Way back when, September 18th to be exact Manny and David and I went to Castillo San Cristobal in San Juan. Almost 2 months later Victoria, Jorge and I went to visit it's partner Castillo San Felipe del Morro.
We could have walked there from the port, it's only 2km or so but it was hot and we didn't have a lot of time. So we took the free trolley.
While San Cristobal protected from land based attacks, El Morro was built to defend the entrance to the harbour.
Construction began in 1539 and it took over 200 years to build.
It has 6 levels and includes dungeons, garitas, (domed sentries) a light house, cannons, tunnels and
my favourite, a triangular staircase.
We spent a good hour or so exploring and taking photos. We didn't watch the film or take the ranger guided walk.
Things we learnt:
The only time El Morro failed to protect San Juan was when the Duke of Cumberland occupied it in 1598. And he attacked by land not by sea.
The oldest part of El Morro is the Old Tower, a very original name.
The first shot of World War 1 by the US was fired from El Morro on March 21st 1915
There are three flags flying over El Morro. The US flag, The Puerto Rican flag, and the Burgundy Cross. The Burgundy Cross is the Spanish military flag, that flew during most of the Spanish colonial period.
The grassy area area in front of the fort was once a golf course.