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As a college student I walked those streets. Some of the houses were historic gems before being converted into student residences. Shops were full of students, and university faculty members shopping, eating, enjoying their evenings. But the local government doesn’t see Rio Piedras as a profitable zone, so they just ignore it. The business owners here are some of the most resilient on the island. The few that survive do so because of local support.
@@unculturedtravel Keeping the University is a huge part of saving it. Investing in updating infrastructure. Unlike most town centers in PR the area has two main squares. Both can be used for fresh air markets, with live music, artisans and crafts exhibits and sales. It’s done all over the island, but for some reason not there. Locals want to see it thrive. They would support small business if the areas infrastructure and security were better.
@@waleskagracia4891 Thanks for sharing this. Agreed, fresh air markets help areas a lot. It also should attract more tourists as it's easy to reach by the train. I hope to see it thrive. Do many locals use this train?
@@unculturedtravel Unfortunately, although locals, and students use the train, it’s not the preferred mode of transportation in the area. In order to get visitors with more disposable income there needs to be investment in infrastructure, and security. It’s a historically and culturally rich and under appreciated part of the metro area.
When I used to live in PR back in the 70’s and 80’s that area used to be so alive and beautiful, what’s going on? This video is brought me down, PR is deteriorating, such a gorgeous Island with so much potential. Not too long ago an Italian couple told me that out of all of the Islands in the Caribbean PR San Juan was the most kept , clean and beautiful and that PR had sooo much potential.. too sad 😢 ..despite all, the Italian couple and their families have visited PR more that 20 times, they love it 😍
I found the island stunning, the roadside restaurants and countryside were a great experience. Even Rio Piedras had so much to offer in the way of small pockeets of culture and food, it just needs to bounce back, I hope it does. A great country with good people. Any favorite dishes you miss eating from growing up in PR?
@@unculturedtravel yes the rest of the island is stunningly beautiful, thank you for embracing our culture. I live in Orlando and both of my parents are boricuas(natives are called boricuas is a Taino Indian word) so I don’t really miss the food because we cook it and Orlando and Kissimmee which are called little Puerto Rico have plenty of restaurants from the island, just make sure that they are authentic because a lot of other Latinos are using our food to sell and they don’t cook it the same way, good but not the same. What I do miss is the land, the island, the terrain, the mountains, PR has a certain smell and feeling, listening to our frog El Coquí, is very important to us. I miss the beaches and the love of the people. Everywhere you go they call you , love, sweetheart, dear .. This why Puerto Rico is called La isla del Encanto or The Enchanted Island. There are only two or three fruits that I miss thou, one is called Jobo(hobo) and Acerolas and Quenepas ask for them and taste them , they are delicious.
Go to Crocante and Viktor Pollos in Kissimmee, they are a hole in the wall or what we call chinchorros but their food has the authentic taste of the island
I grew up near there in the 1970's - nearby Dos Pinos, and its sad to see how much it has deteriorated. That area used to be alive with commerce. UPR is near there so you had a confluence of young people and the older generations at the markets, the "publico" van service and so much more. My neighborhood was like "Wonder Years", well kept homes, lots of kids playing, everyone had a nice car, everything clean - you could even go the project (Caserio), nearby Lopez Sicardo, to buy limbels or to the grocery that was there to get bread, milk whatever, without any problem at all. What happened in PR was to me the repealing of IRS Section 939, that gave US corporations tax-exempt status and took with it good paying jobs and the educated classes that go with that. PR never recovered from that. Those that could leave did, leaving behind a poor population of unskilled, uneducated masses who got screwed over by corrupt politicians, and lets not forget the whole drug/crime issue that comes into depressed areas that has destroyed the moral fiber of the island and ruined too many generations. Hurricane Maria was like Katrina in that it exposed the complete societal breakdown of the island. Its a shame!
Thank you for taking the time to write this history and sharing your personal experience growing up in PR. Do you think Puerto Rico can ever return to what it once was?
@@unculturedtravel Very Doubtful. Everything is set up for the wealthy and US Corporations to use the island as a tax shelter, that do not benefit the people of the island for the most part. And these are the same people that donate money to both political parties. Despite recent referendums favoring statehood, the wealthy elite will get their way. The cryptos and other Act 60 transplants are buying all the prime real estate, pushing many out. Until an economic engine based on manufacturing instead of services can be established (and that corporate tax rate does not help), and the statehood issue is decided, nothing will change. The island residents will remain economically distressed. It will become what it already is in many ways, a place for retirees & rich investors, with the young and professionals leaving to the US mainland for opportunity and jobs.
I live in Dos Pinos one of the nicest neighborhoods ... about 7 years now and property value is on the rise and new construction in town so better things to come. Big corruption is being dealt by the FBI...wish it would be handled by local authorities but again things looking better.
@@victorabadia9700 Glad to know that things are on on the upswing - I lived on Calle Casiopea in my childhood and have fond memories. Thanks for your update
That area of Rio Piedras was never the same after the Humberto Vidal store exploded in 1996. Some of the iconic stores in the area ended up closing because of the overall activity in the area winding down and more malls being created or expanded around it. I still go every few months to take my mom to her doctor appointments, the buildings are so old and have been abandoned for so long that it would take a major investment to bring it back to life.
Yeah, if I had to narrow it down, the Humberto Vidal explosion really did a number on Río Piedras as a thriving business center. Then as more malls and more attractive shopping centers boomed (plus urban decay and blight), that sadly sealed the deal. Many similar commercial areas in San Juan have suffered as well due to the recession of the early oughts, urban decay and the impact of natural disasters such as Maria just a few years ago. I fear recovery will be extremely difficult if not impossible. 😔
There's a large dominican presence in Puerto Rico which has influenced our daily lives culturally speaking, particularly with their music and their food. Some have even found love in the island and added yet another layer to our ethnic composition.
Thank you for the insight! Yes I realized I had a Dominican meal in the market. Alas the food was good and I did eat many delicious Puerto Rican meals like Mofongo and Lechon. Is there any dishes you recommend looking for? I love grandma cooking / stews especially!
@@unculturedtravel For many ppl a typical Puerto Rican dish could be white rice, beans and fried pork chops but it's much more than that. To start off next time you visit the island, I would suggest taking a trip through the RUTA DEL LECHÓN. I'm leaving you this link down below entitled: "DISCOVERING PUERTO RICO'S RUTA DEL LECHÓN IN GUAVATE" which will explain better than I could exactly what is all about. Let me know if you can't open it.
@@hectornegron9155 The simple dishes in Puerto RIco were the best to me. Even the way PR people cook rice and peas is an art form. I learned about the Pegao de Arroz which I will try to replicate at home!
Seeing this point of view is bittersweet. I like seeing Rio Piedras from another person's perspective, but it's sad seeing and hearing how quiet it is. It brings out a feeling of nostalgia in me, seeing that marketplace and the little shops in the street that I used to go to with my mom as a kid, but the people truly bring out the joy in those parts. And no matter how touristy Old San Juan is it feels great to walk around there once in a while.
I still loved visiting Rio Piedras, the people were warm and the food was delicious. I could definitely picture it much busier in the past. Do have any other favorite areas of San Juan?
@@unculturedtravel Around the metro area there's the Luis Muñoz Marin park, it went through years of abandonment and later on it got remodeled to look nicer but sometimes they charge an entry fee depending on the day. When I was a kid I remember it had cable cars and even a moving small train for entertaining people so it was fairly popular before. At Santurce there's the Museum of Art of Puerto Rico for folks that like art. Also if you leave the rio piedras train station there's the ice cream shop Heladería Georgetti near by that's really popular with the locals. Aaand the upr uni has a free entry (if you tell the guard you wanna walk around the campus for a stroll) so you can enter the area and look around, they even have a small museum at the beginning but I don't know if it's open these days. Overall having lived in the metro all my life it's all about having curiousity and finding out cool spots here and there. Luckily the public transportation helps a little bit with that but it's limited, though there was a train in the 1900's that did go throughout all the island, "El Ferrocarril de Circunvalación de Puerto Rico", and there's a tunnel in Guajataca that still remains as a memory of that time.
Greetings! I’m very sorry you went straight into the ghetto!!! It does not represent all the beauty of Puerto Rico beaches, rainforest great modern restaurants and music. The train is great. The 500 year, history is beautiful awesome to experience. Yes… we wish, America would comprehend how the Hurricanes destroyed our countries and we really need Emergency Aid but we got Trump, instead. You need to return and stay, We’re we all live. It’s beautiful ocean fronts. Rent a car and see majestic nature! Show the real Islands of enchantment. 🤙🌴
More videos coming, I spent a beautiful week driving through the hills and eating Lechón and seafood and exploring the beach. I'm glad I had a chance to see this area though and I would go back for the food alone. I think it's never a bad thing to see a different side of the country. Even in Canada there are areas that are just as bad. I felt that the people had in no way given up though which was inspiring to see. Puerto Ricans have a wonderful energy! The one thing I wish I did do was go to a baseball game! Is there a town you would recommend for the next trip? Somewhere known for a particular dish?
Its not the ghetto... Rio Piedras was once the most thriving economic commerce center in the island where small family buisnesses flourished. its also home the most important university in the Island, where thousand of Boricuas graduated from. Sadly, when mall and megastores arrived this destroyed the commerce in this once thriving cosmoolitan area. PR goverment is very corrupt and sadly there hasnt been any public proyects to bring life once to Rio Piedras and the worst part is they are dismantling the UPRRP which used to be a hub for puertorican intellectuals.... The train is ok..... Sure it can get you from Bayamon to Rio Piedras, but in reality the island used to have a way better train infrastructure that used to go all around the island, now we have depend on imported expensive cars that depend on gas for everything... in order for the economy to thrive we need to change... Agriculture is another are where we must work... 85% of food is imported.... sadly we cant compete with the US market... and again the goverment basically little by little made us dependent on imported foods... not saying that import is bad though. we need a more balance ration so we can sustain ourselves....
@@brandoncespedes9421 Thank you for this detailed insight. I could only imagine what it would be like to ride the train around the island in the old days. I google the old railway maps, it's pretty amazing. I enjoyed visiting Rio Piedras, I hope it bounces back. PR has such a unique culture, cuisine and history for anyone visiting. It's a wonderful place with good people.
@@foxsy69 Every city has it's areas. Even this area had kind people and delicious food. Seeing places empty is disheartening but the people that were there were friendly and had a lot of pride. Do you live in P.R.? Any favorite places to visit?
Most of those shops have declined due to the Walmart opening in the area. About 90% of mom and pop shops were decimated due to the new malls and the walmarts
@@unculturedtravel I can't speak for all of the towns as I've not been to them all but one that stands out to me is aguadilla. It's very busy there and plenty of local eateries and shops. There's a big surf scene there so that may be a big part of it. The nearest Walmart is about a half hour drive as opposed to just 5 to 10 minutes in the metro area
@@unculturedtravel of course! Check out some of the videos here on YT of aguadilla and you'll see how busy it is. There is also la parguera in Lajas with plenty to do, eat, and see including the bioluminescent bay which is magical at night.
@@Avazq153 Awesome tips, la parguera in Lajas looks stunning. There is so much to do and eat on one island! Would you recommend the outer islands of PR? Thanks for taking the time Alex!
Yes, I looked at the old railway map and it used to go much farther. I guess like most railway networks it was no longer useful. I found it to be a good service, do locals use it much?
@@unculturedtravel not really. Mainly the people that use public transportation use it. When there are events at El Choliseo, El Hiram Birthorn, and el Coliseo Roberto Clemente people use it to avoid traffic and looking for parking. Almost everyone on the island has there own means of transportation as the public transportation is not very reliable.
I know truth, I since have learned! I did eat some wonderful Lechon in another video I did in PR! I love the food of PR, especially Mofongo! Do you have a favorite Puerto Rican dish you can recommend I try and find? I will look for it in the Bronx back in NYC?
@@unculturedtravel try yam and codfish(vianda con bacalao) with olive oil.. another good dish is “siete potencia”.. it is like a soup with 7 different seafood ingredients
Thanks for Sharing I hope you enjoyed your visit here in Puerto Rico 🙏🏽 The City of San Juan is divided by 8 Districts Rio Piedras is one of them☝🏽 Not only Irma and Maria, but government corruption and scandles were the seeds of it's down fall😞 Just recently local investors and from the mainland have agreed to revive the area (Finally) Rio Piedras was an independant municipality in itself then integraded as the 8th District of the City of San Juan in the 50 or 60's☝🏽
@@unculturedtravel When a Teenager I used to hang out in Miramar a lot before enlisting in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico State Police when such was Paramilitary under the old law back in 1980☺️
before we moved to New York , we lived in Rio Piedras , during the seventies , those streets were packed with people, all types of business, movie theaters, foreigners, soldiers from nearby bases , and live music.decades of government corruption , crime , and shopping centers ruined what once was a wonderful place to live.....
Yeah, I live in the mainland now, but I used to hang out at all those places. You took me back! I remember Rio Piedras. It was the shopping center of the entire metropolitan area. Now it is dead. How depressing... I used to work in Old San Juan. You've got to eat at Cafe Manolin. Best working-man food ever! especially the pernil (pork shoulder)... You must have walked like 10 miles that day (I know!)
Thanks for the tip, I googled Cafe Manolin, the food looks so comforting! Any favorite dishes? Yes, I walked for hours but it was a great way to see different areas of the city.
Thanks for showing me a big part of areas I frequented as a student in the University of Puerto Rico Pharmacy and Medical schools.After leaving the island I have visited more than 120 countries and being back in the island multiple times. Never took the tren urbano and neither visited my old markets. Now I have to! Thanks!
The train was awesome and the Mercado still had great food and good people. Puerto Rico is such a cool place. Of 100+ countries what country pleasantly surprised you the most?
I totally agree, everyone was so kind. In the mercado people were passionate about suggesting which dishes to try and where to eat, I wish i got more on camera of that. Also they gave me many many tips of small towns around the island to go to for a particular dish. Any tips are welcome, thank you for the comment!
@@markhayes2003 Thank you for tip! I would love to come back at night. It's always great to see how an area changes throughout the day. Is there a venue you recommend for local music?
Sad too see a a town that used to be very vibrant when I was growing up. Went to the local High School in the late 70s it was so alive with local merchants, university students and residents. Unfortunately inattentive politicians, disinvestment by the central government, highways, malls, urban sprawl and one economic calamity after another destroyed what it was a very lively town. I hope a town with so much potential gets back once again but probably not my lifetime.
Still a very interesting place to visit with comforting food. I could only imagine what it was like in the 70's. It definitely has the infrastructure to be a much busier mercado. What do you think would help revive it?
@@unculturedtravel thanks for reading my comments. I’m not a urban planner or an architect but I’ve seen how some sort of government intervention can help. I’m currently living a section of Alexandria VA, which at one time before my time was depopulated but now everybody wants to move due being close to mass transit and DC. However it never reached such a low like Rio Piedras. I think one option is to incentivize people to move in with tax credits and update the property registry so, unclaimed or abandoned properties can be auctioned at very attractive prices or sold for nominal cost of $5 with the condition that it needs to fixed and livable on them for a period of time, maybe 5 years, before it can be sold or change hands for a profit. Another option is to relocate government agencies forcing people to go there like Moving the CESCO office (local DMV) close to the train station so you don’t have drive to conduct a government transaction. Develop new housing for badly paid public servants like cops, teachers, nurses etc. the issue if there is political will to embark on a project of such magnitude. Also, they need to involve the university, they have a big presence and lots of talent to tackle a project like that. it was a great town until early 80’s when I left for college and then moved to the states.
@@unculturedtravel in general of the Spanish that is made up of Haiti and the Dominican Republic in other islands because the Caribbean is mostly poor in money
@@sanjuan3934 Fascinating, wow I learn almost as much from the comments on these vids as walking around the actual places. The internet is amazing. I would assume they were all from PR. Granted the first thing I ate was Mangú which is Dominican. Any favorite meals in PR you recommend?
Wow, you went out of your way to see that area of Rio Piedras, good of you. In the past that area used to be bustling. Very sad to see it in such decay. Definitely rookie move on the mangú. 'Puerto Rican Leopard'. LMAO
HAHA ABSOLUTE ROOKIE MOVE! Oh well, real-time when you don't know you just assume the stuff in the local cafeteria is Puerto Rican. Now I know for next time! What is a dish in Puerto Rico I should try?
@@unculturedtravel good question, the mofongo is the Puerto Rican version of those mashed plantains. Some others, carne guisada (beef stew), pionono (my favourite), arroz con gandules, pollo guisado or pollo en fricasé (chicken fricassé stew), fried corn sticks (sorullos), bacalaitos (cod fish fritters). Lechón asado --> in Guavate Cayey you can find all year long roasted pork, pasteles, longaniza (sausage) for lunch or dinner. The lechonera Los Amigos is a good place to go and is right next to the highway. It has a lot of turnover and food is always fresh.
Puerto Rico is such a beautiful place with amazing people and culture. The government (both major parties) are not only corrupt but completely inept. Most places do not have even the basics such as paved roads and working traffic lights. The public schools are horrible. In addition, PR is giant welfare state with the second lowest labor participation rate in the planet. The controlling elite families love poor uneducated people that provides cheap labor for their business. It is really a shame because most of the talented people leave the island for a better opportunity in the main land.
Thank you for this insight John, do you think PR can return to what it once was? I agree with you in that I found the people and culture unique and incredible.
I agree with your assessment of the government, schools but remember Washington and commonwealth/statehood parties made it a welfare state with their social programs and keeping those people dependent on the government. I never hear that labor participation was that low. Anyway, there are very few jobs in Puerto Rico. The reason people leave to the mainland.
Thank you for this comment. I found there were still some good food stalls and hard working merchants left. When was it the busiest? Would it have been the 80's or 90's? or earlier?
@@unculturedtravelIt was bustling in the 90s. I went to school a couple blocks away and that area was always packed. My grandma used to go shopping there, then meet me up at school and we either rode the bus or got picked up by my parents.
Puerto Rican Mofongo is totally different than the Dominicana Republic mangu bro Mofongo have more ingredients but the Mofongo they give to you hardly thinking is Mofongo, for a good Mofongo in this United States territory Puerto Rico (Boriken) visit in Puerto Rico in Pinones, Luquillo, and the country mountains side of this gorgeous island.
Truth, the mangu was tasty but I want to try Mofongo con Camarones by the ocean. I have had some good Mofongo in New York but Pinones and Luquillo look like great tips, thank you!
I could only imagine, still an interesting place with some good honest food. Have you been back since the 70's? Did you use to live there? Thanks for your comment!
@@unculturedtravel I go back to Puerto Rico at least every 3 months. Was there in April and will be there July 2 God willing. I use to do a lot of shopping in Rio Piedras back in the 70’s and went to school in University Gardens.
I’m 28 now, last time I saw Rio Piedras vibrant and all the shops open was like in 2002. It slowly died down throughout the years thanks to the economy crashing and local politicians not doing anything for Rio Piedras. I have great memories of visiting that town, thank You for showing this part of Puerto Rico that no other people show because they are ashamed to. I loved it because it reminded me of how great it was over there. There’s Great history behind the town of Rio Piedras.
Thanks for this memory. Honestly it was still a great place to visit with some shop owners full of pride and comforting dishes. My first thought was that this place must have used to thrive and that it has so much potential to thrive again. It just has the bones and feel of a great neighborhood. All over the world you see places like Rio Piedras reboot with new vendors, artists, entrepreneurs mixing with old, I think it can happen but I'm far from a local who knows the ins and outs!
Dude, the sector of Rio Piedras was a commercial hub during the 80's and 90's but thanks to Walmart and other mega stores the place decayed and this caused the city government to try displacing the people living in the area to build luxury projects but the people protested and the plans were dropped leaving the area without any plans.
Wow, thank you for this history. It's such a interesting area with kind people and the food was absolutely delicious inside the mercado. Any future plans for the area at all?
@@RealengoPrimordialDemon I'm super glad you shared this backstory. I have some more "fun" vids from Puerto Rico coming but I felt like I had to post this because it was a different side to my experience. Admittingly my story telling through video is pretty rough and a work in process but I really felt like the people in this area deserved better. It's weird so many people visit PR and have a Pina Colada and go to Old San Juan and bounce and you have places like this Mercado with so much history and interesting food and it was a total ghost town which I didn't expect. This all makes sense now. This is why I find travel to be such a gift because I lose a little bit of ignorance through the process. I really learned something with your comments, thank you.
@@unculturedtravel don't worry about it, I only hope the area doesn't get gentrified or the government tries to push the old residents out so rich developers turn the area into another Dorado or Condado.
@@RealengoPrimordialDemon Last question, any towns or areas you recommend visiting next time I'm in PR? Local knowledge is always so much better than google!
All it takes is one good local restauranteur or entrepreneur to inject life into it. I've seen it happen time and time again in New York. Granted I'm not from PR so I don't know the whole situation or want to speak for Puerto Ricans. I do know there are so many beautiful old building around there and the people have a lot of pride for the area. I hope it bounces back. Any favorite places to eat in PR?
“Waterfront” restaurant in Pinones (back of airport), want to try (haven’t been there yet) “Deaverdura” in Old San Juan, a family member of mine likes “Prole” (I think in Santurce), the carnita tacos of “Lupe Reyes” of T-Mobile District”. If I can think of anywhere else will let you know. You here till when?
I personally ❤️❤️❤️ Cabo Rojo, the southwest point of PR. You can swim at “Playa Sucia”, see the lighthouse/cliffs, I think it’s called “Puente La Piedra” & a nearby “cave” too. I may have some pics that I can send you (via email?).
Rio piedras is the worst play to find local puertorican food and culture nowadays. The people and stores there are mainly Dominican. That’s the reason why there were Dominican flags around.
Interesting, that explains the Mangú I ate! (It was delicious but I later learned it's a Dominican dish). Is there a neighbourhood or town in or around San Juan that is perhaps what Rio Piedras used to be? Any suggestions would be awesome, thank you Javy.
@@unculturedtravel to experience modern PR "local" life (and not the malls which can be argued is what PR's like) that first area you were in (Santurce and nearby Calle Loiza) becomes quite alive at night.
I went to High School in Rio Piedras, everything was full of glory, going to Rio Piedras was the trend in the 80', all the stores opened, students everywhere, families eating and shopping, a very happy environment. My great-uncle used to had a pharmacy (Ave. Constitución) and another great-grandma had an apartment where she used to rent rooms to students from UPR, the public transportation was the one that keep Rio Piedras moving until the famous "subway" came in and replaced those public transportation :( the 80' were the best
@@unculturedtravel who knows… PR government system is very complicated. I left in 1998, when I was 30 years old 22 years later I still living out of the Island I don’t think I’m going back, except for vacation.
For the unimfomed or confused: mangu is made of boiled, mashed green plantains, which is topped with cheese, salchichon, or fried eggs, it is of Dominican origin. Mofongo is made of fried, mashed green plantains, filled with chicharron( cracklings, which is crispy fried pork), or crab meat, personally I like my mofongo with crab meat, it is of Puerto Rican origin.And now you know !!! De esto' se yo.
Saludos, en el centro de la isla se prepara mofongo con plátanos cocidos. No solamente se hace con plátanos fritos. En el campo se maja el plátano cocido con empellas(grasa visceral del cerdo). Ese mofongo es más sabroso y se mantiene blando por más tiempo. Y además Puerto Rico no es solamente mofongo y arroz con habichuelas… hay muchos platos que degustar.
Tell you what it's a whole lot nicer than Colombia or Cuba. The biggest problem is they attach their economy to the US dollar otherwise they be hustling like most of Latin America.
Thanks for ur visit and the video wow u brought me memories from my island,Rio-Piedras use to be the place to hang out it was nice it looks like a grost-town now its abandon thanks to the corrupt goverment they get the federal money and stick it in there pockets and the island needing reconstruction wow hope u enjoy ur visit.
Thank you for the kind words, I still loved visiting Rio Piedras (the food was wonderful and it sill had soul) although I would have loved to see the mercado in its heyday. Puerto Rico is such an interesting island with cool history and a unique cuisine, I wish I had more time! Any favorite towns or areas you recommend visiting?
@@unculturedtravel Hi and thanks well i heard that the town of Rincon on the west side of the island is petty nice ,i never been there but i was told that its a petty cool town to visit i believe that they got tree houses for rent and there's lots to see like the light house and history things like that good-luck..
@@nelsonvazquez5960 Thanks, awesome tip! I just gave it a quick google, the beaches look stunning. Looks like a great spot to look for Mofongo con Camarones. Any other recommendations welcome!
YOU VISITED AND CALLED YOURSELF "NOBODY". BESIDES THAT IS NOT MAGOO (The Nearsighted Old Man) BUT "MANGU" (Dominican Dish). MAYBE THAT DAY WAS "GOOD FRIDAY" WHEN MOST OF "PORORICANS" ARE AT HOME. COME BACK AGAIN NEXT YEAR. YOU ARE WELCOME. AH!
Truth! I did learn Mangu is Dominican. The food in the market was delicious and the people were kind. I’ve had some great Lechon and Mofongo, any Puerto Rican dishes you recommend I try? PR cuisine is excellent.
Rio Piedras is where we went shopping for bargains, where you find Güayaberas ,But not for Mofongo.. best mofongo I ever had in PR .. was in la Guancha Ponce , but is hours of wait.. Rio Piedras is a dead town now Probably because there's retail shopping plazas allover .. and Yes Rio Piedras and Santurce, are Dominican town.. .. if you want to taste Puertorican food you need a friend that takes you CHINCHIREO.. definitely outside the metro area ..
It show he went to P.R. to criticize, and a.very not good way.. Go to to Dominican Republic better dude. Have a good trip. Haveing a trip during COVID19.. sure ige thought the streets were crowded waiting for his video to be filmed.. # littleassone
Puerto Rico has such comforting food and kind people. This area was great to visit and experience. I also had amazing Lechon in the mountains here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-1F_U7OBPEvk.html Is there a town in PR you recommend visiting?
You know what was one of many of my memories; I was such a curious child … my family would get buckets of blue crabs … well one day my curiosity got the best of me lol … I was about 3-4 years old and I wanted to play with the crabs … well I ended up tipping the pail 🪣 of live crabs onto the floor and once they started to run I ran!!! Lol oh my god I was scared and my great uncle lol he had to recapture them and put them back in the pail lol and they just laughed at me cuz I ran screaming lol … I was the baby of the family so I got away with mischief lol. Another of my fun memories was … after I was told not to go into the chicken coo … I sure did and I grabbed all the baby yellow chickens and brought them into the house lol to play with them lol … they was like 4 lol … god I miss those days.
Wow, such awesome childhood memories running around with chicken and crabs! Thank you for sharing! How are crabs prepared in P.R., soups, with rice? What would a typical dish be?
@@unculturedtravel I was looking at Panama but the law there has changed. A lawyer down there said you now need 250K per person in the bank in order to relocate there. That's ridiculous. So I was just looking elsewhere.
Puerto Rico's socioeconomic decay is very palpable once one steps out of Old San Juan. Granted, even Old San Juan, its most touristic spot, is full of empty Spanish-era buildings solely serving as a pretty facade (waiting to be sold or rented). Clearly, the local government has destroyed the business friendly environment that once existed, for it is an absurdly large parasitical government (78 municipalities) relying on vote-buying tactics financed with high taxation and U.S. subsidies. USA only wanted P.R. in its pocket for military reasons; therefore, it never cared what became of it so long as the nationalist movement was destroyed. I believe P.R. would have been better off had it remained Spain's only colony in America after Spain lost the much more desirable Cuba (a war USA exploited only to undermine and eventually ruin Cuba well).
6:36 😲 You gonna die tonight !!! 😂😂Take care when you in rio piedras puerto rico ..psst and the ruster was just taking the train to go to the gym to train for hes next fight ...😂
This part of PuertoRico??🤣 bro that's a lil hood in the capital there's more towns whit more hoods proyectd insane dangerous proyects and favelas inside the towns of the island
Where you out there looking for yankee developers ? Doing groundwork for breaking ground for a Starbucks or trying to gentrify that island ? State your purpose lol
I was trying to dive into some local Puerto Rican cooking, ended up having a Dominican dish as my first meal (fail) but had some amazing Lechon in the mountains here ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-1F_U7OBPEvk.html You got any good local spots to eat in P.R.? Thank you!
Time stamp 6:38 I hear a creepy voice “your gonna die tonight “ play back and listen that was creepy … Puerto Rico has a lot of spirits wondering around…. I took a photo one year next to a statue and when I developed it something else was by me too that creeped me out.
Hah I don't doubt it! I remember though in this case it was a random guy joking with his friend and sarcastically yelling at the Carnival cruise liner in the bay. I meant to edit it out but it made it in the cut!
@@unculturedtravel ah ok lmao well heck that’s a relief!!! I grew up in Puerto Rico it is definitely not how I remember it … old San Juan plaza use to be lively with traditional clothing men and women and even us kids … my great uncle use to take me to the rooster fights … the last time I visit was 2015 … it’s great to see roosters walking amongst the pedestrians lol
@@unculturedtravel I couldn’t say if they still do as this was 40 years ago … but who knows lol I wouldn’t be surprised if it still happens… lol … we would take our life rooster back home and the one he defeated and cook for dinner
@@unculturedtravel I only recommend places out of San Juan but clase by. Piñones for Beach and food and Isla Verde for night life. Stay out of Condado, to much crime.
Wow…the marketplace in Río Piedras was deserted. Last time I was there was maybe 6 months before Maria…the market was super busy, the streets were full of vendors and there were lots of stores open in the area. Now, the areas a mere shadow of its former self. I don’t know what happened…what I do know is this was sad to see.
The Pro Statehood Corrupted Goverment in PR makes it a hell on earth for any Puerto Rican trying to open bussiness. They encourage complete dependency in Federal Aid.
@@unculturedtravel Whaat? Puerto Rico was glorious. Those places you walked through in Rio Piedras was booming with culture and local people. Those little squares. San Juan was a very cultural and romantic city and Isla verde and Condado was filled with local celebrities. We had several beer brands including Corona (Sold) beer and India Beer, around 10 rum brands, coffe brands Lotus, a huge fruit company similar to Goya we had huge agriculture we had several newspapers and local tv channels like Telemundo (Sold) we had a train that circunvented the whole Island. Evertything fell slowly apart with the corrupted Pro Statehood Party. They promoted complete dependency of Federal Aid and discouraged any type of local developement. Still to this day all they talk about is Federal Aid and when asked anything to be developed they say all depends in how much aid we receive. They planted the Idea that we could base our economy in Federal Funds and make ourselves rich with it. All those Zombies think they can grow economically from Federal Funds alone. Courtesy of Tax Payers money from the US.
@@shodannadohs4045 Thank you for taking the time to write this I learned a lot, listing off the PR companies was great insight. I noticed walking around that it had the bones of a place that was once thriving. Do you have any faith Puerto Rico will return to what it was one day?
@@unculturedtravel Puerto Rico has to stop dealing with a sellout bad government and the USA has to let Puerto Rico make its own decisions about development. The problem is that the ass-kissing PNP doesn't think about what is best for PR. They only care about staying in power by being little minions for some USA-only interests. You got to have a different mindset to be able to develop the island putting Puerto Rico's needs first. But? The USA loves modern-day colonialism. Change DC first if you want to change. Because hope is almost gone and unless the Puerto Ricans can make decisions to improve without interference from people in the mainland trying to dictate terms to the islanders? Things will not improve.
@@unculturedtravel Unless the FBI finally impose a RICO Act to the Pro Statehood Party i doubt Puerto Rico will flourish again. There is more than a hundred cases of corruption by the Pro Statehoid Party yet the FBI does nothing.
@@unculturedtravel Historically, our diet has been one of sustenance, high caloric. It's why Ricans are generally overweight/obese. I've abandoned our traditional diet for a healthier one. But for flavorful, fattening dishes, a sure place is Los Ranchos at the Guavate forest in Cayey.
Thank you for the insight, I hope it bounces back, the Mercado still had delicious, comforting food and the shop keepers were kind. Do you have a favorite neighborhood of San Juan you recommend visiting? Or surrounding town?
Still an interesting place to visit with kind people and tasty food. It would be very interesting to see at night, do you think it would get more empty or would there be some music / clubs that open during that time to make it busier?
Puerto Rico stopped in time 30+ ago. Unfinished (new) construction projects and the ones finished without maintanance. All this because of the goverment bad decitions and corruption to benefits theirs pockets. Today Puertoricans abandoned Puerto Rico to the US and the rich are taking advantage of the tax laws buying properties but no body living here. The snow melt here, our culture is a big barrier to americans. Until someday we coverts in to the new Hawai and give 500 years away.
Thank you for the perspective. I’m interested, do you see any move which would be a step in the right direction to bring back what was lost 30 years ago?
Rio Piedras is not the best area in the Island for tradidional puertorican food. That area use to be great but now that area is a dominican puertorrican mix
I love Puerto Rico the beautiful Island, one of the 7 wonders in the world is in PR, The Castle of San Cristóbal knowing as EL Morro in the Old San Juan,
The graffiti is the best part of your video. If there were no graffiti on those buildings, you actually think those buildings would look better. That’s were graffiti belongs. Not on nice architectural buildings. Think about that for a second.
When visit Puerto Rico, you should leave the San Juan area and check out the rest of the island. The mountains in the center, beaches in the north and west. The beauty of the sound part of the Island... all around PR is a beautiful island with tons to do
This area was full of comforting food and kind people, I wondered why people don’t visit it more. The train makes it easy. P.R. Is an amazing place with strong culture, a wonderful place.
The Mangu is dominican is like our mofongo but is boiled the mofongo is fried plantain but the sancocho many Spanish countries do it including dominican Republic, Puerto Rico. BTW that place back in the day was busier now day the malls have over taken everything. You have to go to santurce to la placita in a Saturday night you will have fun.
@@unculturedtravel me too I love them both lol I find that mofongo is a bit more versatile you can eat it many ways I like the shrimp garlic one and the churrasco steak 2 of favorites.
@@ramonortiz3095 Yes, very few things beat a good mofongo con camarones. Back in NYC there are a couple places in the Bronx that do it NEARLY as well as P.R. but it's never quite the same!
Reading some of the first few comments.... Have to agree. It's a completely alien environment. Where's the people? Food carts? OMG My sister discouraged me from returning back from the mainland after hurricane Maria. Everything is shockingly desolate. However that's not so bad ESPECIALLY on the BEAUTIFUL beaches around the ENTIRE island.
Honestly, the area still had delicious food and culture in my eyes and of course the rest of the island has so so much to offer. I found the culture of Puerto Rico to be very unique and a wonderful place to visit. Is there a favorite part of the island you would recommend?
Others have commented on it but what you experienced in Rio Piedras is what every traditional (read, Spanish times) "downtown" has been experiencing in the last 3-4 decades, long before Maria. Cars and malls is what destroyed these areas. Paseo de Diego was kept alive longer in part because of the local Dominican community (evidenced by the flags in your video and even your meal) and student population from nearby UPR's biggest campus. Go to the downtown in any of PR's 78 municipalities and you will find ghost towns
Thank you for this history and insight. PR has such special culture, food and community, I hope it bounces back and these areas thrive again. Do you think there is a chance this happens?
@@unculturedtravel I think so. Newer urbanism schools promote pedestrianism and less use of the car. However, it will take a cultural shift to get the PRicans off the car and urban sprawl.
Thanks for the note, many people have been commenting the area is mostly Dominicans, hence the flag. Interesting what you can learn from comments! Still kind people and tasty food.
That Litle PLASA IN RIO PIEDRAS IN 1974 USED TO BE THE PLACE TO BE AN SHOP A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND,USE TO GO TO THE MOVIES FOR 50 CENTS,,NOW RIO PIEDRAS IS A GHOST TOWN,WAT A SHAME.
Thank you for your insight, the people and vendors were still all very kind and the food was comforting and delicious. Do you have hope it can return to what it once was one day?
6:30 "you are gonna die tonight" Bro You Heard that? ... I might actually die tonight because i live in a rough part of Town.. and i AM súper scared All The time.. I'm suposed to go Walk to The weed dispensario and back Home.. Ill make sure i respond... If i don't respond to replies.. that means i'm dead.
That guy was yelling at the cruise ship just trolling, he was a random dude with his buddy. I forgot to edit that out lol. Great listening though! Do you live in San Juan? P.R is a very special country.
@@unculturedtravel hey i'm Alive. No, i love in Caguas, it is an adyacente county. Caguas is one of The Best counties to live in, because of good mayor manahement, almost every comercial american brand opens first ay Caguas, like kryspy cream or ihop. it is great to live or work or something, but not that touristy . San Juan is basically , (tourism, buisness and then a whole bunch of neglected sector ir poor áreas sweapt under The rug of The touristy trail. But Thats just bases on The history of The área, most of those people we're bought out of Their Jones and Landa generaciones ago. Or imigrant cumunities. Now once You leave San Juan.... There You are Open to The Real Puerto Rico. Also, it is very safe, The further You go from The touristy trail, The safer it becomes.. You starts driving to The middle of The island with The mountain comunities, or go to The south For great nightlife.. or costal tienes For Nature and beaches, Get an air b&b in the rainforest comunity. Or go to any regular county and go For shopping. San Juan is too... Fake... Too.. touristy... And too poor and neglected.
Also, it is very safe, puerto rico is not somewhere where theres cartels or kidnaps or anything like that . The crime in puerto rico are drug relates, but puerto rico has a very strong "no robbing culture" .. where junkies prefer to ask For change a millions times before Even thinking of robbing someone.. It is frawn upon , if You steal something or someone, most likely The hoods people find out and make You give stuff back.. and get a beating.. It's actually very rare to hear about a perdón getting Robbed, whenever it happens it makes Big primetime News. And The person gets caught either by las enforcement or The comunity. Specially touristy, You can't touch tourist, it Will hit primetime News and The whole country would spit You out of hiding. It's wierd, it's only with Robbing . It's a streets no robbing policy unspoaken puerto rican rules. Gor example, if You got mugged in San Juan... All You have to do is Walk down to "La perla" , and tell on The robber.. to anyone down there.. Bro, that robber fucked up, especially if they touched a tourist, tourist is what's makes "la perla" The most drug money. So, puerto rico is very safe For tourist. Also it is very americanized.... So it is really really hard to see a tourist with "dollar sign eyes" ... because theres "only English speaking" travelers All over everywhere everyday, You can't really tell a tourist apart from an american living here.. like Logan Paul. If You leave The San Juan área, no one Will know You are a tourist unless You tell em, You Will be automatically asumed that You live here. For example,
@@prico3358 More good insight, I had a taste of driving through the mountains and found the food and produce to be incredible. I need to visit more of the south. There's so many kind people all over Puerto Rico!
Truth. This area still had a lot of vendors with pride working hard. There was a lot of nice looking produce, fruits, meats and dishes. Where’s your favorite market in PR?
@@unculturedtravel when I grew up in Puerto Rico we used to go to Rio Piedras to shop because we lived in Luquillo and there was no place to shop around and it was really pack and you couldn't walk around.
If you haven’t try mofongo you should it’s a typical plate of Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 delicious I always say if you visit Puerto Rico and you did not have mofongo you did not came to the island
Wow I grew up in PR. And Rio piedras was a bustling town filled with pedestrians and shops. Now this? And never went to that subway. It didn't exist yet. And yes you know your food. Except that mangu. Try Mofongo next time instead. That's our dish and is so good!
If u are going to old San Juan you can try El jibarito in calle sol. Or in Piñones. Or anywhere in the island is one of our national dishes. Ask locals where u are now. I'm in Corozal. If u come to this neck of the woods. Let me know. They have mini rice and pork pasteles here. And bacalao dishes that are amazing Enjoy and welcome!!
@@unculturedtravel indeed! So many to mention. I hope u get to try tons while u are there and see how some are prepared. Btw I like the Mofongo with the shrimp garlic sauce topping. The best!
@@unculturedtravel it started more or less in 2008 to 2010. Each time it deteriorated. Until 2019 I think there were only 4 or 5 stores left. Air- conditioned shopping malls replaced it as in other cities or countries!!!
