We’re just back from our 2023 visit to Anguilla – our 7th trip to the island. We stayed at the Aurora Anguilla, and have loads to share. I know some readers have been interested in the comparison between the CuisinArt Resort (where we stayed in 2007 and 2014) and Aurora, so look for that to come. Overall, it was a week for relaxation and recharging, with beautiful beaches and fantastic food, and Anguilla never disappoints. Stay tuned!
-
-
-
Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, is a historic district, subject to guidelines for the preservation and restoration of its buildings. The Municipality of San Juan and the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture strive to preserve the authenticity and appearance of the district, from the architectural details to the color of the exterior paint on buildings. Join us for a tour of the unique details and colors of Old San Juan. When a city is more than 500 years old, you see architectural influences from different periods and from all over the world. Take a close look at the rooflines, balconies, alcoves, moldings, doors, windows, and ironwork. For a deep dive into…
-
The United States National Parks System has over 400 parks, including places of great natural beauty and historic significance. Included in our magnificent parks system is the San Juan National Historic Site, which brings together the history of many European nations and the beginnings of our country. The native population of Puerto Rico, the Taino, inhabited the island for more than 1,000 years before the Spanish arrived in 1493, with the second expedition of Christopher Columbus. The Spanish claimed the island for Spain, calling it San Juan Bautista. In 1508, Juan Ponce De Leon, of the “Fountain of Youth” fame, founded the first settlement on the island. This port city…
-
Capilla del Santo Cristo de la Salud (Chapel of Christ the Savior) Capilla del Santo Cristo de la Salud was built in 1753-1780 on top of the city walls. The placard near the chapel reads, “Legend traces its origin to a miraculous happening at the site.” A little bit of research revealed a few different stories, but generally, the story goes that in the 1750’s, there was a horse race. A young rider named Baltazar Montañez was unable to stop his horse, and rode off the cliff in the area where the chapel stands. Legend goes that the Secretary of the Government, Don Tomás Mateo Prats, or the young man…
-
The streets of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, are known for the colorful buildings and colonial architecture, but it is also filled with historic sites, monuments, and statues, marking contributions to the city’s rich history. Here are just a few of the moments in history along a short walk around the city. Plaza Colón Plaza Colón marks the entrance to the walled city of Old San Juan, where the Santiago Gate once stood. Looking uphill to the northeast, you will see Castillo san Cristóbal, part of the National Parks Service San Juan Historic Site. At the center of Plaza Colon is a monument to Cristóbal Colón, Christopher Columbus to us…
-
As part of this year’s North American Travel Journalists Conference in Puerto Rico, we were guests at a food tour of Old San Juan by Spoon, Authentic Culinary Experiences and Food Tours. Spoon offers a variety of tours, from cocktail tours around Old San Juan to cooking classes in private homes. Our guide, Lorna, walked with us around the streets of San Juan, pointing out historic places and other points of interest, as we set out to eat and drink our way around the city. Stop #1: Mofongo at Deaverdura The first of our three stops was Deaverdura, located at 200 Sol Street. It was hard not to be…
-
A visit to Puerto Rico would be incomplete without a trip to Casa Bacardí. Bacardí is the world’s largest privately-owned spirits company. The Bacardí spirit family includes Bacardí, Grey Goose, Patrón and Bombay Sapphire, to name a few. Bacardí is not just a brand name – it’s a family name. Bacardí was founded in 1862 by Don Facundo Bacardí Massó in Santiago de Cuba. In the 1930’s, a distillery was built in Puerto Rico. Just shy of the company’s 100th anniversary, the Bacardí holdings in Cuba were seized by the government. Luckily, the family had moved the company’s trademarks and yeast strain out of Cuba before their assets were confiscated,…
