The story of San Juan, Puerto Rico dates back over 500 years. It was one of the first Spanish settlements in the Americas, and it is now a tourist site with its cobbled streets, colonial-style buildings, and beautiful plazas. Even the locals consider it a place to go, which is why I like to go there. With or without a plan, it’s worth the trip. It’s just that special.

I parked my car out in the marina in a lot that held easy access to the main road out of the city. From there, I made my way through the side until the San Juan Bay came to view. I was on the southwest side of the city, and there was a stone wall over six feet high that separated me from the rest of the city. It was part of the old Spanish defenses; the ones that helped keep the city safe.

Walking through the exterior, I found the San Juan Gate, a big red door situated on the side named after Saint John the Baptist. It’s the last remaining principal gate that exists in the city. If a dignitary came to the island between the 1500s and the 1800s, they would enter through this gate. It was a formal entrance, and it provided protection for wealthy travelers, as well as documents, money, and people that carry the will of the Spanish monarchy.

I crossed through it and got up the cobbled street to the “Felisa Rincón de Gautier” Plaza. It’s one of the many plazas in the old city and one of the three that I walked through during my visit. Situated in the heart of the old city, the plaza housed two main things: the El Hotel and the Metropolitan Basilica Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist. Both buildings have the old Spanish architecture that looked down at the small plaza, shielded by the surrounding buildings and a giant tree. The plaza was crowded by bystanders and people crossing through. Some came in and out of “El Convento” with kids. They had to be tourists, and they made a good choice. The best place to stay in Old San Juan is “El Convento.” It’s in the heart of the old city and it makes it easy to get around on foot.

I went up Santo Cristo Street where I found the next plaza: San José Plaza. The plaza was small, with a few bars to the side and a church in front. A statue of Columbus stood in the center, with an inscription on his pedestal telling his story about his coming to the Americas. Behind it was the San José church, the oldest church on the island. Looking at it reminded me of how I always saw it being repaired when I was younger, with construction happening day after day with no possible telling on when it would be done. It must’ve been a careful procedure. Every time they worked on it, they found something new behind the concrete and paint, things that were covered up and lost to time.

There was a food stand in front of the church. It was tiny and consisted of a table with some snacks and baked goods on top. The other part was a small cart with a giant block of ice inside and bottles of various flavored liquids: coconut, strawberry, and pineapple. A sign on the cart read “Piraguas,” a “Boricua” ice cone, along with the list of the flavors that are available. I recalled having them when I was little. When the sun was hot and I needed refreshment, a piragua was always good.

There is nowhere else where Piraguas can be found. I ordered a strawberry one, and I watched the man scrape the ice block for the cup. Afterward, he pulled out a bottle and poured strawberry juice all over the ice.

With a piragua in hand, I moved through the plaza towards a building for shade. Situated near a column was another stand, with all sorts of jewelry on display. The ones that caught my eye were these sets with a blue colored stone as a decoration. It looked like a rock dyed with color. The name of the stone was Larimar or The Caribbean Stone. It has a unique coloration made from the copper substitution for calcium. It is said that it can enlighten and heal physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

I bought two pieces: a ring and a necklace. I’m not a firm believer that stones can heal people, but I bought them as a reminder of home. A little piece of where I’m from to keep with me. I placed the ring on my right hand and the necklace around my neck. If it does have the power to enlighten and heal me, then it’s magic better be good. 

Those were the first thirty minutes of my time there. After that, I got lost in the city, the cobbled streets, and the old buildings. I went up and down the streets looking at everything that was around me: the houses, the little shops, restaurants, and bars. The colorful buildings were a sight to see. Some buildings held flags hanging from them. National pride is a big thing in Puerto Rico, especially in the old city. Everywhere I went, there was a flag hanging from somewhere. Perhaps it’s a cultural thing. The island has a history of sticking together through hardships, and it hasn’t broken them, it’s only made them stronger.

Going through the city streets brought me to Plaza de Armas. It was bigger than the others and much busier. People stood, walked, and lay all around the place. A couple of pigeons relaxed near a fountain holding a few statues with it. A school field trip rested under the shade of the trees. Some of the kids played around the plaza grounds.

I’ve been here numerous times before, but something about today made the place seem different. Perhaps it was all the people or the passage of time. But the place was different. It was euphoric.

That’s one of the things I like a lot about Old San Juan. The city always has a way of creating an impact on you. It can be anything. Going through the streets is a way of enjoying it. Any turn that I took led me to something exciting, and anyone who visits gets to see a reminder of the culture of the island. A culture that is so rich that it can feel like it’s slipping away. But it’s not, it’s everywhere. It’s not just in the city, but it’s in what the city offers. Art, music, literature, and history. The little stands that people make to sell things from the island are a reminder of that. They’re trying to say, “We’re here,” and what they really want is for people to see what they have to show.

For many, Old San Juan can look like a fun destination to stop by and shop around. But the city has more to offer than a shopping spree ground. It has stories to tell and the ability to make magic happen. The magic began flowing 500 years ago, and it’s still flowing, as it always will. As long as this city is still here, so too will the magic.