OLD SAN JUAN AND PINA COLADAS!

Carnival Celebration
San Juan, Puerta Rico
Wednesday, February 15, 2023—Donna’s birthday
84F, Sunny

Great photo of the old port area of Old San Juan

Taken by Donna

Old San Juan greeted us today with sunshine and warmth. The four of us got off the ship and walked around Old San Juan, wandering in and out of shops.

Street under construction

You can almost see the blue cobblestones

Another Old San Juan street

One of the shop’s clerks told us the island is still suffering from the two hurricanes I mentioned, plus an earthquake after that, and then Hurricane Fiona. It took a year after Hurricane Maria for electricity to be restored to the whole island—the longest blackout in U.S. history. 

We arrived at Barrachina’s, located in a beautiful colonial building over 200 years old with an interior courtyard and lush foliage. It is the birthplace and home of the world famous pina colada where don Ramon Portas Mingot first made the drink in 1963.  We arrived early enough so that we did not have to wait long to get seated, but by the time we left the restaurant there was a long line to get into the restaurant.  This is a very popular stop and we have been there three times.     (https://www.barrachina.com/ )

Entry to Barrachina's

 

TK and Janie at Barrachina's

TK-we are sitting in the open courtyard

One area of the courtyard

Bar in the courtyard at Barrachina's

TK and Lawrence wishing their wives would hurry up

Outside Barrachina's

We had pina coladas without alcohol and a delicious appetizer, “Puerta Rican Delights,” turnovers, corn fritters, and croquettes.  The pina coladas are wonderfully fresh—they should be because that is what everyone stops for!  There was another long line just to walk in and get one.

 

After that stop, we continued walking and browsing the shops. There is a lot of construction happening, especially in the streets, because of problems with the very old infrastructure.  The cobblestone streets are especially beautiful because they are blue stone cast from furnace slag which was brought over on Spanish ships as ballast. The blue color comes from age and moisture. Of course, I did not take a photo of those, but there is talk that after the reconstruction of the cobblestone streets they will eliminate car traffic from the area.

 

TK and Lawrence wait patiently as

Janie and Donna take photos and shop

A random courtyard restaurant

the Old World atmosphere I love

TK and I returned to the ship by about 3:00, stopping at a few parks along the way. I love that there are so many.   

 

For dinner tonight we went to Chibang,  a restaurant that serves both Mexican and Chinese food.  I did have a cheese quesadilla (great), but all the other choices were very spicy, so I opted for a strip steak—guests can also order some foods available in the main dining room. The décor was better than the red dining room, but the din was deafening. It reminded me of a school cafeteria and others agreed. Carnival ships are definitely different.

Entry to CHIBANG

 

Coconut Tea Tres Leches

The servers and the three of us sang Happy Birthday to Donna and we all had Coconut Tea Tres Leches, a light cake soaked in spiced coconut cream with 3 kinds of milk, very tasty. It’s an early night because it is ST. THOMAS time again tomorrow!!