Standing Into Danger: Calle San José, Viejo San Juan

Friday, May 19, 2023

Calle San José, Viejo San Juan

In my last post I mentioned that Terry is an adventurous, low-budget traveler.

He also is a planner. He reads guide books and maps,

and he scours the internet and YouTube for information.

He'll spend days and days researching until he's found the best deals on transportation,

economical places to stay and to eat, and the top things to do.

He'll also know about the local customs, safety, and what to be aware of or to avoid.

Terry really doesn't want a lot of input from me.

He refers to some of my input as "throwing a monkey wrench into the works."

Always "Researching" on His iPhone

Tommy Bahamas ~ A place he knew was highly recommended for its Happy Hour

Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

March 9, 2023

Now that may sound terrible and controlling to you,

but I consider myself a lucky lady to have a personal planner.

I love surprises, and I like to visit a place the first time without many preconceptions.

Terry's thrilled to work out all the details, and I'm thrilled to follow along.

Exploring Calle del Santo Cristo

Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA

April 14, 2023

He always asks if there's something particular I want to see at a destination,

and I typically have one or two things that are important to me.

Otherwise, it really doesn't matter. I'm spontaneous and open to everything.

You never know what fun people, sights, or experiences might be around the next corner.

A Visual Surprise on Calle de la Fortaleza

at Its Intersection with Calle del Santo Cristo

Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA

April 14, 2023

So when Terry said from the couch at home in Aurora,

"I found a reasonably-priced place to stay in Old San Juan,"

I said, "Cool. Is it anywhere near the fort?"

I really wanted to see Castillo San Felipe del Morro.

"We can walk there."

Good enough for me. I didn't look it up on Goggle or anything.

I just noted the address on my packing list in case we got separated somehow.

Coming in for a Landing

Luis Muñoz Marín International

San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA

April 14, 2023

Exploring Calle de San Sebastian

Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA

April 14, 2023

An Uber driver picked us up at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport,

zipped over to Viejo San Juan, and deftly negotiated the maze of narrow cobbled streets.

Every space where someone could squeeze a vehicle in was filled.

Garbage trucks, emergency vehicles, vans, trucks, cars, motorcycles,

police cars, and lost tourists crowded the streets. Mayhem!

We quickly realized that our driver was discombobulated,

as she searched for Calle San José among

the up and down, one-way and two-way streets.

We were all craning our necks looking for the elusive street.

Finally Terry spotted it as we drove across it,

a one-way street going in the wrong direction for us.

No problem! Our driver hit reverse, executed a fast 90º turn,

and floored it, backing the car all the way up the hill,

heedless of any car turning onto our street or pulling out.

We couldn't find #52, although we were close,

so we had our driver drop us on the sidewalk

with our luggage, and we went on a hunt.

Fortunately, I'm spontaneous and open to everything, and I understand Terry.

Standing on Calle San José with Our Backs to #52 (lower left)

Across the street is the Black Puerto Rican Flag Door (see note below)

Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA

April 14, 2023

#52 Calle San José is the white building flying the black and red Puerto Rican Flags

The black Puerto Rican flag is a symbol of resistance and hope.

I wasn't expecting the Ritz Carlton, and I was right.

Our "reasonably-priced place" turned out to be funky and fun.

And, as we found out the next day, our room was smaller

than our inside cabin on the Millennium, and it was equally windowless.

The Entrance to # 52 Calle San José

First Flight of Stairs

Second Flight of Stairs

The View Out the Door of Our Room

You don't have to look far to see evidence of recent hurricanes.

A Clean and Comfy Bed

A Tiny Bathroom with Everything We Needed

Interesting Architectural Features #1 ~ A Tiny Fence? Balcony?

Interesting Architectural Features #2 ~ Nothing Beats a Brick Ceiling!

Could Be Interesting in a Strong Earthquake!

A Fridge, Table and Chairs, and Internet ~ But No Windows

Heading Down for the Next Load of Luggage

And Down

This is a good place to stop.

I am wiped out from an hour in the weight room and thirty minutes of laps in the pool.

It feels amazing to be able to really work out again!

I'm linking to Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date and Nicole's Friday Face Off.

Here is a sweet face for Nicole:

Enjoying the Late Afternoon

Have a great weekend! Take care!

Till next time ~
Fundy Blue

My next post will be soon! 🤞

Note: The black Puerto Rican flag door is a popular attraction in old San Juan.

It is a symbol of hope and resistance.

The Black Puerto Rican Flag Door

The door opens to a Spanish colonial structure in ruins.

51 Calle San José, Old San Juan

The black Puerto Rican flag door is a symbol of resistance and hope. Originally,

in 2012 a group of artists painted the door with the Puerto Rican flag in its original red,

white, and blue colors. In 2016 the group Artistas Solidarixs en Resistencia painted the

door's flag in black and white to protest the PROMESA law. (Puerto Rica.com)

The Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act PROMESA is

a US federal law enacted in 2016 that established a financial oversight board, a process

for restructuring debt, and expedited procedures for approving critical infrastructure

projects in order to combat the Puerto Rican government-debt crisis. (Wikipedia)

The black and white flag represents the death of democratic values and of the three

government branches (Legislative, Executive and Judicial). In the original red, white,

and blue flag, the three branches of government are represented in the blue triangle.

Around Old San Juan you can sometimes see both flags flying together. (Puerto Rica.com)

47 comments:

Elephant's ChildMay 20, 2023 at 1:56 AM
You sound to have a wonderful relationship - and to complement each other.
I would rather stay in funky and fun places than the Hilton any time. Thanks for sharing some of your trip - and those umbrellas are gorgeous.
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roentareMay 20, 2023 at 4:04 AM
This is such a great way to travel and enjoy the world. I used to travel like that. Full of envy
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My name is Erika.May 20, 2023 at 4:17 AM
I'm like Terry I think. at least for planning and laying things out. Once I have the basics in order, then spontaneity can happen. I'm glad you shared your photos from Old San Juan. I've only been to the airport there, but it looks interesting. ANd your hotel room looks great also. Small is ok as long as you can have a place for your suitcase and 2 people can move about enough. That's the excitement of travel, isn't it? Have a great weekend. hugs-Erika
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Alex J. CavanaughMay 20, 2023 at 5:22 AM
Funky is a good word for it. I do plan and budget, however, I will always spurge on a quality hotel. Looks like you did get a good one though.
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SandiMay 20, 2023 at 5:36 AM
"The black and white flag represents the death of democratic values and of the three
government branches (Legislative, Executive and Judicial)."

Does this sound ominous to anyone else? They seem to be ok with it!
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Debra She Who SeeksMay 20, 2023 at 8:26 AM
Interesting post, especially the info about the black Puerto Rican flag, which I did not know about!
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Andrea @ From The SolMay 20, 2023 at 11:07 AM
My FH doesn't plan our vacations (mainly because he doesn't travel, so I am on my own) but that said, he does do the books which I am ever so thankful for even if he requires receipts for everything I spend. Good marriages have a way of distributing the responsibilities so everyone can be comfortable. I could have used Terry on a few of my adventures, but so far I have survived my haphazard planning. And, like you, I love those out of the way funky places with the essence of the country I am visiting. So I would think that the stairs would suffice for your exercise ... a weight room and laps in a pool would do me in for the day and all of the touristing would have to wait until tomorrow :) San Juan looks like a wonderful place to visit and the umbrellas are such a delight ... a pleasant surprise, I am sure. Your Uber driver sounds typical ... I have never climbed into a cab or an Uber that I didn't have to hang on to something to keep from going flying. This was a fun post, Louise and I am glad you get to take all of these wonderful trips (all well planned out and safe). New experiences are stimulating and good for the aging brain :) Safe travels my friend ... hope to hear about your next trip soon.

Andrea @ From the Sol
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DVArtistMay 20, 2023 at 3:01 PM
Wow what a wonderful post. I love th umbrellas and the blue steps and well everything about this post. Thank you for sharing with FFO. Have a lovely day.
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JeanieMay 20, 2023 at 4:22 PM
You two sound very well matched in your travel styles. In our world, it's me being the planner with Rick being the Louise and saying, "Yes, but I also want to do this, and this, and this" and then I juggle to fit things in! Usually they are things we would both like, I just haven't thought of them, and like you, I enjoy being surprised. And, we're flex -- if something comes up that's "better" or special, we are happy to juggle. Boy, that Calle umbrella installation is magnificent! Love the colorful street buildings. I don't think I could have done those stairs, though -- although the room looks very nice.
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Gillena CoxMay 21, 2023 at 2:09 AM
Hi Fundy Blue

i'm inviting you to Sunday Smiles at my Lunchbreak blog
Happy Sunday
HERE

Much💖love
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Donna B. McNicolMay 21, 2023 at 10:11 AM
What a fantastic vacation! I'm the planner in our family, Stu is the impulsive one. Going without plans always makes me anxious, but I try once in a while. Nothing on this scale, though. Your photos are fantastic!
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L. Diane WolfeMay 21, 2023 at 1:17 PM
What a fun surprise! I love all the umbrellas and your hotel looks cute.
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TomMay 21, 2023 at 6:15 PM
...Terry seems to be "The Man." I like guys who get get things done!
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NatureFootstepMay 22, 2023 at 2:34 AM
interesting! I seem to recognize some of it. Think I have to check if I have ben there. :) :)
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David M. Gascoigne,May 22, 2023 at 4:11 AM
Mostly, on our trips I do the planning, book the flights, arrange accommodation etc but beyond that I am not much of a micro planner. Everything has worked out well so far. Fingers crossed that it will continue.
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ChristineMay 22, 2023 at 6:21 AM
You know this is the first time I have had a tour of Puerto Rico most people seem to do the other islands including myself. Thanks for sharing. I appreciate people like Terry, I was like that myself but getting lazy these days. I admire your spontaneity, I tend to not like surprises.
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Mrs. MicawberMay 22, 2023 at 10:18 AM
Fantastic post! Mr. M's parents came from PR, so I was thrilled to get a glimpse of Old San Juan. Those umbrellas are lovely, and I really like the pastel colors on the buildings.

Your room may have been tiny, but it had all the necessaries. And a lack of windows can be a good thing for those who are sensitive to light.

You and Terry make a great pair. :)
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Carola BartzMay 22, 2023 at 10:32 AM
We only do travel planning when it involves flights and accomodation only if we need that in advance like when we go to Hawai'i. Flights are done by my husband, accomodation sometimes by him, sometimes by me. Most of the time we prefer to be more spontaneous - we have been known to change our originally "planned" destination on the road and go somewhere else. When we do road trips, we almost never book in advance but do that on the road or look where we can pitch our tent. I prefer funky to those boring tourist and business hotels for sure. Our most favorite accomodation was a tree house on the Big Island. We stayed there twice and I wouldn't mind going there again.
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Carola BartzMay 22, 2023 at 10:39 AM
Oh, and I wanted to add that we should start having black flags as well. Death of democratic values is spot on.
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bailiMay 23, 2023 at 6:37 AM
through your story what i have found is that Terry is exactly just like Ali the hubby here lol .though he is less in internet query yet he collects all the data from acquaintance and try to keep traveling in budget and affordable . i am just like what you said about yourself .totally spontaneous though because of my stronger element of faith completely rely on my intuition which hardly has disappointed me ever .But as you said after all these long years together i feel fortunate that i have partner who plans everything and only because of this we could achieve little bit stability in life otherwise if it was up to me my faith in giving is quite bothering actually .
this room is elegant but being windowless sounds bit uneasy ,we too had to stay once in such room in basement once in Murree ,room had no window and Hubby knows it could have spoil my mood if was not matter of only one night. actually the booking we expected could not be possible and we were already late to look for new hotel due to tiredness and possibility of the demand of higher rent because of night time .planning is good so things can stay neat and relaxed.my eldest son is also a really good example of this .
concerned about your wellbeing dear Louise i am praying may all go well with your treatment and everything regarding it!
thank you for amazing and beautiful photos .liked the first photo more ,goes so nicely with your description :)
loved the one before landing too .
hugs

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bailiMay 23, 2023 at 6:38 AM
dear Louise my whole long comment did not disappeared right ?
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Pat HattMay 23, 2023 at 9:06 AM
I'm all for funky and fun unless that funky is in a place where you could end up floating in a river lol But sounds like Terry knows how to research everything and avoid that. I'd rather let someone else research and just go with the flow too. Always something to snap pictures of. And you never know what you'll spot along the way.

Funny about the driver just going to it and backing up, maybe not so much when you are in the car with said driver though.

Interesting little place to stay indeed by the pics. We were on a cliff on good old PEI, but other than that it wasn't funky haha
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carol l mckennaMay 23, 2023 at 1:29 PM
Oh how lucky you to have Teri arrange it all ~ photos are awesome ~ what a great time ~ Xo

Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
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Soma @ InkTorrents.comMay 27, 2023 at 7:33 PM
A great post full of your experience and wonderful photos. Loved seeing all the colours!

-Soma
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