Old San Juan, first fortress

Old San Juan is on a small island on its own, linked by a bridge to the modern town that we will not see. It's protected by two massive forts. We head up for the closest one on the right and the largest, el Castillo de San Cristóbal. Can't miss it really. It fills the landscape everywhere you look.

By the sheer size of it, I don't remember seeing anything quite like it; no wonder this city is on UNESCO's World Heritage list.

With its Bristish green lawns filling every flat surface, over half a dozen split levels, it evokes a Dantesque golf course. Of course the endless courtyards, abutted to each other on different levels, with massive walls in between each, offer great protection and many opportunities to lock up the enemy who might have been able to breach the first wall. They originally were gardens too where the soldiers grew crops of plantain, sweet potatoes or yucca to supplement military rations! 

Hard to believe they haven't put a putting green down there yet.

It's magnificent and highly photogenic. Those of you who've seen my collection of pics of walls will realize I was in heaven there. Oh the beauty of decrepitude! Cast away Botox, collagen fillers, laser resurfacing, contour thread lifts, rhytidectomies,... - here's to aging gracefully.

This one is especially for JaVil, a new hit in our endless quest in seeing heads and people and animals everywhere we look. Pretty cool, huh?

I promise - no photoshopping. 

Although the impressive pile of paint cans at the foot of one of the walls raises questions of how these amazing ochres and burgundies were achieved... Hopefully it won't be stuccoed and painted over next time I'm there. 

The garitas (les guérites des sentinelles), sentry boxes are all over San Juan. Prime real estate,with unparalleled ocean view and no neighbors noise. Must have felt quite lonely though.