We took a water taxi to downtown Philipsburg and enjoyed browsing through the shops. Many jewelers offered free drinks and refreshments along with trinkets such as earrings and pendants to entice shoppers to purchase large ticket items. We enjoyed just walking through the streets, taking pictures, and relaxing by the beach -- which was full of beautiful tiny shells. The shells were soft to walk on, the water was warm, and beach chairs were available for rent.
The ship docked in walking distance of Castillo San Cristóbal, so we dressed in cool clothes and drank lots of water -- necessities in this rather hot climate. The views at the fort at the top of the hill are well worth the hike, and admission to the fort is also worthwhile, as there is a great deal of interesting history presented at this national park. I especially enjoyed looking out the thick walled windows to the sparkling sea, and seeing presentations describing the military history and strategic importance of San Juan through the centuries.
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