San Juan - Puerto Rico - The Port

[acquaboi]

Happy Holidays everyone!

 

I am one of the fortunate who will be sailing on FOS in January. My question: Do we tender in San Juan? Then take tour buses taxi's etc. into the city of Puerto Rico? I am not a big fan of the Carib ports but I would like a couple of knick-knacks from the local souvenir shop. Thanks you all have always been so fact finding and reassuring.

[Sheffie]

No ship tenders in San Juan. Here is a map of Old San Juan and the dock area. I am not sure which pier Freedom uses, but Serenade and Adventure leave from the Pan Am (International) Pier.

 

Puerto Rico is the name of the country, and Old San Juan is the area at which the ships dock. It is a wonderfully interesting area and has 2 great old forts. El Morro is the one that is shown in all of the travel posters of San Juan and Puerto Rico. I suggest that if you want to see the forts, take a taxi up to El Morro and then wander your way back through OSJ to the pier. It is like being in a little piece of Europe.

 

Here is a link to Frommer's on-line version of the OSJ walking tour.

 

I hope you enjoy OSJ as much as we do.

[orquidia]

excellent Sheffie. you said it all.

 

the port in old san juan is like no other port in the caribbean region (including Havana ). The main port is located right in the historic district of San Juan, the capital city.

[acquaboi]

I intend to enjoy Puerto Rico and the Forts! and the greatest excuse there is no tendering involved!

[broberts]

Happy Holidays everyone!

 

I am one of the fortunate who will be sailing on FOS in January. My question: Do we tender in San Juan? Then take tour buses taxi's etc. into the city of Puerto Rico? I am not a big fan of the Carib ports but I would like a couple of knick-knacks from the local souvenir shop. Thanks you all have always been so fact finding and reassuring.

 

Ummmm, do you mean January 2008? RCCL web site is showing that all of Jan 2007 FOS is doing Western Caribbean and the closest it comes to PR is Labadee.

 

No matter, OSJ is a great port if you like historical cities. Close to 500 years old there is lots to see. If you like walking there is no need to taxi once in OSJ. There are also two no charge "tram" routes available. A walk to El Morro is uphill all the way, but its less than 20 minutes for most people. Walking lets one really soak up the atmosphere.

[broberts]

Happy Holidays everyone!

 

I am one of the fortunate who will be sailing on FOS in January. My question: Do we tender in San Juan? Then take tour buses taxi's etc. into the city of Puerto Rico? I am not a big fan of the Carib ports but I would like a couple of knick-knacks from the local souvenir shop. Thanks you all have always been so fact finding and reassuring.

 

Ummmm, do you mean January 2008? RCCL web site is showing that all of Jan 2007 FOS is doing Western Caribbean and the closest it comes to PR is Labadee.

 

No matter, OSJ is a great port if you like historical cities. Close to 500 years old there is lots to see. If you like walking there is no need to taxi once in OSJ. There are also two no charge "tram" routes available. A walk to El Morro is uphill all the way, but its less than 20 minutes for most people. Walking lets one really soak up the atmosphere.

 

As breathtaking as the ocean views are from El Morro, the city, port, and shoreline views from the other fort, San Cristobal, are wonderful. It's a do not miss as far as I'm concerned.

 

Lots of souvenir stores but not much of what I saw was made in PR. Actually I don't recall seeing any souvenirs made there. There are some good local artists.

[orquidia]

If you are looking for made in Puerto Rico souveniers, well there are many stores but you have to know before hand what to look for, most of them are close or in Calle Fortaleza. Since you have also other stores in the same area that sell peruvian and costa rican art works you need to know what to look for.

here is small list

The wooden carved saints.

The loiza carnival masks or Vejigantes made with papel maché

Puerto Rican music instruments like the Cuatro guitar, a key instrument in the Jibaro or Campesino music and also the Guiro which is used mostly during christmas 'parrandas".

 

the three kings _ they come in many shapes and some are ceramic others are more deluxe _ i have seen them also made in hand crafted crystals and stones

 

ceramic artcraft

[acquaboi]

Ummmm, do you mean January 2008? RCCL web site is showing that all of Jan 2007 FOS is doing Western Caribbean and the closest it comes to PR is Labadee.

 

No matter, OSJ is a great port if you like historical cities. Close to 500 years old there is lots to see. If you like walking there is no need to taxi once in OSJ. There are also two no charge "tram" routes available. A walk to El Morro is uphill all the way, but its less than 20 minutes for most people. Walking lets one really soak up the atmosphere.

 

As breathtaking as the ocean views are from El Morro, the city, port, and shoreline views from the other fort, San Cristobal, are wonderful. It's a do not miss as far as I'm concerned.

 

Lots of souvenir stores but not much of what I saw was made in PR. Actually I don't recall seeing any souvenirs made there. There are some good local artists.

 

Bro this is a chartered event --and we pull into Puerto Rico!! -- Thanks for advice and suggestions -- I perked up when you said none of the souveniors are made in Puerto Rico -- then I bursted out laughing!!

[orquidia]

here are some photos of some of the made in pr souveniers that you can take with you

 

1. a Loiza carnival mask made with papel maché : http://www.rainbowchild.com/images/PR-mask.gif

 

2.the 3 Kings (my favorite souvenier! they come in different sizes and are made out of carved wood , others made of ceramic, stones..etc : http://ohhowilovejesus.com/wp-content/reyes.gif

 

3. a puerto rican Guiro, a musical instrument : http://library.ucf.edu/images/SpecialCollections/Bryant/PuertoRico/MusicalInstruments/EPRMU73074b.gif

 

4.carved wood Saints , here is a pic of San José (st. joseph): http://www.niagara.edu/CAM/special/NewFolkArts/Local%20Communities/Puerto%20Rico/JosephCarve.GIF

 

5. ceramics, usually these ones that i'm showing are called 'casitas' ( ceramic houses or churches): http://www.puertoricanart-crafts.com/media/crafts/Inesprchurches.jpg

 

6. Vejigantes : http://jmc.ou.edu/carstarphen/travel/Images/Student's%20pictures/Wright_1.gif

 

7. puerto rican coffee ( sold only in Puerto Rico or served in the finest 5 star hotels across europe, it is one of the best in the world) : http://www.elcolmadito.com/%5CArte%5CUSProductos%5CArteGrande%5CCafeYauconoLataG.gif

 

8. a Pilón or a Tostonera, used to make puerto rican dishes like Mofongo and Tostones, the pilon is the one used to smash the plantain and the tostonera is used to make the round squashed plantain called tostones : http://myborinquen.com/ecommerce/os/catalog/images/WMarkPilonWithPRWord250x333.jpg and the tostonera :http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/images/toston_150.jpg

[ajilimojil]

here are some photos of some of the made in pr souveniers that you can take with you

 

 

 

GOOD JOB, ORQUIDIA! YOU ARE TRULY AN AMBASSADOR (AMBASADORESS? lol) OF GOOD WILL PRO PUERTO RICO.

 

FELIZ NAVIDAD Y MUCHAS FELICIDADES EN EL NUEVO AÑO!