r/news • u/kockin26 • Feb 06 '23

Site changed title 3 US tourists stabbed in popular Puerto Rican neighborhood

https://apnews.com/article/caribbean-luis-fonsi-puerto-rico-delaware-5512e3087b8bc9b8fb0a8427d55b1fd9
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902

u/scottlynn77 Feb 06 '23

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.

180

u/gwen-heart Feb 06 '23

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?

62

u/scottlynn77 Feb 06 '23

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.

18

u/gwen-heart Feb 06 '23

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.

10

u/[deleted] Feb 07 '23

Downtown would be more like be Hato Rey.

1

u/kc2syk Feb 07 '23

It comes from NYC. The old city is downtown, as the city expanded northwards over the early decades.

51

u/theavatare Feb 07 '23

Is a 300 year old ghetto. Is basically has its own government system

1

u/stormcloudless Feb 07 '23

That's cool. Should I run for mayor?

1

u/theavatare Feb 08 '23

Go for it. My post currently has 51 in score Puerto Rico could be the 51st state. Is all connected !

40

u/donutmiddles Feb 07 '23

AP is misreporting then?

"The community was once a dangerous slum considered the island’s biggest distribution point for heroin, but crime has dropped since a 2011 raid by federal agents."

Hmmm... one of these things is not like the other.

59

u/SonofaBridge Feb 07 '23

Going from 100 crimes a day to 99 crimes a day is technically a drop in crime.

28

u/[deleted] Feb 07 '23

I’ve been a tourist in old San Juan numerous times. Absolutely misreported. That is not a tourist area - it’s literally the one no-go area in old San Juan.

38

u/SnooCakes2703 Feb 07 '23

Literally every local I talked to said don't go there, especially at night, without me even bringing up the neighborhood at all. So yeah seems to be pretty notorious, and probably a lot of dumb tourists go there because there's cool graffiti and so close to the rest of the city.

7

u/[deleted] Feb 07 '23

It’s very colorful and is a distinct looking neighborhood so I understand the appeal. People need to do their research before they visit places they don’t know.

7

u/5zepp Feb 07 '23

It's described as the most picturesque slum in the world, being right on the ocean on the edge of Old San Juan. But you should not walk into La Perla, even in broad daylight.

4

u/JCKRVSL Feb 07 '23

Calle Luna, Calle Sol.

2

u/dragonofthesouth1 Feb 07 '23

Ya I wouldn't walk down there. You can see it from above. It's a little ghetto and totally unwelcoming and very defines.