THE OPSAIL 2000 OFFICIAL PORTS, PART VI
San Juan,,
Rico
An Open Door to tlie Cari66ean and tlie Americas
The Spanish replica of Columbus's Santa Maria departs San Juan beneath the timeworn walls ofEl Morro in 1992, nearly 500 years after the original nao arrived on these shores. (All photos by Eliza Llenza) an Juan, Puerto Rico, is the first port of call for OpSail 2000. The island offers a tropical blend of ultramodern cruise ship terminals located in the heart of Old San Juan, the 500-year-old historic district, an ideal setting for the international fleet of sailing ships that will arrive in May. Founded by Spaniards in 1521, San Juan, Puerto Rico, is perfectly situated to serve as an open door to the Caribbean and the Americas. San Juan was originally colonized by Juan Ponce de Le6n, who made use of the large natural harbor, with the hilly islet of O ld San Juan providing a natural site for the fortifications ofEl Morro and San Crist6bal. Seven blocks of the walled city of Old San Juan have been preserved, inviting visitors to stroll down the narrow streets and explore five centuries of Caribbean history. When Columbus landed in Puerto Rico on 19 November 1493, during his second voyage, he encountered an island inhabited by perhaps 30,000 Tainos, who called their home Boriquen; Puerto Ricans have taken this name as their own and often refer to themselves as Boricuas. This name,
S
SEA HISTORY 91, WINTER 1999-2000
by CDR Daniel Whiting, USCG (Ret) the hammock, the maraca, the guiro and several unique religious-social "ball court" sires are all that remains to remind us of the once peaceful Tainos culture. Today Puerto Rico's population numbers almost 4 million, with more than one third living in the metropolitan area of San Juan. Although only 100 miles long and 35 miles wide, Puerto Rico is exceptionally rich in historical, natural, and cultural resources. San Juan is truly a crossroads between the old and new worlds, a cosmopolitan metropolis where the best of the Caribbean, Europe, the Americas, andAsia come together with beauty and warmth. If your idea of adventure includes a good dose of natural beauty, Puerto Rico's diverse geography has something for everyone. Over 300 sparkling beaches grace the island's coastline, with sailing, diving, fishing and surfing leading the list of popular water sports enjoyed year round. Tropical rain forests top the mountain of El Yunque offering extensive hiking trails leading to breathtaking waterfalls and dramatic vistas. The cool depths of the spectacular
Camuy Caves treat even the casual adventurer to fantastic limestone formations and one of the longest underground river and cave systems in the world. Puerto Rico's maritime history is filled with treasure ships, pirates, and sea battles. Controversial evidence links the T ainos culture with Venezuela and the Yucatan, suggesting voyaging and navigational technologies that may have developed well before the arrival of Europeans. Hostile Caribe Indians, from as far away as the island ofMartinique, conducted successful coastal raids in voyaging canoes throughout the first decades of Spanish colonization, carrying away prisoners and sinking ships at remote ports. One account of the destruction of a caravel on 1 November 1553 records eighteen large canoes carrying 600 warriors. The Caribes were reportedly able to escape the pursuing Spaniards by paddling their large canoes directly into the wind, the galleons of the era not able to sail close enough into the wind to effectively chase the escaping Indians. The fortifications of San ] uan have withstood numerous assaults throughout the centuries. French corsairs became increas15