San Juan | The Charming Caribbean Island of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico, a small island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, is also a U.S. overseas territory.
It's very close to the Dominican Republic, and perhaps due to its low latitude, the clouds in the sky are exceptionally thick, clustered like those in a comic book.
The weather here is incredibly unpredictable 🌧️. Just as the plane was taxiing, we got a signal while it was raining outside; then, after passing through the clouds, we saw a rainbow (see picture 1 🌈); by the time we landed, the sky was clear, as if nothing had happened. But in the evening, while strolling through the old town, a sudden sun shower began, only to subside again after about ten minutes – very changeable weather ☁️.
Buses in San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, are free 🚌. After exiting the airport, you need to go up to the second floor to wait for the bus. I didn't understand this when I came out of the airport and waited for a long time on the arrivals level, missing a bus. Actually, the boarding point is on the departure level.
Additionally, the times displayed on Google Maps are not very accurate, but buses run approximately every 20 minutes. Taking the T5 bus from the airport takes you directly to Old San Juan (Viejo San Juan), the most concentrated area for tourists to explore on foot and learn about local history and culture, and also the starting point for the capital city, as shown in Figure 2.
Old San Juan also boasts many local restaurants and bars 🍺. Pina Colada is highly recommended; it contains alcohol and has a unique and delicious flavor. Most Puerto Rican restaurants offer similar cuisine, as shown in Figure 3. The streetscape of Old San Juan is similar to that of Old Panama City, but it feels much more lively due to its U-shaped terrain and its location on a hill, offering better views, as shown in Figures 4-6.
The San Juan National Historic Site, located at the far end of Old San Juan, sits on a vast grassland, as shown in Figure 7. It's a very photogenic spot 📷, and this 16th-century building tells the story of the area's colonial and developmental history.
Figure 15 shows the photo spot with the Puerto Rican flag, where many people line up to take pictures:
Callejón de la Puerta con la Bandera
Overall, Puerto Rico has a fantastic environment; the blue skies, white clouds, and ocean are top-notch views, incredibly pleasing to the eye. The cost of living seems similar to other cities in the US, making it quite suitable for city walks and vacations.