A stroll around Santurce, Puerto Rico.

ajramirez

Hall of Famer
Location
Caguas, Puerto Rico
Name
Antonio
Located just outside of Old San Juan, Santurce is one of our oldest neighbourhoods and a place that is full of contrast. Santurce's growth and development occurred during the first half of the 20th century, when commerce and industry outgrew the geographical confines of Old San Juan. In its heyday, during the 1940s and 1950s, it was the center of cultural and commercial activity in San Juan. However, as recently as the 1970's a marked process of decay commenced, with most businesses moving to Hato Rey, or to suburbia.

Notwithstanding this, Santurce is still the cultural center of San Juan. It is home to two of the Island's most important museums (the Puerto Rico Art Museum and the Puerto Rico Museum of Contemporary Art). The Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music and Ballets of San Juan also call Santurce their home. The Luis A. Ferre Performance Arts Center and its Sala Sinfónica (Orchestra Hall) is home to the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra and is probably the most important theatre and music venue in the Island.

It is still a very interesting place to walk around in, because even in its most dilapidated parts, you can see the architecture and imagine what it must have been like in its heyday.

The following set was shot yesterday morning. It was an absolutely gorgeous day and it was wonderful to spend the better part of the morning and early afternoon by myself, alone with my thoughts and my camera. Upon looking at the set, I realize that it is not very well balanced, in that it shows very little of the beautiful parts of Santurce. I just find the more run down parts more interesting. It is a work in progress, though, and all parts will be duly represented before long.

In any event, here is the set from yesterday. I hope you enjoy them.

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En la Ponce de León by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

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En la Ponce de León by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

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En la Ponce de León by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

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En la Ponce de León by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

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En la Fernández Juncos by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

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En la Fernández Juncos by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

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En la Fernández Juncos by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

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En la Fernández Juncos by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

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En la Fernández Juncos by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

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En la Fernández Juncos by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

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En la Fernández Juncos by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

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En la Fernández Juncos by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

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En la Bolivar by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

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En la Bolivar by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

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En la Bolivar by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

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En la Bolivar by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

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En la Américo Salas by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

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La jirafita by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

All shot on the Leica M9P, with the 24mm 3.8 Elmar M, 35mm 2.5 Summarit, and 50mm 2.8 Elmar M.

Cheers,

Antonio
 
Puerto Rico is still on my bucket list

About half the size of Wales (and a bit bigger than Crete) but has a bigger population than Wales
 
Wonderful colors - and I can feel that sunlight, which we could use up here on this dreary day.

I'm in love with the little giraffe who wants to go home. You have a great eye for art, Antonio.
 
I saw a "pop" in the images and then I read you used a Leica. The legend grows. I also enjoyed your composition. Well worn buildings with graphitti are also a favorite subject of mine, so I really like these.
 
Wonderful series! Thank you. Sad to see some of the building being taken down. As others have said, the colors are wonderful, and since it's snowing in Albuquerque today, San Juan looks very very tempting.
 
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