After a very enjoyable few weeks in the USVIs we decided it was time to head back to Puerto Rico. Our plan is to hide the boat in the mangroves down in Salinas if a big storm does head our way, but for now we’re going to hang out in San Juan. We love Old San Juan, and are happy to spend some time getting to know it a bit better.
We were supposed to have 10 knots downwind, and flat seas for the passage, but instead had a pretty good sized swell running the whole time. Nothing too bad, and it was downwind with the trades as promised, so it was a fairly easy ten hour day. Long days at sea have a way of draining every ounce of energy out of you, though.
Ouest, who is usually the least of our problems at sea, just wasn’t feeling great on this particular day. She spent the entire afternoon right here.
Sailing in to San Juan is pretty cool. Same view of the Spanish forts that American ships saw when they arrived here looking for war 122 years ago.
The marina is a couple of miles down the road from Old San Juan. A long, hot walk, but it leads us through the beautiful city streets and to one of our favorite green spaces of any city. We’ll hang out here for a while, always with one wary eye on the weather.
11 Comments on “Return to PR”
Please be careful. They have had a spike of virus cases there.
We sure are, Maureen. With not much open and tourists not arriving it has been pretty easy to stay low key.
Maybe in your wanderings you stumble across the very best empanadas we’ve ever eaten in Old Town? YUMMY! Can’t recall much about it-a small shop on a side street-LOL! Sorry not too helpful! I enjoy voyaging vicariously with you! We’re now on the Oregon coast-wild winds, smashing waves & fog-quite dramatic but so glad we’re not out on a boat here! Have fun!
Umm, yes I’m sure we’ll find those. 🙂 We have had some good ones from the small shops – I’m a fan of the cheese and broccoli ones – yum.
We were just looking through all Lowe’s past birthdays this weekend and saw his 7th on the OR coast. Wind, waves and fog then too. Have fun! Love that state.
Your pictures always make me swoon!
Thanks, Mcgker. Appreciate that.
Last I heard, there were many un-salvaged boats sitting in the mangroves in Salinas from the last hurricane which hit the area and that maybe the mangroves are not as protective as they have long been though to be. I took great interest in this, since it was always my plan to shelter there during the hurricane season when I had dreams of sailing the area.
We lived through several hurricanes in Florida. Many of our friends secured their boats in the mangroves, where they weathered the storms safely! 🙂 Hopefully you have a relaxing hurricane-free season! I also hope you make it to piggy lane for the fantastic roast pork PR does so well-OINK!
There is a handful of boats up in the mangroves from previous years. I am sure they weren’t in the best condition, left to die on a mooring, well before any storms came along. We’ve talked to sailors that have had great success hiding should we need to.
Got there just in time. Are they enforcing fines for anyone not wearing a face mask in public places? Not a good time to be Americans. Bahamas is closing down again to Americans.
I’m not sure about fines but there are signs everywhere. You would have a hard time arguing with the police, saying you didn’t know. Yes tough for us Americans wanting to travel right now.