by Kirsten on May 27, 2010
I had the pleasure of visiting the Hotel El Convento in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Upon arriving to Old San Juan, we took a taxi into the compact city of cobblestone streets, beautiful historical and brightly colored buildings, outdoor cafes, and rich culture. As we pulled up to the hotel, we instantly fell in love. The Hotel El Convento has gorgeous Spanish Colonial architecture and design, is the only “Small Luxury Hotel” in Puerto Rico, and the oldest member of the Historic Hotels of America. This stunning boutique hotel was restored from a 350 year old Carmelite convent and centered right in the heart of Old San Juan. This hotel became one of my favorite places I have ever stayed, and that says a lot.
Get a full review on the Hotel El Convento in Old San Juan Puerto Rico complete with pics after the jump!
by Kirsten on May 17, 2010
Old San Juan, the oldest historical settlement in Puerto Rico, captured my heart on a recent vacation. The cobblestone streets, vibrantly colored colonial buildings, warm-hearted people, and lively night-life made this one of my favorite destinations I have visited in recent years. It was much more than I had expected, and D. and I can’t wait to visit the area again.
Traveling can be expensive, we all know that. I would be fooling myself, and you, if I said I did not live on a very fixed budget, in fact, check-to-check. How I manage to travel so frequently, has become a bit of an art. One of the ways that I save money, is to find great local restaurants and cafes in which we can eat for cheap. This seems to be a lot easier for breakfast and lunch items, and in this instance, we hit a gold-mine.
La Bombanera, a local cafe offering breakfast and lunch, is a fixture of Old San Juan, dating back to 1902. Can you believe it, this staple of their community, still going strong and fixing breakfast the Puerto Rican way for over one hundred years?! I was in awe. As you walk down the narrow cobbled streets to the entrance, you see it off in the distance, a small cafe with a bright red awning. We knew we were in the right spot as there were people pouring out onto the sidewalk, all waiting for a seat. Remarkably, the process was very quick and efficient, an testament to their years of successful service. In the window one can see rows and rows of freshly baked pastries and breads, each looking more scrumptious than the last.
Get the complete review with pics after the jump!
