Regent Mariner Day 4 For four continuous days we have had fabulous weather; sunny, breezy with temps in the 70s and no chance of rain. Today would be no different. I woke up just after sunrise as we were approaching the island of Puerto Rico. Quite quickly the land was getting closer and closer and I wasn’t dressed and ready in time to go up on deck to view the five hundred year old El Morro fortress built high above the sea at the edge of a cliff. This is why I love balconies; especially a balcony that I chose on a particular side of the ship based on the islands’ port location. NB: research your destinations and know the direction of the ship. Then you can ask your travel agent to find the best cabin location for your cruise.
The ship docked in Old San Juan, in the heart of the city. A brief walk takes you to the Sheraton Hotel and Casino, for those who want to gamble. A longer uphill walk will lead you to El Morro Fortress. From the ship to the Fort is about a 30 minute walk on cobblestone streets, uneven sidewalks and high curbs. It’s a very quaint old area, bustling with local residents going to work, tourists shopping at brand name factory outlet stores and children in colorful uniforms playing in shady tree-lined school courtyards for recess. The is a four dollar charge to enter the fort, well worth the money if you are a history buff or just like to tour interesting old structures. After a short visit the walk back to the pier is much easier as it’s all downhill. There are small cafes and large restaurants to stop at for a cold drink or meal. We ate lunch at El Jibarito, a local restaurant with hand-written menus, dark wood and high ceilings. Not trendy or well designed, it is a place for a taste of local color and food. The baked chicken seemed like a safe enough entrée and it was very good. The chicken was slow-baked with green and red peppers, and served with yellow rice, fried plantains and a tiny salad. Accompanied by a cold rum and coke, it was a tasty lunch after a long walk to and from the fort.
Back onboard, the idea of stretching out on a lounge chair by the pool seemed like the right thing to do. Unlike other ships, there wasn’t music blaring from a dozen poolside speakers, or a belly-flop contest or waiters hawking the daily foo-foo drink. Only relaxing quiet and the warm Caribbean sun to lull you into an afternoon nap. Dinner reservations were made for the La Veranda restaurant. This reservations-only specialty restaurant features Mediterranean cuisine, a buffet appetizer and dessert bar. My main entrée was a thick egg noodle pasta with bacon (pancetta) and artichokes in a very light cream sauce – definitely not a thick Carbonara. The pasta was a bit overcooked, but the overall dish was good. The appetizer bar was very nice, with many Med-themed salads, hummus and babaganouj. Dessert was either freshly prepared bananas flambé or a DIY ice cream sundae. I chose both.
The 9:45PM entertainment was a former London West End theatre performer with a twenty year history doing musicals. Clad in a John Travolta white suite with a crimson red sequined vest, he sang and gestured to at least fifteen familiar show tunes. Backed by the talented Regent ten-piece orchestra, his voice filled the Constellation Theatre for nearly an hour. After the show, it was a short walk to the Horizon Lounge at the aft of the ship for the few remaining minutes of the jazz combo, a nightcap and a step outside to the stern to see the stars, the moon and the churning wake as we headed to tomorrow’s destination of St. Thomas, USVI.
Goodnight!
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