A Day in Old San Juan

I’m a terrible planner. Organizing events has never been a strong point. When my children were little, even their simple birthday parties with neighborhood playmates flummoxed me. Should we play spin the tail on the donkey or musical chairs, have a meal or just cake and ice-cream? Consequently, when I made a spur of the moment decision to head to Puerto Rico for a 50^th class reunion, getting the plane tickets and arranging for a place to stay was as much as I could handle. I waited until I arrived to actually contact people. Consequently I had a full day and a half to spend alone and in whatever way I wanted. I took long walks, worked on my next book, got marvelously distracted by the incredible view of Condado as seen from my sister-in-law’s penthouse apartment. 

I had just returned from 2 hour walk in 98 degree weather. I collapsed into a chair in the cool apartment and began checking messages, hoping someone had returned my calls to get together while I was on the island and berating myself for not having done a better job planning. Among my messages were several frantic pleas from Jackie, a classmate who was flying in from Miami. Could I please pick her up at the airport, she asked. Tabi – the island classmate she’d planned to stay with had broken her toe that morning. I was happy to invite her to stay with me in the empty pent-house. Picking Jackie up at the airport was another matter. Driving in Puerto Rico is like running a suicide mission. I wasn’t up to it – not yet. 

 “Take a taxi,” I told her and gave her the address. She needed directions. Street signs are in short supply on the island. One goes by landmarks. “Turn right at Pueblo, take another right at Perpetuo Socorro” and so forth. On most of our outings, friends came to pick us up. Heading into old San Juan the next day, however, meant either taking a bus and walking to see the sights, or driving to see the sights and then walking up selected well shaded streets. Jackie cannot tolerate heat or sun for long. Guess what? I drove! And we had a great time in that gorgeous old city, moseying around and heading to my favorite little restaurant, El Punto (tucked into an artist’s alley), where we sipped fresh mango and passion fruit frappes, and ate yellow plantains, rice and beans and avocado stuffed with crab.

Jackie with protective shirt, visor, and umbrella (to protect from the sun) in front of a fountain on the walkway below the old city.

Beryl and Jackie on the walkway in the shade of a flowering trees.

Beryl on her way to visit El Convento and the Cathedral.

Notice the nun in white, pulling her suitcase on wheels as she passes El Convento. It is now a swank hotel, and no longer a convent. I presume she was heading to a less ostentatious abode.