Rustic and strong; an immoveable force - that is how I would describe the remnants of the Fort San Felope del Morro or simply once known as the Morro Castle. I strolled at a leisurely pace taking in every detail, letting the ruins speak to me, as though they were time-capsuled memoirs from centuries ago. A historic site of fortification and savior, which is impressive in its own right. Two large sections still stand from what once was the fully fortified city of (Old) San Juan, Puerto Rico. The pair face out toward the Caribbean Sea, like a warning to all who aimed to conquer. It was built in the 16th Century, playing the role of the island’s saving grace, as it saved the rule of the island from treacherous and rogue pirates time and time again.
A rush of appreciation for the rich history of Puerto Rico welled up inside of me and then my attention was stolen away by the watering of my eyes, caused by the sting of running sweat above my brow. Everything in Puerto Rico was intensified for me, from its wonderful turquoise waters and the vibrant blue skies to the sweltering heat and the disheartening level of poverty - and oh my, the heat! I looked skyward, toward the burning sun, until the light spray of salty sea air met my eyes and reached my nose. The piercing call of seagulls from overhead became the only occasional break in the soothing sound of the ocean waves. I watched from the Devil’s Sentry box as the waves broke, white-tipped against the craggy rocks below.
(Photo by © Brandon Elijah Scott / Eye & Pen)
(Photo by © Brandon Elijah Scott / Eye & Pen)
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