Paseo del morro trail

On Monday the 3rd of August 2009, Old San Juan was blanketed by rain. All through out the day, I’d listened to the radio tell me how I should not to venture outside without an umbrella. So what did I do? I started walking around town with nothing but a shoulder bag, a book and my notebook.

The day was quiet for a Monday, no shortage of workers or visitors, but the town had that sleepy quality that usually comes with rainy mornings. I had been walking around Calle San Sebastian sampling the fried food from the few vendors that were open when 1 pm rolled around. I was amazed that it was one in the afternoon and there was no sun in the sky and the air was still cool.

My empty-mindedness led me down Calle del Cristo and further down into la Caleta de San Juan, until I was face to face with the San Juan bay. The air hit my face and made me turn right, following the El Morro trail. I was staring out into the bay as I walked on the trail, never minding my way. I started seeing a lot of stray cats, on top of the rocks in the shore and walking through the bushes that lined the wall. Their soft meows and quick shuffles at the sound of my approach entertained me to no end. A minute later, I looked around and saw not one being around me, person or animal.

That same minute, I felt the first few drops of rain hit my forehead. Gazing up, I saw the entire sky falling down on me. Hurrying up the pace, I tried to protect my books and started walking faster trying to reach the end of the trail. And when I did, I wanted to shoot myself out of a cannon.

The smoke in my head cleared, and I realized I was at a dead end. El Morro trail ends in a roundabout, and you have to turn back the way you came. I was stuck under the rain, on the wrong side of the wall. Worst part about it, is that I’ve been to that place many times before. If I would have paid more attention…id still be dry.

My clouded sense of adventure, and the fact that the weather was so cool, made me completely forget about the impending rain and the fact that I was walking down a dead end street. I solemnly accepted my fate, turned around and walked all the way back towards Paseo de la Princessa.

I sat down to dry in Old Harbor with a liter of beer. My books were ok. And I tried to get into my head the lessons I had learned that day: 1) Always pay attention to the weather reports, and 2) always mind your feet when your brain is out for lunch, or you might end up on a dead-end and wet. I needed that second liter of beer.

*picture: google pics