>

Go take photos of drug markets in detroit and see if you don’t get stabbed.
La Perla is the ghetto. It’s where people go to buy drugs (according to locals who found out we were walking around the area). It’s a rough run down area outside of old downtown San Juan. It’s near the cemetery. The hop on bus stopped my wife & I years ago when they saw us walking around taking pics & warned us to leave once it got dark. We never felt unsafe but it’s known to stay away from that area. >

I’ve noticed people say downtown San Juan but we just say Old San Juan / Viejo San Juan. Where does the downtown thing come from? >

Mind you this was back in 2007, so I’m certain a lot has changed. I agree it is called old San Juan but being as companies like to mislead visitors, the hotel district was considered old San Juan way back when we booked, so out of habit I think I just say downtown. >

I’ve asked many tourists this and they’ve just been confused. Now I get that it’s just a bit of misdirection. I just find it weird because it’s way too many syllables for what’s basically the little island part of San Juan. >

I went there a year ago, the first time they tell you is don't take Picture in La Perla. Not blaming the victims, but we decided not to go to La Perla. Plenty of places in Puerto Rico. >

La Perla is the hood, not sure what these tourists were thinking >

“Where can I buy drugs?” Is prolly what they were thinking >

Because Americans are more likely to go to these places and act like idiots. Cuz ‘merica >


Because Americans are more likely to go to these places and act like idiots. Cuz ‘merica

How dare Americans visit...
Checks notes on Puerto Rico
... America. >

*American colony >

Puerto Rico is only being blocked from statehood by Republicans because they would lose ~6 house seats and the senate would be more Democratic. >

The point he's saying is that it is not really an American culture. It was ruled by Spain for longer than the US has existed. Just because we pissed on it in the 1800s doesn't mean it's identical to fucking Denver or something.
The same can be said of Hawai'i. It's a "state" but non-natives go there all the time and fuck around because they don't care about the existing cultures there. >


The point he's saying is that it is not really an American culture.

I think you are confounding "white culture" with American culture here. America has a lot of different cultures. And Puerto Rico's people have voted in several referendums. >

The most shocking thing about this news report, is actually calling La Perla a popular neighborhood. No just no, I grew up in Puerto Rico, La Perla has and always been a complete shitshow even for us. >

Despacito made it popular >


3 US tourists stabbed in popular Puerto Rican neighborhood

Without checking the link, it's going to be La Perla, isn't it?
I'm going to call those self inflicted stab wounds. >

Yeah. I thought so too. "Popular Puerto Rican neighborhood". Ah, no. They tell tourists to stay away from La Perla, though I've heard it's not as bad as they say. I walked through it early in the morning last time I was in PR, just seemed like a poor neighborhood to me. I could see it getting sketchy late at night though, with gringos trying to buy coca from the locals. >

I was staying in the safer part of San Juan a few years ago, and the taxis there still go through the red lights at night. They’re trained to do so because they said it’s not safe to stop at night. 
Seemed weird to me because I didn’t feel unsafe at all walking around there in the daytime, but that may have just been blissful ignorance.
At night Old San Juan felt sketchy though, and the random stray dogs howling around the alleys didn’t help. >

Yeah, I hear ya. I remember one dude wandering around with all kinds of bling hanging from his neck. Don't know what his deal was, but he was shouting and probably scaring the tourists. I did see the same guy later on, his vibe was actually friendly. Mental health problems know no bounds. I still remember a guy standing in the middle of the street in Kuala Lumpur. It's everywhere.  
And of course, me as a tourist, what I experience is just a snapshot. Been to PR 4-5 times, but I'm still a tourist for a few days every time. >

Lol experienced something sort of similar there. Lanky guy wearing a NY Yankee hat, walked past us at night while we were sitting in a restaurant’s outdoor area which happened to go out into an alley. Dude was walking hunched over like he was frail and disabled, speaking Spanish at us with a very heavy accent, pretending he couldn’t understand any English, begging us for money. 
My ex mentioned the guy’s hat and how we are from New York and the guy excitedly stood straight up out of his hunchback, adopted a completely different demeanor, and spoke to us in perfect English about how his family lives in New York too and he’s spent some time living with them before. Then he wished us a good night and walked away happily with a perfectly normal gait. >

OMFG! I'm sure it was the same dude, I remember a Yankees hat. My only interaction was a "que pasa?" at most. Seemed friendly to me. Funny you cracked his shell!  
BTW, last time I was there was 2019, and I remember that guy then. Maybe have seen him a year or two earlier too. I know I need to get back and find that guy, buy him a beer at least! >

It was 2019 when I went too, lmao. July to be specific.
He was very friendly, and once he felt a connection to us he didn’t bother asking for money anymore; he just wanted to chat away. >

Too cool...  I was there in Feb 2019. Yeah, I found Puerto Ricans to be a friendly people for the most part. Dominican Republic was a whole extra level of friendly though, lol! I went for 3 days just to check it out, and left 15 days later. Now I want to go back... >

You don't come into the Barrio filming unless you want to get in trouble.
That neighborhood is notorious and not nearly as safe as they said in the article. The federales raid just caused them to be less "open" about things.
So tourists, stay up in old town, enjoy the historic old city. Just don't go over the wall into the barrio. >

Unless you need drugs >

No it isn't. There's been growing tension between locals and foreigners in Puerto Rico. Locals have been increasingly frustrated (if not down right hostile) at tourists and their effects on local issues like housing. >

Does the federal government give a fuck when the power goes out in Puerto Rico? Does it spend nearly as much on Hurricane relief in Puerto Rico as Florida? >

Therefore when shit happens in PR, it ain't the same as if the same shit happened in Ohio. If PR is some Schrodinger cat state, then US citizens getting stabbed is a quasi-international affair >

I’m sorry but coming from New Orleans, the government is entirely willing to write off those of us on the mainland too. >

Hasn't New Orleans received billions in recovery funds? >

The economic damage was estimated at $100 billion and most of the federal aid went to fixing oil pipelines/the port & shipping. 
The government has spent about $120 billion on relief but the initial aid package was like $10 billion. It took forever to get assistance. 
FEMA repeatedly blocked the shipping of aid and emergency supplies. 
FEMA provided no support for medical air evacs
George Bush was at Camp David at the time and decided to hangout for a few days until there was enough public backlash that he finally came out of hiding to make a statement. 
Dick Cheney personally pulled National Guardsman that were protecting a hospital and sent them to guard oil pipelines. 
The real assistance came when refugees started flooding all the surrounding states and enough press. 
The point is that the United States government will leave people hung out to dry if they can get away with it and it takes the public forcing them to do something before anything happens. >

Puerto Rico is part of the US >

It is obviously a grey area and to not acknowledge that is just being purposefully dense. >

It is not at all a gray area. Puerto Rico is part of the US, period. >

No it is not. Period. It is so much a grey area congress routinely brings up what to do with it, and whether or not to allow it statehood, or vote for independence on their own accord. >


congress routinely brings up what to do with it

You mean the US Congress. As in the US Congress having discussions about a US Territory. >

Yes, as to whether or not grant statehood or allow independence, that is the discussion and what makes it unique. What's your point? >

The point is that PR is absolutely unambiguously part of the US. It is currently a territory (which means it's part of the US). It could potentially become a state (that is, remain a part of the US, under a slightly different legal framework) or become independent (leave the US).
PR is also not unique. There are other territories right now, and there have been many others in US history. >

Ever since “Despacito” people think shit is sweet in La Perla…not saying the guys deserved what they got, but going to La Perla as a tourist then they got what they were looking for. Honestly, they were lucky they only got stabbed…go read about some of the other shit that happens to people who don’t belong in that part of town. >

La Perla? They specifically tell you to stay away from there. No phones >

Um Puerto Rico is part of the United States. They’re all US citizens there? >

Apparently only some get treated that way though >

I go there every year and it’s jarring how many walled-in cities and ghettos you’ll see on the way to any tourist experiences outside of San Juan and Old San Juan. Like right outside. It felt dystopian because a bunch of people smooshed their faces through a fence while we drove by.
Old roommate is from PR and lived in one. Said they encouraged a community inside so they didn’t do anything outside besides work. Gates were locked but they had stuff like a park and other attractions within the area for the locals (mind you, nothing crazy luxurious).
Also ya, I don’t feel like most people identify as American first that are natives. They’re proud of their separate identity and there’s a lot of debate on seceding vs being fully annexed. I would say, based on personal experience going over there so often, that the people in the island don’t have the best prospects or get the best treatment. >

3 US tourists stabbed in the US >

Tourists?  No tourist ever was out in a ghetto at 4am taking pictures of people buying stuff out of the back of a food truck.  Then after being stabbed refusing hospital treatment.  It was a drug deal gone South. >


The confrontation began when one of the tourists, who lives in South Carolina, began filming a mobile hamburger cart and was told to stop and leave the area, police said.  

Just spit balling here, but maybe they should have stopped filming the hamburger cart. >

Has nothing to do with a food cart. If a bunch of guys hanging out say something, (like stop filming) best do it. This area is NOT for newbies...sort of like going to seedy areas at night time in harlem. You're not in Kansas, Dorothy >

Again, forget the notion of recording a food cart. It's  the fact that hood guys said something to you....it's really not a suggestion or a cause for debate....... >

Just have to be able to "read the room".  If people are looking at you strange, a group is watching you, or whispering as you "enjoy the atmosphere" .....time to keep it moving >

But it is a very pretty food cart. 
Just one pic? Maybe a selfie? 
How about you and the boys huddle round and throw up some of those hand signs? >

LOL, just pictured Will Ferrell in that jail movie....Get Hard.....dude was clueless >

The title of this article is stupid, Puerto Rico is the US, and every Puerto Rican is a US citizen. >

Exactly. That alone makes this trash. Would they say “two U.S. tourists to Florida were stabbed”? Nope. >

"renowned seaside community known as La Perla" AHAHAHAHAA
Jesus Christ. Renounced for being dangerous AF you mean. >

“Renowned” just means well-known or famous, it doesn’t imply quality. The sentence is fine. >

Renowned is nowadays used to mean famous in a positive way. No one uses renowned with a negative connotation. >

Americans? 
In PUERTO RICO!?!?!?!? 
Oh the Huge Manatee!!! >

How far away is La Perla from El Convento? I never felt unsafe in OSJ >

La Perla is on the north coast of Old San Juan.  It’s kind of separated from the rest of the district by a wall and a small cliff.  If you’re walking down Calle Norzagaray toward the fort at the tip of Old San Juan, La Perla is that dilapidated area to your right between you and the ocean.  It’s the part that looks like the hood and definitely not a place to be fucking around. >

Beautiful shot >

Really? Old san juan on the coast? Thats like saying 3 tourists got stabbed walking down a dark alley in detroit. It is not a safe place to be. In fact, that is probably one of the worst spots in all of puerto rico, period. >

Detroit gets tourists? >

19 million tourists a year visit metro Detroit, roughly 5x the number that visit Puerto Rico. >

Everyone, we know that Puerto Rico is part of the US. It's just adding context to the story of where the tourism came from.
And sure, Puerto Ricans are technically American, but you ask them and they will first tell you they are Puerto Rican, ethnically and culturally, some will even say nationally. I, and none of my family or friends, never tell people overseas we are American, but just Puerto Rican, it's a really interesting grey area.
Don't treat us like a state, legally we are US citizens but many of us don't want to become part of the rest of US, don't want the whitewashing of our island and culture, gentrification, ECT. >

I've lived in Puerto Rico. Why any "tourist" would go to La Perla is beyond me. It's always been considered a dangerous place. >

Drugs. Or TikTok content. Or both. >

Does the writer of this headline not know Puerto Rico is part of the US? >

You can be a tourist within your own country. Plenty of US tourists in places like NYC, LA, Puerto Rico. Saying “US tourists” gives context that these tourists were from USA and not from somewhere else such as Canada, England, China, etc. Sure, at the end of the day they’re technically domestic US tourists but it’s by no means incorrect to call an American who is a tourist in Puerto Rico a US tourist >

Just sounds weird. "3 US tourists were stabbed in New York..." !? >

It's different, Puerto Rico we have our own identity and culture, someo asks who we are we say we're Puerto Rican over American. >

When you fly over to another country you show your Puerto Rican passport and say that you are a Puerto Rican tourist? >

Like i said legally we are US citizen, but culturally, go ask any Puerto Rican how they view Americans, gringos, when they come. 
When I'm asked what i am, when every single Puerto Rican asks what they are, they say they are Puerto Rican 👍. We don't have a "statehood" mentality, we are different there >

Not questioning how the people in the island perceive their culture, technically any Puerto Rican tourist as well as the victims in the article are Americans.
If I were the writer I would had use the state where they were coming from, "US tourists" makes the unaware think that Puerto Rico is a different country >


Not questioning how the people in the island perceive their culture, technically any Puerto Rican tourist as well as the victims in the article are Americans.

And i perfectly understand that, BuT TeChnUcaLlY. 

If I were the writer I would had use the state where they were coming from, "US tourists" makes the unaware think that Puerto Rico is a different country

Yea that's fine, but even then for people on the island they will just see gringo tourist, don't matter to us what state they came from, all Americans are viewed the same here. It's US and them mentality. >

The downvotes coming in from people who have never met a Puerto Rican. >

Ik and that's ok :) i know.ots sometimes difficult for me to express what I'm tryna say without sounding like an asshole and the Puerto Rican / American label is something a lot of us are passionate about. >

3 South Carolina tourists stabbed in Puerto Rico* >

I haven’t read any further than the headline, but I bet these jabronis walked into la perla and were showing their ass…let’s see. >

Am I the only one that finds it weird that it says “US” tourist for PR?  It’d be like “3 US tourists shot in Atlanta” it just sounds weird. >

3 US Tourists stabbed in the US >

That neighborhood is in such an interesting location. I remember wandering around and seeing all those dingy but colorful buildings set deeper than the main roads and wanting to get down there, but the weather was stormy, and I couldn't figure out how to get down. I'm glad I didn't mess around in there. >

Despacito music video >

Can someone summarize in terms I can understand? Is La Perla on the same level or worse than, say, Kensington & Allegheny? >

Philly in the house.  That is one bad corner for sure. >

So, three Americans stabbed in America? >

Puerto Rico belongs to but its not a part of the US. Scotus said so. >

US tourist in Puerto Rican? Isn’t 🇵🇷 a part of USA? 
Tomorrow when I go to work, am I a New Jersey tourist in New York City? >

Yes it certainly makes life more exciting that way. No pressure to take photos either just enjoy your staycation. >

When I was in PR we visited San Juan and saw this neighborhood.  It had a giant mural of tupac that one of my friends wanted a picture of. 
guy came up the hill and said "no pictures, dangerous".  What did we do?  we thanked him and left.  
They shouldnt have been stabbed but its not that hard to take a hint. >

You only get warned once, anything after that is open season >

Isn’t Puerto Rico part of the US? If some people from New York went to Miami and got stabbed, would they still be calling them US tourists? >

Pretty sure they are all Americans >

Weird way to say Americans stabbed by Americans >

Meh, most of us would rather keep our identity and be called Puerto Ricans than called Americans. Anytime someone asks where me and my friends are we say, Puerto Rican, not American. >

I get it. I live in TX and they do the same here haha. I’m just saying the title reads like PR is some far off country. >

Yes I've been to Texas, but imagine that mentality on steroids, we quite literally are our own country, but unfortunately for taken over by the US and for decades slowly whitewashed, now they think we are one of them when that's FAR from it. We don't speak the same language, we don't share the culture, all we have in common is the currency. 
I encourage anyone here to ask a native Puerto Rican what they all think Americans that visit the Island.
Gringos is what they will say. >

My best friend is from Juncos (which I have been to a few times) they all want statehood. I see you as American personally. Everyone here is from somewhere else and that’s what kinda makes it awesome. I do get what you are saying as well. It’s such a lovely island though. I like the cop cars with the green lights lol >

Hey dope I've been to Texas a few times i have family there, fun place :)
it's very hot topic and depending on who you ask and Puerto Ricans that reside in the states have opinions about it too. We love being a tourism hotspot but a lot of talk about gentrification and losing our identity, similar to what happened to Hawaii except PR is one of the cultural hotspots for Latin/Hispanic culture so it puts us in a unique spot and divisive situation. There are definite pro's and con's on both sides and a referendum did pass for statehood Recently. >

Puerto Rico is America. So those “3 US tourists” could actually just be normal Puerto Rican citizens. >

Not gonna say they got what they deserved but they definitely caused this reaction. It wasn't random.  
Somebody tells you to stop filming in a dangerous neighborhood stop filming you fucking idiot. Like how can you be this stupid?  
Also just fuck all the idiots and influencers who just travel around constantly filming everyone without asking. It's only ok to do that if it's an American cop. >

Hey guess what - Puerto Rico is part of the US and any cop in Puerto Rico is an American cop. >

this is true. >

This just in, 3 U.S tourists stabbed in NYC
That’s how this title sounds, congrats AP. >

"US Tourists".....in Puerto Rico?
Anyone? >

You can be a tourist in your own country. Think of someone from the Midwest who takes a vacation to NYC. They are US tourists in New York. As opposed to other people on vacation there who may be Canadian, French, or Chinese tourists in NYC. >

True, but if you're from Oklahoma and are visiting NYC the news would not point out that you are a US tourist. >

Well depends on where your group are from. If they're all from the same origin I agree it should be like "three New Yorkers/Californians/Ohioans stabbed in PR“ or whatever. But if they're from different places it makes sense to specify US tourists. If they just said "three tourists“ I would maybe assume from even further afield. >

Spoiler alert, Puerto Rico is US, therefore I hate this article title. >

why say 3 US tourists? Puerto Rico is part of the US. >

It is weird they specify "US" tourists,  because Puerto Rico is part of the US. >

Every time we went to old San Juan my grandfather would tell my brother and I to never ever go into that part of town. Police hardly went in that area back in the day. I grew up in Carolina >

Off of reading the headline you know it's la Perla 😂 >

Glad I had people I knew there when I visited. They basically knew I would want to go to La Perla and talked me out of it. Pretty cool to see from the fort grounds. >

I lived in Old San Juan for a long time and belive me, there's nothing to look for in La Perla at 4am unless you want drugs or to end up swiming with the sharks. >

They were in La Perla, we don’t go in there unless invited. Police outside will warn people not to wander down there. >

Yeah I was there a year ago and was told that area was bad so I didn’t go down there >

LA Perla. My PR fiancée told me when we visited "tourists went there after the Despacito music video got popular and they always die there". The police don't even go there. >

How popular are we talking? >

“3 Idiots Stabbed Photographing Drug Market”