Welchey

Welchey is something of a jet-setter – whether returning to a favorite destination or discovering somewhere new, he’s always happiest when on an out of town adventure. His travels recently took him to Puerto Rico; it was his first time on the island, and he stayed at the lovely El Convento in Old San Juan. The hotel, a former convent, is filled with beautiful colonial antiques and has many charming nooks and crannies.


One of Welchey’s favorite things about staying there was the nightly wine and cheese reception, held on a terrace overlooking the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. He very much enjoyed socializing with other guests over a glass (or two) of red, and needless to say he did not miss a single one.


Welchey is not really a beach kind of guy, so he spent much of his time in Puerto Rico wandering the charming colorful streets of Old San Juan. The weather was hot and steamy, so he was very happy to have spotted blizz, home to delicious guava and passion fruit frozen yogurt, on his first day there. It was the perfect way to cool off, and he made certain to stop by on a daily basis; on one occasion, feeling particularly decadent, he enjoyed his yogurt with a slice of tres leches.


Despite his fondness for Old San Juan Welchey did venture out to Casa Bacardi, as he wouldn’t think of missing an alcohol themed attraction, however touristy it might be.


The journey there involved a ferry ride followed by a shared taxi, but he felt it was well worth it. Welchey took advantage of his language skills (a necessity for any self-respecting jet-setter) and joined the Spanish tour, which left sooner and was much less crowded.


After learning all about the history of rum and Bacardi he made use of his two free drink tickets and sampled a few of the company’s products. Although he was feeling rather peckish, he was not tempted by Casa Bacardi’s processed cheese nachos, or the French fry vending machine at the ferry station, despite its promise of hot crispy fries in 90 seconds.


Welchey also made his way to the neighborhood of Santurce, where the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico is located. A lover of art, he cannot visit a city without hitting a cultural institution or two. The museum, which opened in 2000, is well worth visiting, and he enjoyed its permanent collection of colonial art, as well as the temporary exhibitions Williams Carmona - Verdades que me fatigan and Puerto Rico: Human Geography – Images of the 21st Century. Welchey also took a stroll around the museum’s sculpture garden, a peaceful oasis in the middle of the city.


Having gotten his daily dose of culture he ventured down to the oceanfront community of Condado, but was quickly frightened away by the hordes of badly dressed gambling-loving tourists. He thus made a hasty retreat back to Old San Juan…just in time for some wine and cheese. So much more civilized.