Forts in Old San Juan

Today is our last full fun day of vacation before we leave Puerto Rico and enter back into the real world.
We had a whole day planned out including a nice picnic at one of the old forts in San Juan where we noticed everyone was flying kites the day before. The one fort was a short walk from our hotel and we left early enough it wasn't scorching hot. The first fort we went to seemed to be more of a historical background and it was so interesting.
Christopher Columbus landed on the island during his second journey and the Spanish were the first to settle. It was a very well known island quite quickly after they had settled because of its perfect location and natural port. Only 20 years after San Juan had been founded they already had a University, library and hospital (in the 1530's). With it's location and resources the island became coveted by the other European countries. The Island only lost an attack once to the English who only have a very short period were driven off by illness and resistance and the Spanish reclaimed the island.
Over time the Spanish built this amazing fort with huge walls, tunnels and secret passageways. They also built up resistance on either side of the port so if any foreign ship were to try to gain entry if it survived the jagged rocks it would be attacked by cannons on either side. You could also see anyone coming because of the location and because of this they were able to win even when the British invaded with 60 ships.
During the Spanish-American war the Americans outsmarted the Spanish by landing on the opposite end of the island and because the Puerto Ricans were not happy with their current administration they surrendered without much of a fight. The end to this war was with the Treaty of Paris in which Spain surrendered Cuba and ceding Peurto Rico, Guam, the Philippines and parts of the West Indies to the United States in 1898.

Well ... with all that war you're going to need weapons, no?

You obviously need a place to put the pirates and enemy soldiers and your dead loved ones. I'm sure that only the best got burial by the sea! Just a heads up I want ocean front burial when I go:

The view from these forts was incredible with the waves crashing into the rocks the sea spray adding a misty look to it, a very beautiful city.

After we had walked through the two different forts we got onto the trolley and made our way to the Capital Building. Sometimes its hard to remember you are in the U.S.A. with all the Spanish colours and culture but then you see a building like the capital building and you're reminded. It just screamed "AMERICA" and looked a little out of place but it was a very pretty building. From there we took the stairs down to the beach and went for a little walk before turning around and heading back to the hotel.

It was a good day but I have to admit I was excited packing up to leave because it means I get to go home and see those kids of mine I've been missing!