here that I discovered the gasolina drink. Nope, this isn't a Capri Sun. It's alcohol. Even better is the fact that it's only $2. At that price, give me a case! There are 5 different flavors. There's a little straw on the inside and you can drink it straight from the pouch, but a classy lady like myself chose to take my $2 drink on ice. :p

 

 

Rum, tequila, passion fruit and other juices.

 

 

Girl, you're a mess. I would have been unclassy. LOL. But after seeing a post on FB about Capri Sun, I probably would have done the same thing...if I were brave enough to try it. That drink sounds good though!