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| October 20, day 18 and we pull into our last port, San Juan, Puerto Rico at 6:00 am. Our flight does not leave until 5:00 pm, so we decide to take a half day city tour that includes transfer to the airport at the end. |
| San Juan was very similar to all the other Spanish influenced towns, with town squares, ornate churches and old town shopping areas. We visited San Cristobal fort that protected the island from pirates built in 1634. It was huge with mulitple underground tunnels and caves. From the top of the fort, we could see views of old San Juan and the modern city of San Juan. After the fort the tour dropped us near the old town square for an hour of independant shopping, lunch before the airport etc. You know where we ended up? We found a McDonalds and ate lunch!! After all the rich, fancy foods, it was nice to have a familiar food from home. (Even though we don't eat at McD's that often at home!?!?) The city streets were narrow, small storefronts with no signs. You could not tell what kind of store you were approaching until reading the painted signs in the windows. We stopped in several stores, seaching for english speaking people, to give us directions to the nearest McD's!! |
| Our bus ride to the airport, drove past the modern and touristy San Juan. It is very nice and clean with secluded beaches. We arrived at the airport, waited 2 hours, and then boarded our plane for our 7 1/2 hour plane ride home!! Thank goodness it was non-stop. |
| We arrived at home at 11:00 pm from LAX over-tired and exhausted, but happy to be home. And a little sad that it had ended. We planned and looked forward to this trip for 10 months, and even though it lasted 18 days, it seemed over so quickly. |
| For the most part we thoroughly enjoyed our vacation, seeing the wonderful sights at the ports, meeting all the nice people, and learning the histories of the cities and countries. |
| Let's see-where are we going next???? Not sure yet, but we are eyeing three cruises: a Baltic Cruise into to the Scandinavian countries and Russia, the Mediterranean including Rome, Venice, Greece, Monte Carlo and Istanbul, and finally a fall cruise (to see the leaves changing) beginning in New York, Rhode Island, Boston, Marthas Vineyard, Nova Scotia, Quebec and Montreal. |
| Then again, there is always the UK tour by Eurorail around England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. |
| Too many plans and not enough time!!!!!!! |
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