One of the fun things about vacationing with my husband Paul, is finding things to do that appeal to each of us. Paul is very into history. He can run down a Jeopardy! topic on the Crusades better than anyone I know. He enjoys castles, battlefields, and old factories. I tend to lean towards the natural attractions: hiking, boating, fishing. So whenever we vacation, we try to plan activities that will keep us both entertained. While we were in Old San Juan, we took in some of the historical sites. Walking around the old city was beautiful; the bricks that line the streets are actually tinted blue. These bricks, called adoquines, (aka blue cobblestone pavers) were reportedly made with iron furnace slag that was used as ballast in Spanish ships. Old San Juan is also well known for its smattering of pastel-colored buildings and balconies that line the narrow streets.

After our anniversary food tour, we spent a windy afternoon exploring Castillo San Felipe de Morro, colloquially referred to as El Morro Fort. The fort was built by the Spanish in the 16th Century to protect their newly “discovered” island of San Juan.

Trivia Bonus – the whole island of Puerto Rico was named San Juan, in honor of San Juan the Baptist and the capital city was named Puerto Rico [port of riches].It was later that the names were switched, and the island became to be known as Puerto Rico with a capital of San Juan.

El Morro Fort went through several battles, reconstructions, retrofits, and re-purposing throughout the centuries. Currently, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that features six levels and spectacular views along the Puerto Rican coastline. At the base of the fort, lies an enormous grassy lawn that is filled with locals and tourists alike, enjoying picnics and flying kites.

The great lawn in front of El Morrow where people come to picnic and fly kites.

A long pathway takes you up from the street along the great lawn to the entrance of the fort.

Once inside the fort, you are free to walk around the entire structure, include many rooms, the lighthouse, and sentry towers. The views of the surrounding harbor are spectacular and you can really appreciate how blue the Caribbean ocean is.

DCIM100GOPRO

DCIM100GOPRO

One of my favorite things about the fort (besides the scenery) was the iguanas! We saw a bunch of large lizards all over the fort, including one cool dude that let me take a selfie with him.

While Paul got his slice of history during our visit to El Morro, I got to enjoy a kayaking trip to Laguna Grande – one of Puerto Rico’s three bioluminescent bays. We met up with our tour group, Kayaking Puerto Rico, in the town of Farjardo about 15 minutes east of where we were staying. After checking in, we doused ourselves with bug spray and waited for the rest of the group to arrive.

Waiting for the tour to start

Waiting for the tour to start

What we hope to see tonight: bioluminescent plankton called Pyrodinium Bahamense

Waiting for the tour to start

Our lead kayak guide gave us a brief kayaking demo and explained where we’re going, how we’re going to get there, and what we’re going to see. Then, we all got into our 2-person sit on top kayaks and took off across the small marina to the entrance of the channel that would guide us into Laguna Grande.

The canal to the lagoon was narrow and crowded, but the guides were good at keeping everyone moving together. They also shared some interesting information about the area. It hit twilight just as the canal finally opened up into Laguna Grande. The large lake is surrounded by undeveloped land, although a beautiful lighthouse and the city of Farjardo can be seen in the distance. The guides let us paddle around on our own for some time until darkness fell and we returned to the group. As if by magic, suddenly any agitation of the water resulting is specks of light and glitter to shine. The bioluminescence glowed under every paddle stroke and splash from your hands. Trails of light were left behind the otherwise invisible fish swimming below us. I’ve been lucky to see bioluminescence in different parts of world when I was sailing but this was the first time I’ve been able to dip my hands into the water and stir up the creatures myself.

Now the trip back through the canal and marina to the launching spot was a bit of a disaster. The combination of pitch-black lighting, a narrow crowded space, and dozens of people with little to no kayaking experience did not work well. Paul and I didn’t have too many issues, but it was definitely frustrating trying to figure out where to go. Although it was hilarious to hear other people crashing and getting lost in the dark. But everyone in the group made it back safely (I think…) and it was a successful tour. Kayaking Puerto Rico also took a few photos of everyone to share on Facebook.

Our Puerto Rican anniversary vacation was beautiful and memorable. It is a truly interesting island with more history, natural wonders, and great food than you could every try to completely explore. Although it’s always a tad depressing for vacation to end, I look forward to planning next year’s trip!