usvi-on-line
Conclusion to trip report - Puerto Rico - with pics
-
nothintolose
- Posts: 1960
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:36 pm
- Location: New Orleans, LA
Conclusion to trip report - Puerto Rico - with pics
When Cat and Kenneth headed back to Lousiana, Jerry and I went to Puerto Rico. It was either that or leave STT at 8am or some horrible time the morning we checked out of Seawatch. We opted to spend the night in San Juan and fly out on a 7:15 (or so we thought) flight the next evening.
Our flight to San Juan was uneventful except I think it left an hour later than planned, but that was also the day that the bomb went off at the airport in Scotland so I think security was extra tight.
Believe it or not, as afraid of flying I am, I LOVE the little planes. I don't feel so claustrophobic in them. They don't bother me at all. I don't even get upset when they tell us that people have to move to shift the weight in the plane
Anyway, we got to San Juan and took a taxi to our hotel (Hotel Milano) in Old San Juan. The hotel was fine (nothing elegant) for one night. There was a bit of confusion between Jerry and myself in making the reservation. I accidently told him to get a room facing the street. I meant to tell him not to because, on the net, people advised not doing so because the street noise would be loud. Well, we were exhausted from the day at the STT airport, and it didn't even phase us. I think at 2am I heard a car with loud music go by; but other than that, fire alarms could have gone off and we wouldn't have woken up.
That night we were so tired we just ate in the restaurant (Panorama) on top of the hotel. We decided to only eat Puerto Rican food. It was good but we ordered WAY TOO MUCH food. I can't remember what we ate other than seafood mofango. I do remember almost everything had plantains in it.
The next morning we woke up early and packed up most of our stuff then went to one of the two major forts (Castillo de San Cristobal). Unfortunately, I don't have alot of pics from this day as my camera battery died.
These are views from San Cristobal towards the other fort (El Morro)
We walked back through the Plaza de Colon
Then caught some free bus that took us through town (kinda backtracked) then past the fort we had just come from down to the largest fort, El Morro...
We took a taxi back to the hotel and got him to drive us around a bit before taking us to the hotel. When we got back to the room, we cleaned up, finished packing our bags then checked out and left our bags at the hotel.
We went to lunch at The Parrot Club that someone from the forum recommended. More plantains I can't remember what Jerry had, but I had a Cuban Sandwhich. I have to say that the Cuban Sandwhiches at Jazz Fest are MUCH better.
After that we walked around to a bunch of the small museums and window shopped and sweated our butts off the whole time.
My opinion of Old San Juan is that it reminded me of The French Quarter (which actually was at one time owned by the Spanish) with hills and Spanish speaking people (also spoke English) but no strip clubs. It had beautiful buildings with great iron work that are all lined up together. It also had all the junk tourists shops that are in the Quarter; I think I even saw HUGE ASS BEERS - not really
I did find it miserably hot and at some point a cruise ship must have arrived because all the sudden it was packed with people.
Anyway, we went back to the hotel and cleaned up in their bathrooms and headed for the airport around 5:00pm. The airport is about 15 minutes from Old San Juan. Thus starts the travel nightmare.
We get to the airport and the guy at the outside counter says our flight wasn't till the next day. We told him he was wrong and he sent us inside to wait in a VERY long line (again, pre-Katrina we probably would have been more aggrivated). When we get to the counter, they tell us the flight is delayed and won't leave till 10:15. They convinced us to stay in the airport hotel (literally connected to the airport) and give up our seats. After we got out of line, I pointed out that if it happened again we would be stuck in San Juan again so we decided to go back and get back on that flight. Well, we lost our seats and ended up in the LAST two seats of the plane (right next to the bathroom). So we were gonna fly out at 10:15 and go to Miami where they would put us up at a hotel then the next morning, we would fly to New Orleans and get there around noon. We didn't end up getting on the plane till 11:30pm after having two guys fighting with each other over who was gonna board first. I start thinking too many things are going wrong and maybe we shouldn't be on that flight - time for more Xanax but not before I tell Jerry when the power shuts off on the plane while we are waiting at the tarmac, that we are gonna die
Anyway, I think it was 2am when we finally got to the Regency Hotel in Miami that they put us up in. I showered and literally passed out from exhaustion and Xanax. Jerry said a roach flew on the bed right when he was getting in bed and he killed it. Thank God I was passed out; otherwise, I would not have been able to sleep as roaches are probably the only things that freaks me out.
Anyway, after a few other things that are too minor to mention, eventually we got home only to find our bags went somewhere else. It got to the point where every time I would ask if one more thing could go wrong, something would so I quit asking. That night Jerry had to kidnap our bags from the airport, but that's another story.
All I can say is that I was very happy to be home. Not because of the travel nightmare, but because New Orleans IS my home. I mentioned before that I was worried about leaving (hadn't left since our last trip to STJ a month before Katrina) and not wanting to come back. Well, I think I missed New Orleans more this trip than I ever have. There is just something about this city that it will always be home to me. I think getting away to my most favorite place to travel to (STJ not San Juan) made me realize that it's nice to visit other places, but my heart is in New Orleans. Besides, I had this to come home to...
Thanks for reading Cat's and my reports and letting us share with you guys. We love STJ and hope to be back sooner than later!
Our flight to San Juan was uneventful except I think it left an hour later than planned, but that was also the day that the bomb went off at the airport in Scotland so I think security was extra tight.
Believe it or not, as afraid of flying I am, I LOVE the little planes. I don't feel so claustrophobic in them. They don't bother me at all. I don't even get upset when they tell us that people have to move to shift the weight in the plane
Anyway, we got to San Juan and took a taxi to our hotel (Hotel Milano) in Old San Juan. The hotel was fine (nothing elegant) for one night. There was a bit of confusion between Jerry and myself in making the reservation. I accidently told him to get a room facing the street. I meant to tell him not to because, on the net, people advised not doing so because the street noise would be loud. Well, we were exhausted from the day at the STT airport, and it didn't even phase us. I think at 2am I heard a car with loud music go by; but other than that, fire alarms could have gone off and we wouldn't have woken up.
That night we were so tired we just ate in the restaurant (Panorama) on top of the hotel. We decided to only eat Puerto Rican food. It was good but we ordered WAY TOO MUCH food. I can't remember what we ate other than seafood mofango. I do remember almost everything had plantains in it.
The next morning we woke up early and packed up most of our stuff then went to one of the two major forts (Castillo de San Cristobal). Unfortunately, I don't have alot of pics from this day as my camera battery died.
These are views from San Cristobal towards the other fort (El Morro)
We walked back through the Plaza de Colon
Then caught some free bus that took us through town (kinda backtracked) then past the fort we had just come from down to the largest fort, El Morro...
We took a taxi back to the hotel and got him to drive us around a bit before taking us to the hotel. When we got back to the room, we cleaned up, finished packing our bags then checked out and left our bags at the hotel.
We went to lunch at The Parrot Club that someone from the forum recommended. More plantains
I can't remember what Jerry had, but I had a Cuban Sandwhich. I have to say that the Cuban Sandwhiches at Jazz Fest are MUCH better.After that we walked around to a bunch of the small museums and window shopped and sweated our butts off the whole time.
My opinion of Old San Juan is that it reminded me of The French Quarter (which actually was at one time owned by the Spanish) with hills and Spanish speaking people (also spoke English) but no strip clubs. It had beautiful buildings with great iron work that are all lined up together. It also had all the junk tourists shops that are in the Quarter; I think I even saw HUGE ASS BEERS - not really
I did find it miserably hot and at some point a cruise ship must have arrived because all the sudden it was packed with people.
Anyway, we went back to the hotel and cleaned up in their bathrooms and headed for the airport around 5:00pm. The airport is about 15 minutes from Old San Juan. Thus starts the travel nightmare.
We get to the airport and the guy at the outside counter says our flight wasn't till the next day. We told him he was wrong and he sent us inside to wait in a VERY long line (again, pre-Katrina we probably would have been more aggrivated). When we get to the counter, they tell us the flight is delayed and won't leave till 10:15. They convinced us to stay in the airport hotel (literally connected to the airport) and give up our seats. After we got out of line, I pointed out that if it happened again we would be stuck in San Juan again so we decided to go back and get back on that flight. Well, we lost our seats and ended up in the LAST two seats of the plane (right next to the bathroom). So we were gonna fly out at 10:15 and go to Miami where they would put us up at a hotel then the next morning, we would fly to New Orleans and get there around noon. We didn't end up getting on the plane till 11:30pm after having two guys fighting with each other over who was gonna board first. I start thinking too many things are going wrong and maybe we shouldn't be on that flight - time for more Xanax but not before I tell Jerry when the power shuts off on the plane while we are waiting at the tarmac, that we are gonna die
Anyway, I think it was 2am when we finally got to the Regency Hotel in Miami that they put us up in. I showered and literally passed out from exhaustion and Xanax. Jerry said a roach flew on the bed right when he was getting in bed and he killed it. Thank God I was passed out; otherwise, I would not have been able to sleep as roaches are probably the only things that freaks me out.
Anyway, after a few other things that are too minor to mention, eventually we got home only to find our bags went somewhere else. It got to the point where every time I would ask if one more thing could go wrong, something would so I quit asking. That night Jerry had to kidnap our bags from the airport, but that's another story.
All I can say is that I was very happy to be home. Not because of the travel nightmare, but because New Orleans IS my home. I mentioned before that I was worried about leaving (hadn't left since our last trip to STJ a month before Katrina) and not wanting to come back. Well, I think I missed New Orleans more this trip than I ever have. There is just something about this city that it will always be home to me. I think getting away to my most favorite place to travel to (STJ not San Juan) made me realize that it's nice to visit other places, but my heart is in New Orleans. Besides, I had this to come home to...
Thanks for reading Cat's and my reports and letting us share with you guys. We love STJ and hope to be back sooner than later!
-
California Girl
Thnx for the San Juan TR and pics. Someday I hope to go.
I too love New Orleans, we had gone once or twice a year before Katrina and had just been two weeks before the Witch hit. We've not been back, one day I hope we can visit again. My heart goes out to all who are still affected. (((HUGS)))
I too love New Orleans, we had gone once or twice a year before Katrina and had just been two weeks before the Witch hit. We've not been back, one day I hope we can visit again. My heart goes out to all who are still affected. (((HUGS)))
Coden
-
Jan&MikeVa
- Posts: 1084
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 5:32 pm
- Location: The Chesapeake Bay
-
nothintolose
- Posts: 1960
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:36 pm
- Location: New Orleans, LA
Liamsaunt - we got to the point where we would just chuckle at the hilarity (sp?) of it all. I will say that American Airlines DID pay for our hotel (even though it was a roach motel) and did give us food vouchers (even though it was for airport food) and breakfast vouchers at the hotel (even though they would only allow us coffee and toast) where Cat and Kenneth got stranded due to weather and had to pay for their hotel plus the hotel they were supposed to stay in in Houston.
Our whole situation happened because pilots did not get enough downtime between flights or something.
I would say that the worst part of our whole trip home was riding in the back of that van from Red Hook to the airport. I was not sick, just claustrophobic and HOT as heck.
Coden - come visit - put your $$$ into the economy and be a part of the rebuilding
I have to say that the French Quarter has NEVER been as clean as it is now. All of the tourist areas are back.
Jan - to be honest, I called my parents (who were keeping Rudy) almost every day to get an update on him. I missed him and loved hearing what he was up to.
Thanks again for reading all of our reports!
Our whole situation happened because pilots did not get enough downtime between flights or something.
I would say that the worst part of our whole trip home was riding in the back of that van from Red Hook to the airport. I was not sick, just claustrophobic and HOT as heck.
Coden - come visit - put your $$$ into the economy and be a part of the rebuilding
I have to say that the French Quarter has NEVER been as clean as it is now. All of the tourist areas are back.Jan - to be honest, I called my parents (who were keeping Rudy) almost every day to get an update on him. I missed him and loved hearing what he was up to.
Thanks again for reading all of our reports!
