These Photos Will Make You Book a Flight To San Juan

 

There are some cities that perfect for strolling aimlessly, marveling at beautiful architecture, and making keen observations. San Juan, Puerto Rico is one of them. Nestled in the north Carribean, Puerto Rico’s capital was everything I expected it to be – vibrant, picturesque, and brimming with culture.

Puerto Rico shot to the top of my bucket list after I watched the video for Despacito. I immediately thought “This is my kind of place!” It reminded me of Cuba and Colombia. I’m also a fan of many artists from Puerto Rico, like Marc Anthony, Daddy Yankee, Bad Bunny, and Ozuna. Naturally, I wanted to experience this place that has spawned all these musicians. The Spanish colonial architecture and African cultural influence were also right up my alley.

Puerto Rico is a US territory where most people speak English so navigating San Juan is a breeze. During my visit, I stayed at Outsite San Juan, a villa with working spaces and a beautiful, natural environment. From there, I easily explored the bars, restaurants, streets, and attractions of  Old San Juan. You can see the best of Old San Juan through a self-guided walking tour.

My visit to San Juan coincided with massive protests calling for the governor of Puerto Rico to step down. Because of this, there were roadblocks and detours across the city. This gave me the perfect opportunity for me to catch up on the politics of the island during my cab ride into the city.

Politics wasn’t the only thing I learned about while in San Juan. I spent a day learning about Puerto Rico’s history at the National Historic Site, a historical area that consists of colonial-era forts and the old city wall. As a history buff, it was the highlight of my trip. There’s a lot to see just in Old San Juan, where I took all the photos below.

 

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Is Puerto Rico on your bucket list? Comment below.

 

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