The cruise ships dock right at the doorstep of Old San Juan, a seven-block area packed with historical and cultural sights which include Gothic churches, restored colonial buildings, townhouses with inner courtyards and wrought-iron balconies, museums, art galleries, bou-tiques, plazas, fountains and gardens. An information center is conve-niently located beside Pier 1 inside (1) La Casita (the little house) and is an ideal starting point for a self-guided walking tour of these historic streets and fortifications. Refreshments can be enjoyed along the way at various restaurants and sidewalk cafes, or from street vendors who seli bottled water and sof t drinks. Piraguas (fruit-flavored snow cones) and helados (coconut and pineapple ices) are popular with the locals.
(more…)