On our second day in Puerto Rico, we had a day tour of Old San Juan with our tour guide Alvin. Alvin was an amazing guide who informed us about the history of Old San Juan dating back to the fifteen hundreds. On the tour we explored the rich history embedded in the streets, buildings, churches, and fortresses. Old San Juan has breathtaking scenery on every street and there was no better guide to explore it with than Alvin.
Today we went to El Jibarito for lunch. We had three choices including garlic chicken, chicken stew, and pork ribs. Each dish was served with white or yellow rice and a small salad. We also had fried plantains and desserts. Everything was delicious and so flavorful. We would recommend it to anyone. Definitely a 10 out of 10.
After lunch, we headed to the second fort on the island of San Juan. Although it was much smaller, the fortress was modernized for World War I. The best part of the tour was when we climbed its many stairs to capture a view of the entire island and its surroundings. We got to see sailboats venturing out of the bay and into the ocean and small planes landing on the airport nearby. Once our tour of the fort ended, we had time to buy souvenirs and drinks at the town’s shops. We made a quick stop at the local market before hopping on the bus back to the Big Yellow House.
After the bus ride back, we went to the beach to cool off after the hot day. The beach was more packed than the previous day, but the views were just as beautiful. The water was cool and refreshing. Some of us played spike ball and football, but most of us ended up relaxing and enjoying the late afternoon breeze. We returned to the Big Yellow House for a dinner of penne, steak, and salad, and then we watched a documentary about the impact of the hurricanes on Puerto Rico to prepare for our service tomorrow. Can’t wait to see how it goes!
Jayden, Colin, Ryan, Nathan