Article: Traveling Puerto Rico in My Nida Lu Shoes
Shoes Made for Wandering
I've been traveling in my Nida Lu shoes since 2017, when we first launched them. Before that I traveled in my Yemini shoes, the inspiration behind Nida Lus. These aren't your typical travel shoes, they're designed using a 700-year-old Turkish shoemaking technique, originally crafted for nomadic people with the intention of constant movement and exploration. Hand-stitched with beeswax-soaked cotton thread, softened leather that molds to your feet, built to last a lifetime of adventures.
They were literally made for traveling. And travel in them I have.
I've worn my Nida Lu shoes through the cobblestone streets of Istanbul, across the Sacred Valley of Peru, through the ancient ruins of Rome, on safaris in Kenya, and now, through the vibrant, colorful streets of Puerto Rico.
Magic in the Air
We arrived in Puerto Rico the day after Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance, and the island was buzzing with an electric energy. Pride, joy, celebration radiating from every corner. It reminded me of the feeling in Kenya when we visited in 2008, right after Barack Obama took office. That same sense of hope and excitement, of witnessing a cultural moment, of a people celebrating their own.
There was magic in the air.
I stepped off the plane in Old San Juan wearing my gold Antalya shoes, the perfect choice for a place where history meets Caribbean sun, where cobblestones lead to ocean views, where every street corner bursts with color.
Old San Juan: Where Time Stands Still
The colors and architecture of Old San Juan instantly transport you into the past. Pastel buildings in coral, turquoise, yellow, and lavender line narrow streets paved with blue cobblestones (adoquines) that came as ballast on Spanish ships centuries ago. My Nida Lu shoes handled those uneven stones perfectly, soft leather flexing with every step, no blisters, no discomfort, just miles of exploration.
Bougainvillea spills over wrought-iron balconies. Cats sun themselves in doorways. The smell of café con leche and fresh bread drifts from corner bakeries. Old San Juan is a living, breathing neighborhood where 500 years of history meets contemporary Caribbean life.
Day 1: First Taste of Puerto Rico
Morning: We started at Mallorcas Café for breakfast, the iconic mallorca pastry dusted with powdered sugar, buttery and sweet, paired with strong Puerto Rican coffee. Fuel for the day ahead.
Afternoon: Shopping and wandering down Calle del Cristo, one of Old San Juan's most charming streets. Lined with galleries, artisan shops, and boutiques, it's where local craftsmanship meets Caribbean artistry. My favorite shop, Ole, a San Juan gem with floor to ceiling handmade hats.
Evening: We explored the colorful streets as golden hour light painted everything warm and glowing. The day ended with gelato dipped in chocolate from a local shop
My feet? Still comfortable. No blisters. No pain. Just happy feet that had carried me through miles of cobblestones.
Day 2: Fortresses and Cathedrals
Today was all about history.
Castillo San Cristóbal - This massive fortress protected San Juan from land attacks. Walking through the tunnels, standing in the lookout towers, imagining centuries of soldiers keeping watch over the Atlantic. The views from the ramparts are breathtaking, turquoise ocean stretching endlessly, waves crashing against the city walls.
Castillo San Felipe del Morro (El Morro) - The iconic fortress that guards the entrance to San Juan Bay. Six levels of stone fortification rising from the cliffs, with grassy fields perfect for kite flying (locals were out in full force with colorful kites dancing in the ocean breeze). We climbed every level, explored every corner. My Antalya shoes handled the steep stone steps and uneven pathways with ease.
Catedral Basílica Menor de San Juan Bautista - One of the oldest buildings in San Juan, this cathedral houses the tomb of Juan Ponce de León. Inside, it's cool and quiet, a respite from the Caribbean heat. The vaulted ceilings, the worn wooden pews, the centuries of prayers soaked into the stones, it's a place that holds history in its very walls.
By the end of the day, we'd walked over 20,000 steps. My Nida Lu shoes? Still perfect. This is why they were made with that 700-year-old technique—nomadic people needed shoes that wouldn't fail them, and neither did mine.
Day 3: Rainforest and Beach
El Yunque National Forest - Puerto Rico's lush, tropical rainforest. We hiked to waterfalls, walked through dense jungle where the air smells like rain and earth. The trails were wet, muddy, slippery, steep in places. I switched to water shoes for this one (even nomadic shoes have their limits!).
But the experience was magical. Standing under a waterfall in the middle of a rainforest, surrounded by the sounds of coquí frogs and tropical birds, feeling the cool mountain air, it's a reminder that Puerto Rico isn't just beaches and cobblestones, it's mountainous jungle.
Luquillo Beach - After the rainforest, we headed to Luquillo Beach to rinse off the mud and soak up some Caribbean sun. Soft white sand, turquoise water, palm trees swaying in the breeze. We ate fish fritters from a kiosko and drank cold beer while the sun set over the ocean.
My Antalya shoes were back on for the evening stroll along the beach's sandy pathways, the perfect shoes for transitioning from beach to dinner.
Day 4: Condado Beach
Day at Condado Beach, the more modern, resort-lined stretch of San Juan. The water here is vibrant turquoise, the waves bigger than Luquillo, the vibe more energetic. We swam, we read, we did absolutely nothing productive.
Last Day: Saying Goodbye
Our last day in Puerto Rico was a beautiful blend of everything we'd love, more beach, more wandering through Old San Juan's colorful streets. One last stop for mofongo at Raíces (mashed plantains with garlic and pork, a Puerto Rican staple, and gelato at the famous Anita Gelato.
A wonderful ending to a lovely place.
The People of Puerto Rico
One of my favorite things about Puerto Rico was the warmth of the people. I was regularly called "mami" or "mama" with a smile, terms of endearment that made me feel welcomed, embraced, part of the island's rhythm. There's a generosity of spirit here that's palpable.
Puerto Rico is resilient, vibrant, proud. It's a place that's been through hurricanes and hardship but refuses to dim its light. The island's spirit matches its colors, bright, bold, unapologetically beautiful.
Nida Lu Shoes my Travel Essential
After five days of cobblestones, fortresses, beaches, and rainforests, my Antalya shoes were still in perfect condition. No blisters. No sore feet. No regrets.
This is what happens when shoes are made the way they were 700 years age, with intention, with craftsmanship, with the understanding that nomadic people needed footwear that wouldn't fail them.
I've traveled the world in my Nida Lu shoes. They've walked through Turkish bazaars, Peruvian valleys, Italian piazzas, Kenyan savannas, and now, Puerto Rican fortresses and cobblestone streets.
And they'll keep traveling. Because like the nomadic people who inspired them, I'm not done wandering yet.
