La Perla Barrio
by grandmaR
Or
Barrio La Perla (BAHR-ree-o lah PER-lah) is the neighborhood between El Morro (near the cemetery) and the harbor. Formerly it was a squatters community made famous by Oscar Lewis’s “La Vida; A Puerto Rican Family In The Culture Of Poverty" published in San Juan And New York, in 1966. I had to look up Oscar Lewis because I was unfamiliar with his name. He was born Oscar Lefkowitz in New York City and was an American anthropologist who is best known for his vivid depictions of the lives of slum dwellers and for postulating that there was a cross-generational culture of poverty among poor people that transcended national boundaries.
The Barrio was initially established because the laws required slaughterhouses, cemeteries, homes of former slaves and homeless non white servants to be outside the city walls. It is on land which normally would be where rich or well off people would build their homes because of the views of the water. There are only three access points, one through the "Santa Maria Magdalena Cemetery", one on the east side and one through a walkway right in the center of the northern wall.
We really enjoyed walking...
by bhodgson
We really enjoyed walking around and exploring old San Juan. There are some very quaint areas and lots of shopping. There is a nice open air market not far from the docks-but that is no surpise. I enjoyed Old San juan the most.
SAN JUAN TOURIST INFORMATION
by LoriPori
Located in the center of town is the SAN JUAN TOURIST INFORMATION. La Casita or ( Little House) is home of the "Centro De Informacion Turistica".
Jeri and I went in there to see if they had any brochures as I wanted something for my scrapbook. They didn't have much to offer in the way of brochures or booklets. But the staff was friendly and answered the questions we had for them.
Phone: ( 787 ) 722-1709
Friendly People
by LaFlaka
Puerto Rico has very many friendly people. They have a very relaxed culture. Just be yourself and hopefully your a friendly person as well : )
I took a pic of this man...he is so relaxed just enjoying his surroundings, and even though his face does not show a huge smile in the pic, when I asked him if I could take his pic. He was happy to allow me.
Dive Desecheo Island
by Cabana_Boy
I went scuba diving nearly every weekend that I was in San Juan. My first weekend I went out to the Eastern coast and was somewhat disappointed in the visibility and fish (or lack there of). At the end of the dive, I ask the divemaster for recommendations on dives around PR. His immediate response was "go to Desecheo." Furthermore, he even highly recommended Taino Divers in Rincón. So, that's where I went and love it.
Desecheo Island is a small, uninhabited island about 12 miles off the Western coast of PR in the Mona Passage. The island's terrain is quite rugged, rising some 600 feet out of the sea. This same profile is carried below the water's surface, sinking some 100 feet to the ocean floor. So, you can literally start a wall dive from the surface. Several pinnacles near the island also rise dramatically to the surface making for some very interesting underwater rock formations. Finally, the best thing, all three weekends that I dove Desecheo, there was no other dive boat present;so, the place is all but deserted. Taino Divers will have everything you need. What's more, the dude that runs the dive operation is very cool and laid back. And their dive boat makes the 12 mile trip from Rincón to Desecheo Island in no time. This was truly one my favorite dive sites/experiences.
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Colorful Buildings - Streets of Old San Juan
Mosaic Tile Street Marker - Old San Juan
Castillo San Cristobal
Pigeon Park
