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A. What makes this space distinct from others?

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A. What makes this space distinct from others?

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What are the implicit rules/norms of this space? How do people navigate and understand them?

The implicit rules norms in Old San Juan, specifically the historic sites are to be inquisitive and respective. This is a very popular city in Puerto Rico with a lot of rich history, so tourists and natives that I saw were very respectful of the space and eager to learn, as was I. Also, everyone is extremely friendly and welcoming, which allows everyone to be more inclined to respect the space.

How does the history of this space contribute to its current atmosphere and purpose?

The history of Old San Juan shapes the current atmosphere I was able to experience because the architecture has been well preserved throughout the years. The colorful buildings, the walkways, and greenery and the ocean allowed me to want to get a better understanding of the area and enjoy the rich history it has. I think it's a perfect blend for tourists and natives to fully experience the culture. Specifically El Morro, which was once a critical military fort protecting the city, now stands as a symbol of Puerto Rico’s resilience and heritage. The city's past as a port and hub for culture now fuels its purpose as a beautiful destination for history, local art, and community gatherings. The area is very freeing and allows all who enter to feel at ease.

In what ways does this space promote or prohibit/discourage certain kinds of social interactions?

Since, this city/town is so welcoming, it definitely promotes social integration between strangers that are there for the same thing, especially with the beautiful views, a lot of people willl spark up conversation with people and ask for pictures. The area is very walkable with so many local restaurants, shops, and activities to do, further allowing communal engagement for all.

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B. Who has entry to this space, and who does not? Why might that be? What kind of rights or other kind of markers does one need to gain entry to this space?

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B. Who has entry to this space, and who does not? Why might that be? What kind of rights or other kind of markers does one need to gain entry to this space?

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Beyond physical capacity to enter or access a place, consider emotional or psychological access. Who feels welcome here? Who might feel excluded?

How are power dynamics expressed in this space? Who seems to hold authority? How is that authority demonstrated?

I personally felt welcomed in the country/ city of Old San Juan. I think everyone feels welcome, from all walks of life and backgrounds. This is a place where I experienced no discrimination at all from the other foreigners around me and the natives. On the other hand, people who don't speak Spanish fluently like myself may feel excluded sometimes if that is something that affects them, but many people are bilingual and are open to explaining things to you in English. In terms of power dynamics, the city is very tourist based, and not to say that they or we hold authority, but I think financially tourists allow the city to continue to thrive the way it is, it a respectful manner. I also think locals have authority in this space as well. They are the ones that allow the tourist guides to observe and learn about the history. Also fun fact, there's a small town at the bottom near the San Juan historical site called "La Perla", its increased in fame over the past few years after the "Despacito" music video was filmed there, but because its not a community big on tourism, taking photos there is highly discouraged because it can be perceived as invasive. So in that regard, locals have authority and autonomy on decisions like that.

What are the economic factors that determine access to this space? Are there hidden costs/invisible issues?

Old San Juan has some factors that determine the access to the place, as previously stated since its a high-tourism city and because the city is so engaging, they cater to tourism and so do their prices sometimes. Now for us in the states from middle income families, things are very affordable compared to pricing in America. I went to a restaurant there, that had very similar prices to a local place I'd go to here in NY. But for locals, or people less fortunate, that could be considered a hidden cost or invisible issue. I used uber to get to and from Old San Juan the entire time I was there and to me the prices were extremely affordable. Some people opt to rent a car to go around, so hidden costs could come in the form of payed parking in a garage and gas. I think overall in order to really enjoy your experience, apart from the walking and seeing the beautiful sights, budgeting funds can be beneficial.

How do different social markers (such as, age, gender, religion, ability, race etc.) exist or do not exist in this space?

Are there any visible or invisible signs of social control or surveillance within this space?

Age, gender, religion, ability, race, etc. are all factors that exist is this space. As a popular tourist area, people and their identities range a lot. I saw someone who was in a wheel chair with their family members, I saw children playing with kites and walking, caucasians, African Americans, Indians, etc. I do think that it is a lot easier to explore the city for those that are able-bodied due to the amount of walking, the hills, pathways, and type of material such as cobble stone.Also, social control can be seen with Spanish speaking individuals and non. Being able to communicate with so many people in native tongue can increase the sense of belonging socially. In regard to surveillance, I will say near the historical site there is a police presence,but not to strong as to make people feel uncomfortable. It helps people feel safe, but also maintains order and respect for the space.

How does the maintenance of the space reflect the values of the people or the groups that have entry to it?

The maintenance of the space reflects the values of the people/ groups that have access to enter it because it demonstrates the efforts that everyone from locals, to tourists take to keep the space clean and attractive. Being able to preserve a rich history so well is important for natives who grew up there as well as tourists like myself who are eager to learn about other countries.

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C. What do you know about this space? Where does that information come from? What you may not know, and how might you find out more?

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C. What do you know about this space? Where does that information come from? What you may not know, and how might you find out more?

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How do your personal experience and background influence your entry to and interpretation of this space?

As a 1st generation black woman in her twenties, my entry into Old San Juan was like everyone else, which I loved. I felt like any other tourist who was there and didn't look like me, very safe and taking in the beautiful scenes. As someone who truly enjoys traveling and learning about different cultures, I really enjoyed the history of the space and how similar it was to my home country Cameroon, as well as other countries I've been to. Coming from living in queens and Brooklyn, it was easy for me to navigate different areas and even if I didn't know where I was going, going with the flow was always an option, something I do at times while in the city (Manhattan). Im very blessed to be financially able to travel and afford things while traveling, so eating out and buying souvenirs or different experience was not a burden for me. Overall, as a tourist, I was just very grateful to be able to experience so a lovely city.

What assumptions might you have about this space and the people who are seen or not seen here?

Some assumptions I'd have about the space and the people, maybe before going there is that the locals can spot the tourists from a mile away and make target them in regards to pricing for goods sometimes, only because that happens often in other countries. I also assume that the people who dont go to Old San Juan aren't tourists. Most of the people I saw were probably all out from out of town, which makes sense to me because as someone who has lived in New York for a while, it took me 5 years to go see the Statue of Liberty, even as a native of Maryland, there is no need for me to go to the White House or the monuments around there because Ive experienced it before.

How can you use different research methods (such as, observation, interviews, online/library research etc.) to uncover histories and information about this space?

Using different research methods can allow you to fully understand the sights you're looking at and also make sense of why things look the way they do. For example observing all the colorful apartments/homes, and researching why they use cobblestone for some roads, some could also do a quick google search on how old the architecture is, the local and best places to get authentic food, etc. Another really good research method in a place like this is asking the locals questions, if you have a question, a lot of them are kind enough to answer and engage in conversation with you, especially about the history and coming from people who have lived the true experience, that's valuable.

How does the local businesses or local groups influence the information that is distributed about this space?

Local businesses and groups are the focal center of the atmosphere in Old San Juan, they help create and promote the rich environment that is San Juan. When I was walking around, I stopped at different stores and restaurants and it was the people working in the places that recommended activities for me to do, which made my experience that much more enjoyable. Word of mouth is so powerful in general, and especially here when you spark conversation with someone coming out of their apartment or walking their dog, they really do want you to have the best time in their country and they do so by giving you amazing recommendations. On the flip side, they also can tell you where to stay away from or things you shouldn't do. I had someone recommend me a beach to go to that was so beautiful versus a beach that wasn't as nice and overly saturated.

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13 Old San Juan Landmarks You Shouldn’t Miss

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From El Morro to La Fortaleza, here’s a list of the iconic places you shouldn’t miss in the “walled city” of Old San Juan.

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After finishing my walk, I wanted to see more of the city. It was so beautiful with so many things to do, that I wanted to go back and explore some more. I would've wanted to learn more from the business areas in the area, how long they've been there and their passion for their businesses. I went to this gorgeous jewelry store and got some rings that were so beautiful and if I had time, I may have gone back to ask questions like do they make the jewelry themselves, where do they get their materials, etc. This experience will absolutely influence my approach on other space I visit in the future because I will do more to engage with natives. Im a very shy person, so I tend not to speak unless spoken to, especially in unfamiliar spaces, so I didn't inquire with locals as much as I wanted to. I think I would've still noticed a lot of things I noticed during my walk even without this assignment because naturally I'm a person that likes to observe new environments. I will say doing actively preparing to observe during my walk helped me be more analytical because I was pre-aware of my task and noticed the little things a lot more.

While listening to Episode 1 of the podcast, they referenced something called " flâneur.", a figure that emerged in Paris and described as a "disinterested, leisurely observer of the urban scene..." Instead of doing that, the focus of the podcast was to walk and think critically at the same time so as to get a better understand of a specific space. As someone who is able bodied, I never thought about things like walking with a disability as something, especially in a place like Old San Juan that could possibly hinder or make your experience harder. When I did start walking, one of the first things I noticed was someone in a wheelchair. They were at the top of a long trail closer to the El Morro site and were with many family members. They seemed to be taking a break and as I left the site why were still there. I was glad that the walkway was accessible enough for this person and other people with wheelchairs. I was also keenly aware of how free everyone was, regardless of race I didn't see differentiation between how a white man was walking and how a hispanic man was walking.

The Springray and Truman article was also really insightful to me as it spoke about the 4 major themes of walking research such as place, sensory inquiry, embodiment, and rhythm. Focusing on the last one, while I was walking as I've said previously, everyone including myself was so relaxed. No one was in a rush to go anywhere, everyone was happy, talking, looking at the view, and just generally in a very peaceful headspace. I find it refreshing to see people enjoy life like that because in a lot of other places, New York for example, the hustle and bustle is a real things, people are always walking fast, bumping into you, and going somewhere urgently. It was quite the opposite in Old San Juan, and as the article said, that shows the nature of livelihood there and what it entails.

This research method allowed me to fully observe my surroundings and think about things I normally wouldn't think about while walking. In this padlet, I used pictures, videos, gifs, music, and an article to really allow anyone who looks at it to get a sense of my experience as I was conducting my research. I knew pictures and videos were going to be easy for me to obtain because I was going to take them regardless of the assignment. The music were songs I played while walking which really made the experience more enjoyable. Although I did write down some observations so I can remember, I wish I would've recorded something for the pallet as I was walking, I think hearing the wind blow and the chatter in the background would've really helped get the full picture. The pictures/ videoswere probably the most effective in capturing the nuance of my walking experience because I enjoy visuals and I think it allows others to walk with you.