The ship arrived and the weather was beginning to
clear. I left for my tour, but a quick
squall from the sea didn’t dampen my spirits (but it did get me wet as I made
my way to the tour bus).
I was to tour the plant that produces 85% of the world’s
Bacardi Rum. The small bus with ten
folks arrived at the Bacardi Pavilion which was about a twenty minute drive
from the port.
The tour started with a welcome drink and then an in-house
tour. The tour traced the famed rum distillery’s history and heritage from the
company’s founding (family history) to the present.
The tour guide shared information about the history of Bacardi
cocktails and the use of the iconic bat logo (bats were found on the interior). The group then viewed a section of the plant
where the process begins (fermentation).
It ended with a tour of Bacardi brand store (and a rum Manhattan to
sample). The final stop was for a rum
and Coke for the road at the outside pavilion.
So, the group had drinks at the beginning, middle, and end of the
tour. Our bus driver didn’t participate
in the beverages!
Puerto Rico produces 85% of the Bacardi Rum distributed
in the US, but the rum is transported to Jacksonville, Florida to be bottled.
The next part was a drive back to the old city for a
visit to In Old San Juan with a stop for a self-guided visit to Fort San
Cristobal. This fort is the largest
fortification built by the Spaniards in the New World. After climbing and
visiting the fort, there was a stroll through the main plaza back to the ship.
Puerto Rico produces 85% of the Bacardi Rum distributed
in the US, but the rum is transported to Jacksonville, Florida to be bottled.
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| The rough seas and stormy skies appear to be ending as the ship arrives in San Juan, PR. |
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| The Eurodam arrived about 30 minutes before the Royal Caribbean ship. |
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| The guide is explaining about the family who originated Bicardi Rum. |
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| The "Cathedral of Rum" This was the only cruise where they gave you rum drinks on three separate occasions. |
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| Trains were used to transport the sugar cane and molasses from the fields to the distillery. |
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| The view from the largest Spanish fortress in the Caribbean. |
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| It's a beautiful view from atop the fortress. |
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| Here I am with the cruise port in the background. This was taken on the other side of the fortress. |
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| Another view from on top of the fortress. |
