Paul D.
04-09-2002, 09:04 PM
Just got back from a week in Puerto Rico, and had a chance to visit the El Morro Fortress and San Cristobal castle in San Juan. Now talk about some masonry! Has anyone else ever seen it? The Spanish (Columbus) landed in PR several years after 1492, and the government began building this Fortress in the early 1500's, and continued working on it for about 250 years. I don't feel so bad about my projects now...
I walked along the sea below the walls for about a mile; as far as the National Parks path would let me. The walls are 30' to 40' tall the entire length, and although refurbished by the NPS over the years, they are quite impressive. The fortress itself is a wonder of stone arches, ramps, pathways and cannon slots. The Puerto Ricans use the small masonry sentry turrets as their trademark insignia on license plates, etc. These turrets were positioned all around the Fortress walls and provided a vantage points for the guards to observe the approaches without leaving themselves unprotected. Here is more about this National Historic site.
http://www.nps.gov/saju/index.htm
It is interesting that this was the location of the first real organized government in the New World.
I walked along the sea below the walls for about a mile; as far as the National Parks path would let me. The walls are 30' to 40' tall the entire length, and although refurbished by the NPS over the years, they are quite impressive. The fortress itself is a wonder of stone arches, ramps, pathways and cannon slots. The Puerto Ricans use the small masonry sentry turrets as their trademark insignia on license plates, etc. These turrets were positioned all around the Fortress walls and provided a vantage points for the guards to observe the approaches without leaving themselves unprotected. Here is more about this National Historic site.
http://www.nps.gov/saju/index.htm
It is interesting that this was the location of the first real organized government in the New World.