Inside #puertorico - of real #life in #sanjuan & #riopiedras

PUERTO RICO - the post-hurricane revival

Looking back at the last couple of weeks, at my journey to Puerto Rico, I can't help recalling that feeling of tropical freedom the island almost imposes on one…

Naturally, San Juan and its 500 years of history impress, however, what actually stroke me was the rest of the island - the life real people live and how this legendary salsa paradise makes it through the day.

This is what I wrote down on the third day of my stay:

Today I met a few very interesting people, right here in Rio Piedras, a pretty long way from the touristic beating heart of the island, Old San Juan. I got to know the authentic side of the island: people who are actively involved in the life of the community. They basically founded a cultural artistic center called Capicù Adentro offering all types of workshops for all members of the community, but especially for kids and senior citizens: painting on a given topic, photography, music, even sports. Enthusiasm and deep hope, that's what most attracted me and enchanted me about them. Because Puerto Rico is far from being the paradise the US is making it out to be - there are still people suffering the consequences of the Hurricane Maria in 2017... the crisis started by that calamity revealed a deeply dysfunctional system and made people more intolerant to the lack of social interest shown by the States (which, as some street murals depict, are more keen on controlling the island's economy by establishing what people call "the junta", an all American political group in charge of the economy, than actually providing social help). 

Rio Piedras does have a life of its own, the University, a few streets known for their food, bars and live music, a marketplace which is a sight for sore eyes and the spot where the entire community gets together: that's the reason why Capicù Adentro, this enthusiastic association, managed to lease 2 spaces for their activities right in the middle of the market - a symbolic, practical and utterly original location. 

There are other associations, too: the ones providing social aid to the ones in need - like the Dominican immigrants and especially women facing violence and other problems. I was impressed by the Human Rights Festival that also addressed this issue in the form of film, art exhibitions and open discussions the participants eagerly took part in.

These projects and the frequent activities organized by Capicù Adentro and the Casa de Cultura Hernandez (e.g. the Human Rights Festival) have had several goals - one of the most important of them being reviving the community. People are sad about the way this part of Puerto Rico has been abandoned after the hurricane and are not only reminiscing about the good old days, they actually take action - inspiring and impressive at the same time, considering the fact that most of the organizers are doing all that on a voluntary basis... 

After the scandals caused by the governor in 2018 (you can still find the caps with the slogan "Ricky, Renuncia!" in many bars), Puerto Rico has indeed become more self-conscious, realizing that the beaches, the tourists, the good rep of the salsa and the Latino pop stars aren't going to be enough to get the island back on track.