Puerto Rico: Day One: Travel To, And Arrival, In Old San Juan

I began  writing  this post somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean. I was on my way to historic and hurricane devastated Puerto Rico. I was thinking of a place to visit closer to home than my usual more exotic adventures. I love to travel but  have not traveled since the tragic loss of my sister and brother-in-law. I was reluctant to leave home. It has been a hard four months for all of us. Much joy has left my life.  But, with  encouragement from mom and family, telling me it is what I enjoy to do and what my sister Linda would want me to do, I decided to visit Puerto Rico. 

My trip began early this morning. I left my home at 4 a.m and drove the 45 miles to the Wilkes-Barre Scranton airport. I was worried about the winter weather but the roads were ice and snow free. After a quick check -in and short wait I boarded my plane.  De-icing delayed us a bit but I was soon on a short 30  minute flight to the greatest city in the world,  Philadelphia.

I had a very short layover and had to dash through the airport to make my connecting flight. I have done this many times before on  my travels. 

The A330 airbus was not a full flight and I was lucky to have an empty seat next to me. This is traveler’s heaven. I wish I had this luck on my flight to Australia. 

We took off on time and I was able to read, start this blog post and relax on the 3 hour flight to Puerto Rico.  I love airplane flights, especially when I get my window seat. As a child I would always stop what I was doing and look up at passing airplanes. I wondered who was on the plane, where they were going and what their lives were like. I also wondered if they were looking down at me. I now know some of them were. There was no meal on this flight and I purchased a “cheesy” and not so good fruit and cheese tray for $9. 

The flight went by quickly and I soon was descending through puffy  cumulus to the sub- tropical island of Puerto Rico. I have been seeing the reports of the damage done by the hurricanes and thought I could help their economy recover and see for myself the extent of the damage. I also  read the island has an interesting history, an abundance  of wildlife and beautiful beaches so I made my decision to visit.  

We flew over the old and new sections of San Juan. Unfortunately I will only have time to visit the old city. 

We arrived at a small, but efficient and clean airport, and I soon had my luggage and hailed a taxi for the 15 minute ride  to old San Juan. 

It was sunny, warm and humid outside. And very green and alive. A welcome relief from the cold, gray winter back home. 

We drove a major highway, lined with hi-rises, commercial districts and businesses, as is found in all major cities is the world.

This changed when we neared old San Juan. The buildings were older, the streets narrower and covered with blue cobblestone. My driver soon left me off at the wonderful and unique hotel, the Gallery Inn. I had once again made it safely to a new foreign land. And I will admit I was once again excited to begin to explore it, knowing that the joy I have will never be the same. But life is short, and all our days are numbered, so, despite the sadness, pain or setbacks were are given, living the life we left  have is all we can do. It is what we were created to do. So here I am and I am glad to have you all here with me. Here is a link to some more photographs from my trip to San Juan.  Puerto Rico Day One San Juan February 8 2018.

“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.” 
― Leonardo da Vinci