San Juan harbor is a popular port of call for cruise ships. These huge floating cities dwarfed the little ferry we took from the other side of the harbor. We took the first bus from here to visit El Moro

From El Moro, Old San Juan begins here with these old buildings. The original capital was established on the other side of the bay and moved to its current site by 1508. As it expanded, it moved south. A causeway no connects Old San Juan to the rest of the city.

After Juan Ponce de León donated the land, construction began on the second oldest church in the Western Hemisphere in 1523. Originally called the Church and Monastery of Saint Thomas Aquinas, it was built by Dominican friars to serve as the monastery's church and is now known as The Church of San Jose. The section erected in 1532, the Main Chapel or Sanctuary, is an excellent example of 16th century Spanish Gothic architecture. Ponce de León, was buried here for 300 years until his body was moved to the San Juan Cathedral in 1913.

Many of the buildings are whitewashed or painted bright colors. Parking is at a premium, so we took a bus from the ferry to El Moro Then we walked back to the city and wandered around.

Buildings take advantage of the island's excellent weather. Many, like this one, are built around courtyards with rooms opening onto a shaded gallery.

A view from the entry to the courtyard.

The cheerful colors of the buildings and surprising little plazas tucked among them make walking through the old city a delight.

With space at a premium, buildings are small and crammed together. Open spaces are provided by lovely plazas where the local pigeons are alert for treats.

Abutting Plaza San José, the Plaza del Quinto Centenario (Quincentennial Square), opened in October 12, 1992 to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of the New World. This monumental, 40-foot sculpture is made from black granite and ceramics to symbolize the earthen and clay roots of American history and is the work of Jaime Suarez, one of Puerto Rico's foremost artists.

Begun in 1602 and completed in 1789, the City Hall building was remodeled in the 1840's so that the facade was an exact replica of Madrid's.

Old San Juan's main square features four statues representing the four seasons; all are over 100 years old. It has served as a social meeting place for generations. It's in front of the city hall.

As evening falls, the street markets open

All around the plaza, friends and families gathered for different activities.

Located along the city wall on the harbor side is the Governor's residence La Fortaleza. It's actually part of a complex begun to protect the city from the native Tainos and then converted to a residence.

One of the guardhouses on the city wall near the plaza

Construction cranes were as much a part of the San Juan skyline as buildings. They were visible everywhere from the highway going west on the Island.

Our ferry's opposite number is just pulling into the harbor as we leave. Contrast its size with the next ship over, multi-storied cruise ship.

Construction cranes seemed as numerous as buildings, not only in San Juan but also on the sides of the highway driving west.

Puerto Rico is mostly mountainous, and they provide a beautiful backdrop to San Juan at sunset