New shared link for the “Three Amigos In San Juan” Walking Tour

[AlohaLivin]

Hello!

 

In 2019 (updated in 2020) I created a walking tour for our visit that year to San Juan. It soon became rather popular and I am so happy that people found it useful. As the requests for it continue now in 2021, I decided that it was time to simply publish the link to the map so that anyone who wants access can use it - the Three Amigos in San Juan Walking Tour that I created is now here: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1YDhiMct1vVrt_lpS_T4zJ_yD3G31SoAL&usp=sharing

 

The original information for the map is below (and please note that shopping, dining, and even roads will change over time).  I do hope that the tour will help to make your visit more special as it was created with love for my family to have the best visit possible - the best food, best shopping, and a good sampling of San Juan's most important history and culture.  WEPA!

 

Lynn  @alohalivin

 

_____

Original instructions/notes:

 

1.    The main tour is in 4 parts (that is because each segment had a limit to the number of stops and some “stops” include not only important locations on the tour but also various starting and stopping points for a given area such as the shopping area or stops that are large geographically).

 

2.    I put photos and a description of each stop on the map (just click on it to open) so you will have the historical background and location information readily available to you (and can completely annoy your teenagers by reading it to them!). 

 

3.    To create the tour I thoroughly researched Old San Juan looking for what I thought were the most worthwhile historical stops, the most interesting cultural stops, and some of the best food, drink, and shopping options available (at least by the preponderance of the “review” evidence!).  Please note that the food stops exclude any dinner or expensive dining options.  I also tried for variety and authenticity, particularly for the food and drink stops – there is a place to get every possible kind of cocoa-related food and beverage, but also one of the most famous and highly rated bars in the world (people say it's very hard to find, but I located the best directions that I could for us).  

 

4.    The "long" route is only around 3 miles in total with many built in breaks.  But be aware that there are some cobblestone streets in the old part of the city and the south to north walk is often uphill in Old San Juan.

 

5.    There is also an optional shorter route built in to the tour  - if you open the layers menu, that option is at the bottom and can be turned on simply by clicking the box next to the 3 segments that make up that route.  Please turn it “off” (the shorter route layers) as soon as you complete the route so as not to potentially confuse other users who might be sharing the map on that day (it may be relatively unlikely that there will be two groups at once, but there definitely could be).

 

Other Notes:

 

• Points on the route may seem to have an illogical track, but I set it up to minimize back tracking and to avoid areas that may have barriers not visible on a 2D map. There were 1-2 areas where the layout of the area was unclear (even though I actually traced the entire route on Google Earth looking for places where there were blocks/issues not showing on the 2D map and looked at a number of images and videos for the same purpose). So while I believe that the route that I selected is clear and passable, it is impossible to know 100% if there could be some minor or even major barrier that could not be seen on images/google earth or if or when changes might be made along the route.

 

• Related to the above note that changes are possible, I have been told that the Paseo de las Sombrillas has been closed at some periods of time since the political demonstrations of 2019 and that the parasols themselves may have been changed.  This stop is the street of hanging parasols that were put up by the citizens of San Juan to demonstrate the strength and resilience of the PR people after the devastation from Hurricane Maria and I hope that each of you will be able to see it on your visit.

  

• Please play around with the tour/map before you go so operating it is easy when you get there.

 

• One reason that I choose Google Maps for my Three Amigos in San Juan Walking Tour is that Google claims the maps will operate at 100% offline.  But please download it and make sure that it works correctly on your device offline (you don’t want to find out the day you arrive in port).  Google gives the directions below for using any map offline:

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Maps app.
2. Make sure you're connected to the Internet and signed into Google.
3. Find the map you have saved (in your google drive or google maps app or site).
4. At the bottom, tap the name or address of the place --- tap More ...
5. Select Download offline map, then Download.

 

[rmandmm]

Thank you!!! 🤩

[AlohaLivin]

4 hours ago, rmandmm said:

Thank you!!! 🤩

I hope you find it useful! Have a great trip (and pace yourself, it is hot hot hot) 😊

[MyMuse]

I navigated the entire original thread before I read this one haha. Thank you so much for putting the time into this and sharing it. I'm looking forward to making use of it in December.

 

 

[AlohaLivin]

1 hour ago, MyMuse said:

I navigated the entire original thread before I read this one haha. Thank you so much for putting the time into this and sharing it. I'm looking forward to making use of it in December.

 

 

Uh oh! Yeah, not sure of a way around that since it was an evolution 😂 I hope you enjoy it!

[bluesea4me]

I am having issues.  One I don't see layers or layer options...but I do see the 3 starting points.  Two, I can't download it unless I choose KML or KMZ or something of the sort.  What in the world am I doing wrong?

Thank you in advamce!

[AlohaLivin]

30 minutes ago, bluesea4me said:

I am having issues.  One I don't see layers or layer options...but I do see the 3 starting points.  Two, I can't download it unless I choose KML or KMZ or something of the sort.  What in the world am I doing wrong?

Thank you in advamce!

I wish I could help, but without having it in my hand it is difficult to guess what is happening. Here is some info on the KML and KMZ files (presumably this is how you can use it on your local phone when you don’t have internet/wifi access) -

 

KML (Keyhole Markup Language) is the data format used by Google Earth Pro and Google Maps.  Google maps has a published API, and supports a subset of the KML used by Google Earth Pro.  KML files can include both vector and raster data.  While at one point Google Earth existed in both regular and pro versions, now only the pro version is supported.  

A KMZ file combines the images with the KML into a single zipped file. KMZ files are better because the lossless compression decreases file sizes, although only slightly, and because they make it impossible to separate and lose required image files. Even if someone tells you they want a KML file, you should send a KMZ. 
 

 

 

 

 

[bluesea4me]

1 hour ago, AlohaLivin said:

I wish I could help, but without having it in my hand it is difficult to guess what is happening. Here is some info on the KML and KMZ files (presumably this is how you can use it on your local phone when you don’t have internet/wifi access) -

 

KML (Keyhole Markup Language) is the data format used by Google Earth Pro and Google Maps.  Google maps has a published API, and supports a subset of the KML used by Google Earth Pro.  KML files can include both vector and raster data.  While at one point Google Earth existed in both regular and pro versions, now only the pro version is supported.  

A KMZ file combines the images with the KML into a single zipped file. KMZ files are better because the lossless compression decreases file sizes, although only slightly, and because they make it impossible to separate and lose required image files. Even if someone tells you they want a KML file, you should send a KMZ. 
 

 

 

 

 

LOL!   Ok, your post explains exactly why I'm not in the tech field and try to stick with teaching middle schoolers!  I caught most of what you were saying, but you lost me at rasters...lol    So I think what you are saying is my only download choices are those two and if possible i should download the kmz    🙂   thank you!

[AlohaLivin]

16 minutes ago, bluesea4me said:

LOL!   Ok, your post explains exactly why I'm not in the tech field and try to stick with teaching middle schoolers!  I caught most of what you were saying, but you lost me at rasters...lol    So I think what you are saying is my only download choices are those two and if possible i should download the kmz    🙂   thank you!

Yup!
 

Both my parents were school teachers, makes you super important IMHO. I hope that it works for you (we use Apple products and I am more familiar with how that IOS interacts with Google products). If you were in ATL I would meet you and figure it out somehow 😊

Edited November 30, 2021 by AlohaLivin