midnight musings in san juan

just rolled into san juan after a wild train ride. the sky is a bruised purple and the air smells like fried plantains and sea salt. i just checked and it's a humid blanket of rain that somehow feels like a summer night, hope you like that kind of thing. if you get bored, rincón is just a short drive away. the neighborhood kids keep blasting reggaeton from their balconies, and the street cats seem to have claimed every doorway.

someone told me that the old fort is haunted after midnight, and I heard that the street vendor sells the best alcapurrias at sunrise. the locals swear by the tiny cafe on calle del Sol for coffee that tastes like burnt caramel, but be ready for a line that never moves.

*coconut water is everywhere, and the sunset over the waterfront makes you forget you’re actually in a city. the coconut water stall on plaza Las Delicias is a must‑stop, even if the line looks like a snake.

- portable charger
- battered notebook
- a pair of sandals that have seen better days
- coconut water* always in hand

the vibe here is a mix of old colonial whispers and neon graffiti, and the streets feel like they’re humming a secret song. you can lose hours scrolling through the murals on sociales, or just sit on a bench and watch the world drift by.

if you’re looking for a quick bite, check out Yelp for the best mofongo spots, or wander over to TripAdvisor for the tourist‑rated beaches. the local board on facebook often posts pop‑up concerts that no one else knows about.

the whole place feels like a story you’re barely reading, and i’m just trying to keep up with the plot twists.