6. The small fort you see across the bay is Fort San Juan de la Cruz, best known as "El Canuelo". This smaller fort helped el Morru protect the entrance channel to San Juan Bay. The cannon on the two forts created a deadly crossfire should enemy ships try to sail into the harbor.

Looking east across the Bastia. The ramp up is at left of photo. The fort in # 6 is behind the photographer, not in photo. Embrasures on the right overlook the land entrance to the fort.

7. The mortar shells you see stacked here in pyramid form weigh about 200 pounds each. Black powder was poured in the hollow interior of the ball, and a fuse tapped into the opening. Once loaded inside the barrel, gunners first lit the fuse on the shell, and then the gun. Mortar shells exploded over the heads of enemies.

8. The chimney-like air vents you see here provided fresh air to the rooms below.

9. This mortar has a short barrel compared to its wide diameter. It threw large exploding projectiles at high angles.

10. Three flags fly daily on this Ochoa Bastion: the United States flag, the Puerto Rican flag, and the Spanish military flag, known as the Cross of Burgundy.

This is a nice breezy spot with views of San Juan Bay to the west and south (behind the photographer) and the Atlantic Ocean to the north and east (left of photo and straight ahead). Cruise, cargo, and other ships pass below the walls with regularity. I keep wondering if any tourists fall off the walls. There's no railings or other barriers. I didn't hear any screams or sirens while there, so I guess there can't be many.

Regarding the photo, I believe the mortar is directly behind the garbage can. The lighthouse sits on the Ochoa Bastion.

Castle San Felipe del Morro (El Morro) San Juan, Puerto Rico

Four Attacks: 1595-1797
El Morro Walking Tour: Main Plaza
El Morro Walking Tour: Bastion de Austria
El Morro Walking Tour: Bastion de Ochoa
El Morro Walking Tour: Battery del Carmen
El Morro Walking Tour: Artillery Ramp
El Morro Walking Tour: Battery de Santa Barbara
El Morro Walking Tour: Garita (Sentry Boxes)
El Morro Walking Tour: Lower Level
El Morro Walking Tour: Promenade (Outside Fort)
El Morro Walking Tour: Map of Upper Levels
El Morro Walking Tour: Map of Lower Levels