Its small footprint on the Caribbean Sea is more than made up by its rich history, culture, personality, color, gastronomy and resilience.
Puerto Rico is an island made up Spanish, African and American influences, which have molded it into what it is today. These photos show the vibrancy, not only in the colors which are a feast for the eyes, but also, of its people. A people who have gone through many tough times but still manage to rely on, and help, each other through all the good and bad times and come out on the other side. These photos were taken a year and a half after hurricane María.
With these I want you to immerse yourself in this country’s day to day and feel like you are walking the streets of El Viejo San Juan (“Old San Juan”), or driving around the towns in the island, seeing and experiencing the obvious and also the small details, that would, many times, remain unnoticed, those which when combined create the essence of what Puerto Rico is.
A portrayal of Puerto Rican culture, the island’s beauty and its struggles as created by the hands of world traveling artists. La Perla, Puerto Rico
Once a colorful representation of national pride, this art installation has evolved into a sign of patriotic mourning after years of struggles. Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
A Puerto Rican artisan’s hands hold tight to a dying art form, by creating wooden representations of traditional ‘piragua' carts. Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
As a very important part of Puerto Rican culture, traditional food is always available everywhere you look, as with the ‘chicharrones’ being sold here. Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
The Puerto Rican love, ability and joy for great dancing can be seen everywhere you look. Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
In a country filled with age-old traditions everywhere you look, passing it to new generations is intrinsic, as can be seen in a young boy playing the ‘güiro’. Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
As if representing the colorful surrounding culture, the shantytown known as ‘La Perla’ basks in the tropical sun. La Perla, Puerto Rico
The well-known voice yelling ‘Azucena!’ evokes memories of street vendors throughout the generations selling fragrant flowers door to door through the cobbled-stoned streets. Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Driving the streets of this island is a sure way to stumble into countless food kiosks like this one. Here, food, and a laugh, are served by the side of the road. Carolina, Puerto Rico
Walking through the narrow streets, an archway perfectly frames the turquoise blue waters of the Caribbean Sea. La Perla, Puerto Rico
An ‘Azucena’ seller imparts joy and gifts a smile with every flower he sells. Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Splashes of color adorn the streets and bring historical architecture to life, providing a picturesque background for visitors and locals. Old San Juan , Puerto Rico
As if time had only passed by around it, this historic house stands and lines a street along the center of town. San Sebastián, Puerto Rico
Childhood memories are being created while a girl flies a ‘chiringa’, as so many generations of children have done before her along the shadows of the historic Spanish fort 'El Morro’. An image, and experiences, slowly fading into history in this small Caribbean island. Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Illustrious residents rest for eternity, as if one with the sea. Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Ghosts of recent obstacles, uncertainties and disasters lurk behind the color, beauty and 'joie de vivre' of the pearl of the Caribbean. San Juan, Puerto Rico
The oldest settlement in Puerto Rico, Old San Juan, is a feast for all the senses. The smells, tastes, sounds and sights make walking through the streets an exciting adventure. Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Even with its small footprint, a cultural melting pot has been created. Here a decades-old Chinese ice cream store attracts locals in a small western town with its yellow corn and cinnamon creation. San Sebastián, Puerto Rico
As in a mirror, remnants of two eras are joined together. Reflections of Spanish colonial architecture can be seen through the windows of a century old restaurant. Old San Juan, Puerto Rico