My Day as a Tourist.

This past weekend I did a little social experiment. I wanted to know if people here would treat me differently if I were a tourist. I was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and I grew up in a small town in Cidra. It is up in the mountines, not very close to the metropolitan area and certainly not a place many tourist venture out too. Though it is a very calm and beautiful place and part of me wishes that more people that come to Puerto Rico would get out of the city and see what else this island has to offer, but another part of me is glad that my little santuary up the mountines is not infested by tourist looking to pass the time. But anyway getting back my social experiment, I decited to go down to Old San Juan where all the cruise ships dock. I came in the morning, sat for a while and looked at the people getting of the ships. I found it amusing to wach them. Looking at this place for the fist time, a place that I have seen to many times to count. They must be impressed by the couble stone streets, the colorful buildings and the friendly faces welcoming them into restaurants and stores. I wonder, do they know that its all an illusion, do they know the pain behind those faces, living on minimum wage and having to depend on tips to survive. Do they know the blood spild on those couble stone streets. Do they know our history, do they know our pain, our culture or do they read the brosheres. The answer to that is pretty obvious, I dont even have to say it. But the truth is that they are not here to learn, they are here to enjoy, to make good memories, have stories to tell at thanksgiving and have content for their social media pages. The first place I went to was a bar, its a very popular bar and its always filled with people. I ordered a drink and eventually chatted up the bartender. I told him I was from New Jersey. He was very friendly guy and of course he told me about the happy hour. It didnt feel any different than going to a bar as local to be honest. I did feel different when I went to a restaurant with my cousin, who is actually from New Jersey. It was a roof top restaurant that specialses in "caribbean food". The menu had some typical puertorrican food and some not so typical puertoican food. I call it tourist friendly food, beacuse god knows that most gringos are not going to eat "morcilla". The waiters were extra friendly and more attentive, we even got a drink on the house. I can't blame them though, I would do the same if my salary was 4.25$ and having to be at the mercy of people generosity to make a good tip. When I went a to a store, the ladies at counter and tried to sell a lot of things to me and of course they were very nice to me. It was an interesting experience but one I wouldnt want to r