Photography Scavenger Hunt

This year I am participating in a photography scavenger hunt sponsored by Rinda over at Gallo Organico.  Rinda put together a list of 21 things to photograph this summer.  The object of this scavenger hunt is to stumble upon these items during your summer adventures rather than to go searching for them. 

So over the course of the next two months I want to share with you photographs of items have have 'found me' this summer.  I already have 13 such photographs to share with you!  I just returned from a trip to Puerto Rico where, without knowing, I had captured 13 of the 21 items on the list.  :-)  So here is my first entry for this scavenger hunt.

Starting from the bottom of the list --

#21 A picture of you standing with something that symbolizes your nation.

I had a hard time deciding which photo to use for this entry.  So I decided to post two photos.  In the photo above I am leaning against a garita at El Castillo de San Cristobal located in San Juan, Puerto Rico.   El Castillo de San Cristobal is an 18th century citadel.  It covers 27 acres and its the largest fortification built by the Spanish in the New World.  San Cristobal, along with its sister fort, El Morro, are part of the U.S. National Park Service and an endearing icon to all Puerto Ricans. 

The Caguana Indigenous Ceremonial Park located in Utuado, Puerto Rico.  In this park archaeologists have uncovered many artifacts and petroglyphs from the native Taino Indians.  The Taino culture dates back to the year 1000 to the beginning of the 15th century when the Spanish arrived.  Sadly, the Tainos were swiftly and almost completely decimated by disease and Spanish subjugation.

These two photos represent significant eras in Puerto Rican history; the Taino Indians native to the island and the colonization period during Spanish reign.  These two cultures; Taino and Spanish along with the slaves imported from Africa are integral componenets of my Puerto Rican heritage.

I hope you have enjoyed the little tour.  Look forward to sharing a few more pics with you next week.  Until then . . .
Thanks for stopping by . . .  Yoli