Taking in the sights of yesterday

As a tourist in San Juan there is a lot on offer especially if you like an old world feel and can appreciate the age old history of the place. Here are a few sightseeing tips that can really help. History is deep rooted in San Juan and here are some of the things that you can do and see. The city of San Juan is around half hour away from its airport and was earlier a military strong post. It is the only walled city in the Caribbean and is teeming with a number of historical sites going all the way back to the 1500s. The old walls of San Juan were built in 1630 and it has four doors that allow entrance. Many parts of the wall has been torn down and today there is only one of these four doors that still stands and this is the San Juan Gate. It is on the south end of the gate and is a must visit spot. Your next visit should be to the Castillo de San Cristobel which is the largest of San Juan’s three forts. It rises about 150 feet above sea level and is situated on the northeast edge of Old San Juan. It was set up provide protection to the city from land based intrusions. For visitors, you will get a chance to enter the barracks and even visit holding cells in the prison there. Just a few moments here is easy to picture the misery of the inmates. Moving on you should make a stop at La Fortaleza, which serves as the official residence for the Governer of Puerto Rico. This is one area where you will find a mix of the Taino or the indigenous people of the area, the Spaniards as well as Africans. All of the traditions followed here too are a mix and it is a cultural delight. The cuisine of Puerto Rico is not something to be missed at all. The food is an eclectic mix and you are bound to find something that will tickle your fancy. What is also important is that you make a bold step to experiment with something that you have not tried. Some of the things that you must try are the tostones or green plaintains that are fried and served with rice, beans and also meat. There is so much to do in this city that it would be best to plan your trip well in advance and enjoy it to the hilt.