We are loving our time in Puerto Rico.   Last time we showed you Castillo San Felipe del Morro, the Spanish defense from sea attacks.   Now we will show you Castillo San Cristobal, the Spanish defense from land attacks.   This was the biggest European fortification in the Americas.

Castillo San Cristobal

Canons were once housed here, to defend the Spanish claim to Puerto Rico.

Canon was inside

Let’s walk up this incline and enter the fortress.

Let’s go up

Looking to the sea, this fortress offered an advantageous view of the sea and the land.

View of Atlantic. Love the colors of the water

As we enter Castillo San Cristobal, we notice we will be climbing more inclines.

Entering the fortress

This Castillo has three levels.   We are on level 1, sitting on the window of the Troops Quarters.

Troops Quarters

Remember that ships sailing from Europe, 4,000 miles to the east, sailed down the coast of Africa where they used the winds and currents to reach Puerto Rico, and then on to the rest of the New World.   We are now on the top level, and it is windy here.

View and three flags

These three flags flew over Puerto Rico.   The bottom is the Burgundy Cross.   This was the Spanish military flag that flew here during most of the Spanish colonial period.    It was adopted in 1506 by Philip the Handsome, King of Castile, to honor his mother, Mary Duchess of Burgundy.   The middle is the flag of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.   And the top flag is that of the United States of America.   Here is the bell.

Bell

We love the old bells.   From here, you would be able to see any approaching threat, by sea or land.

View to the east

We like this panorama of the coast between the two Castillos.

Panorama with markings on building roofs

This is a favorite photo from Bucket’s dad.   Looking toward Castillo San Felipe del Morro, again we admire the strategic location of these fortresses.

View to the west and Castillo San Felipe del Morro

We, the Colorado Traveling Ducks, and humans enjoyed exploring and learning about our history and the Spanish defenses to protect Puerto Rico.   We think you would enjoy wandering through this part of Old San Juan, also.