Touring Bacardi Rum Factory/Old San Juan
Trip Start
Jan 09, 2011
1
4
Trip End
Jan 12, 2011
Where I stayed
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Our tour was arranged by the hotel. Our first stop was the rum factory. Their symbol the "bat" is a sign of family, health and prosperity. We received two drink tickets with admission. We could have our choice of rum drinks. We chose the Mojito. Not being the drinker, and not too fond of the sour drink, I took a few sips and wasted the rest.
It was now on to the tour, where we heard about the Bacardi family beginning their factory in Cuba in 1862. Due to the communist take-over, they relocated to Puerto Rico. They do have a few other plants, with one being in Jacksonville, FL. The tour was interesting, and it was now on to another stop, an historical fort, which was used to protect Puerto Rico. We got our tickets, and made our way on a self-guided tour of the fort, which had a panoramic view of the city and ocean.
Following this tour, it was on to downtown Old San Juan. Luise was an expert driver making his way up and down the narrow streets filled with cars and people. He dropped us off for about an hour to shop at the local shops, and would pick us up at our drop off point. At the appointed time, there were two tourists who didn't show up. We waited for twenty minutes, and figured they would make their own way back to the hotel. We came to find out that they got lost, and were very apologetic for not returning in the time allotted.
We returned to the Marriott and chose to eat at the same restaurant, the Greenhouse, and then to call it a night. The three nights in Puerto Rico went fast, but we agreed we enjoyed our stay and were ready to return to the US.
