Ponce…the Historicaly Dry City

Friday May 18, 2007

Byline: Kendal Tate

Today, tours consisted of visiting the Tibes Indian Ceremonial Park and a hike through the dry forest in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The tour of the Tibes Indian Ceremonial Park was very interesting, as the Taino Indians were on the land 1,000 years before Christopher Columbus. The tour guide, Salvador Mas, was a passionate leader who truly enjoyed his job. He explained the importance of the trees, and how particular trees have an impact on the body. The trees aided in stomach pain, fixing the urinal tract, soothing a soar throat, and cleansing out the body of contamination. Further into the tour, Salvador explained how a woman, when angry, is the strongest. Over time, women who grounded spices and flour on the granite stone eventually wore it away due to the excessive pounding. Salvador explained the beauty these people sought, the flat head. At a very young age, a wooden board would be strapped to the head of a child and because the bones are still developing eventually the forehead will flatten.

Picture 1: Dawn and I in the canoe at Tibes Indian Ceremonial Park

During our walk, replications of huts and canoes were visible to walk through. The history of the Taino Indians customs and rituals was very interesting. Salvador often times side tracked from the history of the Taino Indians to tell personal stories about his pet tarantula, but the passion he has for his job is undeniable.

The hike through the dry forest was quite fascinating. According to Francisco Jusino, our tour guide, the dry forest receives 15 to 20 inches of rain a year. Imagine the size of a normal water bottle…that is the amount of rain the forest receives annually. There were various types of birds and plants throughout the hike. On a side path of the forest, I was able to climb up to the oldest tree on the island; it was over 800 years old. It was in a secluded area where its roots were not deep in the ground, but shallow and went to the sides. The tree was extremely large and rare. After taking a group picture, we headed back to the main path. Francisco showed us a leaf that was thick enough that one could write a letter and send it as a postcard. This was my favorite part of the hike because this was used to be the way to write messages. One would inscribe a message onto a leaf and send it to another person.

After spending three days spent in Ponce, I realized that the policia are incredibly visible. Everywhere I went I was able to easily locate the policia on foot, bike or vehicle. I asked Francisco, our tour guide, about the policia and why the patrol car lights are constantly flashing. Francisco told me that the policia like to be noticed by the people. If the lights are always on, then how would one know if he or she was getting pulled over? Again, Francisco had an answer. He said that if a person were to be pulled over, the siren would sound. While out for a Puerto Rican evening, I noticed that people congregate outside of the bars, while consuming their beverages. The policia are continually driving around the crowded bar areas (like Bar Code and Bumpers) and the Puerto Ricans are not concerned. In the states, if the police swarm a bar or local hang out area, the people scatter immediately, for fear of being caught using a fake I.D or being publicly intoxicated. People in Puerto Rico are not bothered by the policia, and continue about their evening; while the policia continue their rounds. I have observed that the Puerto Rican policia are visible to actually protect the citizens instead of trying to catch them in an illegal act and issue a ticket.

Ponce, Puerto Rico is a fascinating location that offers a wide variety of activities and historical museums.

Picture 2: Bumpers night club in Ponce, Puerto Rico.