La Garita is a photograph by Sandra Pena de Ortiz which was uploaded on January 27th, 2013.
Title
La Garita
Artist
Sandra Pena de Ortiz
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
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A photograph of one of the many "garitas" (or bartizans, guerites), overhanging, wall-mounted turret projecting from the walls of medieval fortifications in this case at the city of Old San Juan. These lookout posts lining the walls and posts of the city of Old San Juan. The Atlantic Ocean can be seen from behind, the soft thin clouds on a blue sky. The black cable seen on the left is an electrical cable carrying electric currents to populations living just outside the wall: an indelible reminder of the passage of time. "El Viejo San Juan" (Old San Juan) is a nearly 500 years old city built by the Spaniards, during the times Spanish colonization of the Island of Puerto Rico. Thus, the city is full Spanish colonial history blended with contemporary Puerto Rican culture. Old San Juan City was completed walled in 1650, but minor work continued until 1678. Today, the city is known as "La Ciudad Amurallada" (the walled city) and is one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean and is the second oldest European-founded city in the Americas: founded in 1521 by Juan Ponce de Leon. The garita is Puerto Rico's official symbol and appears on just about everything official.The city walls of Old San Juan in Puerto Rico are dotted with "garitas", small, circular sentry posts or boxes. The garitas provided protection for guards who watched over the city. Their long, narrow openings made it difficult for enemy gunfire to hit the targets inside. Actually, the posts are so short and compact that they can usually only accommodate soldiers no more than 5 feet tall. The garita has become a national symbol to Puerto Rico. There must be so many hidden histories, stories in time that we will never know within the walls and inner room of the garitas. Stories such as a guard watching inside his post while also lovingly remembering his fiance or lover.
Uploaded
January 27th, 2013
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Comments (25)
Ivete Basso
Beautiful shot and composition, Sandra. V/F. Thanks for your Congrats on my photo '"Paris View" publish by National Geographic.
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