Friday Postcard: The Blue Bricks of San Juan

A cultural artifact right below your feet

Blue bricks on the street in old San Juan, Puerto Rico

Last December I took a cruise vacation (I happen to be a travel advisor, in addition to being a photographer), and one of the stops was San Juan, Puerto Rico. I’d always wanted to visit Puerto Rico, and I’m glad I had the chance to spend a day there. Between the Spanish forts, getting a piña colada at the restaurant where they were conceived, and walking amongst the brightly colored Spanish colonial architecture, it was a great place for a photo walk. Being on a vacation, I didn’t want to carry a lot of gear, so I packed one camera and one lens for this trip.

While I was wandering Old San Juan with my camera, I couldn’t help but notice that some of the old cobblestone/brick streets were a shiny blue. They reminded me of enameled jewelry. Obviously, I thought they’d make a good photograph. After I got home, I did a little research online and discovered why the bricks were blue. As it turns out, they were part of a major infrastructure project beginning in the late 16th century, when Puerto Rico was under Spanish control. The material for the stones came from iron slag used as ballast in old Spanish ships. The mineral content reacted with the atmosphere and caused the blue patina to form. I’m sure this wasn’t by design, but it sure is pretty!

One camera, one lens, perfect for travel