Friday, November 25, 2011

Roadside vendor, Puerto Rico, 1987

This week's Sepia Saturday theme prompted me to recall doorways, shadows and roadside food stands.  In 1987 my sister Elaine and I spent a week in Puerto Rico visiting family and sightseeing on our own. This roadside fruit stand might have been in Ponce, but I'm not certain. We were on the road a lot. Who was the first person to place horns behind someone's head in a photo? A pioneer lost to history. 

 
We stayed for awhile in El Convento, a San Juan hotel that was once a convent, as the name indicates. Above, Elaine in one of the hotel's courtyard passageways. We had a great time seeing aunts and uncles and many cousins in San Juan, Ponce and Villalba, the small town where my mother was born.

 That's me with the banana bunch. Another favorite memory of the island: street vendors selling quenepas--a small round fruit with a soft skin. They have a short shelf life, so they are only sold on the side of the road. And sometimes in the middle of the road--you'd stop the car at a redlight and vendors on a median would hawk their goods right there.


On this trip we also visited beautiful Luquillo Beach, where a grove of palm trees provides cool shade on the sand. A vendor on the beach, who made these hats of palm fronds, took our picture.

Ah, to return to la isla bonita. Someday soon.

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17 comments:

  1. Those stalls have made me hungry - now where can I find such a stall and some sun?

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  2. What a great take on the theme. A simple prompt sends you back to a lovely time long ago, and some wonderful pictures. You and your sister look so happy in your palm frond hats.

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  3. Nice photos. Very colorful. That must have been an interesting trip.

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  4. somehow that roadside stand does resemble the one in alabama.

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  5. Fruit stands around the world. Another great Saturday theme.

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  6. In terms of getting a flavour of the island it beats any number of travel books. You can almost smell the freshness of the fruit.

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  7. Very interesting interpretation. Thanks for posting.

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  8. The roadside stand is a perfect fit for this week's theme. Great memories to go with it as well!

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  9. The Horn or Rabbit -Ears Is Universal!

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  10. You took me to a place of memories too. I accompanied my father to a week-long business meeting in Ponce about 15 years ago. While he was busy during the day, I entertained myself exploring the area (by myself, a BIG deal for me!) or reading poolside at the hotel (less of that). He's gone now but I got to revisit those memories; so thank you!

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  11. That's the way to travel and make memories :-) Jo

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  12. Great holiday memories, I would like to sample those bananas.

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  13. It looks like you are having such a great time. I have to admit, I am very fond of those palm frond hats.

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  14. nice pics, if a bit cruel as we now face winter here...
    I could certainly go for these fruits and sit on the beach. I could even go for one of those hats!! I love hats! Do you still have it or left it behind?
    :)~
    HUGZ

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  15. Such a delightful and yummy post, thanks...fun in the sun!

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  16. Great photos and post, I spent many afternoons on the beach in Luquillo, PR is really beautiful.

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  17. It looks so wonderful. Ocean breezes and the smell of flowers are the only things missing.

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