This past week while Brandeis students were enjoying their spring breaks, some choose to venture to warmer locations to seek relief from the cold weather. For a change of pace, my family and I decided to try a new escape: Dorado Beach in Puerto Rico. Our 7 day trip was a week well spent.
The weather was always a balmy 80 degrees, and it only rained one day during our trip. The bulk of our vacation was spent either by the beach or at our hotel’s pool. The quiet area of Dorado Beach, about 45 minutes outside the city of San Juan, made for a relaxing vacation.
However, the close proximity of San Juan allowed for some interesting sightseeing when we left the area of Dorado Beach. Old San Juan, the original city, is a historical landmark in Puerto Rico. It was a different setting than the beachside location we had been enjoying up until then. The buildings there are all in bright pastel colors with Mediterranean-style architecture.
The local shops varied from tourist stores to local retaillers selling Puerto Rican merchandise. One store we stopped in sold local summer dresses in bright colors for adults and children. Another local shop sold hand-painted replicas of the doors from the famous poster “Doors of San Juan.” The artist and his wife work together to create beautiful art, his wife hand-paints inspirational poetry while the husband paints unique doors.
The most exciting part of exploring Old San Juan was touring the historical forts that stand on two ends of the old city. The forts were extensive and had much history about the battles the settlers fought against pirates and how the fort managed as a port for goods. The views from the tops of the forts show the entire Atlantic ocean and a view of the whole city, the bright colors recognizable even from many miles away.
The food in San Juan is classic Puerto Rican food, fish, meat and seafood. One café we stopped at for a quick lunch while walking around Old San Juan served familiar food such as in the United States—coffee drinks, sandwiches, baked goods—but also local refreshing salads and local ingredients for sandwiches. Our time in Puerto Rico had us eating a lot of delicious fish and classic Puerto Rican ingredients, like yucca, cilantro, and tomatoes.
After our day of touring in Old San Juan and the enjoyment we had relaxing in the quiet area of Dorado Beach, our family is excited to return there next year.