Eva and I spent a month in Puerto Rico in January, 2021. Sunny, safe and beautiful, but more about that below.
What was the most surprising thing about San Juan?
Eva: Everyone talks about how unsafe it was on travel blogs, but I felt totally safe here. Nobody was seedy or seemingly dangerous.
Ehren: The amazing street art and murals
What would you change about this trip?
Eva: Choosing a place in Old Town instead of outside of Old Town. It was a money decision. It would’ve been an entirely different experience.
Ehren: Is it fair to say COVID? Trying to figure out if we needed COVID testing to get back into the US was a fiasco. More below.
Scale of 1-10, how easy is it for a US Citizen visiting for the first time to communicate and find the things you need?
Eva: 8, just signage, not knowing when stores are open, both online and at the door. It’s not as much about language, culturally, they just don’t do signage.
Ehren: 9, most people wanted to speak English, it was easy to walk to restaurants and grocery stores & they had a lot of the same foods & customs as mainland US.
How long would you optimally stay there (+/- how long we stayed)?
Eva: I enjoyed Old Town San Juan better than Rincon, so maybe a week longer… (5 weeks total)
Ehren: Maybe because it was our last stop before returning to NA, I wanted to stay for another month; 2 months.
Could you move/live here?
Eva: No. If you can handle the heat and humidity… I could see living here if not for the climate.
Ehren: Yes. I know it’s contrary to what I said about Rincon with consideration of hurricanes & earthquakes & summers, but I think I could live in San Juan. It’s colorful & interesting with a great culture and great people.
What did you learn about travel?
Eva: Did I learn anything about travel? Sailing was a fun experience.
Ehren: JetBlue sent us an email saying we needed a COVID test to enter the US. I called the clinics and none would promise < 72 hours for results, but results had to be < 72 hours old to be valid, Some even required a Doctor’s Prescription. I called tour companies, the US Embassy, the airport and was finally directed to call the Airline. JetBlue told me I didn’t need a COVID test to go to the US. I guess I learned to call the airline first or earlier before escalating to some of these other people who didn’t understand why I was insisting on a COVID test.
Anything else you want to add?
Eva: I like the people and the history and the beaches. But it’s just too hot and humid for me. Also, you should check out the Urban Art Tour.
Ehren: If you go to San Juan, you have to take Andy’s Best Kept Secrets tour. Every tour we took after it, they asked if we’d taken his because it’s so well known. It’s affordable and you learn a lot about the town and the architecture. Our apartment in the Santurce neighborhood in San Juan was dirty with chickens running around and the roads in shambles, but it was perfectly safe. It doesn’t seem common for people to walk places, but we didn’t have trouble walking to get groceries, to restaurants and to the beach.
Quick Fire Favorites:
Restaurant:
Eva: Fillie’s
Ehren: El Viejo Almacén!
Hang out Joint:
Eva: the Beach
Ehren: La Vendimia de Jose (alley restaurant)
Best Shopping:
Eva: I didn’t do any shopping
Ehren: Pueblo Supermarket for groceries
Point of Interest:
Eva: Old Town San Juan
Ehren: Yunque Rainforest