ToSanJuan.com Most Detailed Site about San Juan Puerto Rico from Direct Descendant of...

Aug. 26, 2008 - PRLog -- Oliver Maldonado is a direct descendant of a San Juan Family that's been serving Old San Juan for over 5 generations. The family is also considered to be the first family in San Juan that helped establish tourism in San Juan Puerto Rico.

Oliver's Great Grandmother "Lala" used to own a room & boarding house for vacationers in Old San Juan. She also fed the needy & homeless in Old San Juan and dedicated her antire adult life helping others in Old San Juan. He room & boarding house was on one of the main streets in Old San Juan, where it still is today. She's currently burried in the San Juan Cemetary next to El Morro, along side other well known Puerto Rican Musicians, Politicians, Leaders & Artists that contributed and made an impact with Puerto Rico.

Oliver's Grandfather Manuel Ortiz was a cab driver for tourists in Old San Juan. You could find him in San Juan Centro where he'd take tourists back to the airport or back to one of the ships. He was well known & respected in Old San Juan.

Oliver's uncle & the Son of Manuel, was Joseph "Joe" Ortiz and he was one of the first founders of tourism in Puerto Rico. He primarily worked with the ships that came to port and would give them a tour of Old San Juan along with other areas on the Island. While others only drove people around the Island, Joe was an entreprenuer and he created tour guides of San Juan.

Oliver Maldonado is now following in his families footsteps and is writting a book on Old San Juan and in Pre-Production on a Documentary of the City as well. He intends to also create a tour guide company of the City where people can learn more about the Oldest City in America.

"It's disturbing to say the least that our schools don't educate us about Puerto Rico's history and how it relates to the U.S. We celebrate Columbus Day, but really have no idea why? Most people are shocked when I tell them that the only place in America Christopher Columbus made it to is Puerto Rico!
They're equally as shocked to discover the Ponce De Leon, one of the first Conquistadores that sailed with Columbus was also the first Mayor of Puerto Rico and who also discovered Florida is burried in Old San Juan!" Said Oliver Maldonado when asked about his new site www.ToSanJuan.com

"this is something that is needed! I'm surprised that hardly anyone knows part of their American History! I went attended schools in New York, Florida, Texas, Colorado & Puerto Rico and this just isn't on their curriculum!
Most people travel to Europe to discover some history, all the while unaware that they can go back in time over 500 years to the Oldest American City and learn not only about History, but some of their own History and they don;t even need a passport, because Puerto Rico is part of the U.S." Said Oliver.

In addition to not needing a passport, Puerto Ricos currency is the exact as the U.S. so there's no need to worry about exchanging money or the exchange rate. Normally a family would have to spend a lot of money to experience some History, but by going to Puerto Rico, you get to visit Paradise and also experience a City that's over 500 Years Old and the Oldest City in Amerca!

The United States wasn't even formed in 1493, the year Columbus discovered Puerto Rico!

Puerto Rico has much more to offer than the Oldest City in America. It also has the only Rain Forest in North America, the largest Radar in the World, the oldest Fort in America, the first college in America, the oldest Catholic Church in North America and is the resting place for Ponce De Leon, one of the Conquistadores that sailed with Columbus.

There isn't any other place in America where you can find all of this rich American History!

So next Columbus Day, think of Puerto Rico and see the only place in America he landed at!

For additional information and to learn more about San Juan Puerto Rico along with a free walking tour of Old San Juan visit www.ToSanJuan.com .

# # #

Directly from a Direct Descendant of one of the Founding Families of Tourism in San Juan Puerto Rico.
Oliver Maldonado is an Author and Filmmaker who is currently writting a new book on Old San Juan and also in pre-production of a Documentary about San Juan & Puerto Rico.

ToSanJuan.com is the most informative site on San Juan Puerto Rico from one of the descendants of the City.