Today is #MarketFriday initiated by @dswigle (Denise, that's me!!) I hope you will join me as we share different markets across the globe. I always look forward to seeing what you send me! It is amazing to see so many different markets and different cultures.

Please leave the link to your post on here so it can easily be found by others. They are easier to find in one place. Where else can you take such a quick trip around the globe? Thank you so much!! ❤

Puerto Rico. That is where this adventure started. Thank you for walking through #MarketFriday with me today. It started out sunny, with a slight sea breeze, a perfect day in paradise. Some days, life is perfect… Some days, it is even better than that. I like walking the streets of Old San Juan. From the cobblestones streets, to the Fort surrounding the waterfront, still standing from days gone by. Relics of another time. The streets are one open Market or so it seems. A piece of sidewalk invites a Market of sorts.

San Juan was one of the first cities established by Spanish colonizers in the "New World." The streets were paved with blue cobblestones starting in 1784. The original cobblestones were made using iron slag, the waste from smelting iron, and were used as ballast in ships that came from Europe in the 1700's.

Most of the blue cobblestones have been replaced in an effort to make streets more evenly paved, but you can still see originals on Calle Cristo.source

Such a blended culture of history it owns. Nestled along the wall of the city, the tower offers a brilliant view as the sun dips low on the horizon, a natural canvas with breathtaking interplays of color. The old Fort surrounds the city, protecting her.

The cobblestone path leads you to a variety of interesting sights on the waterfront. The walls that once protected the city only adds to the romantic walk along the San Juan Bay. A museum of landmarks surrounds the city. Oh, beauty!

I have been to so many new places lately! I love to share and be shared with! I have always and forever liked to see different fruits and vegetables or products that are being sold. Perhaps I cannot get them here. So, yes! I would love to see yours! Don't forget to take photos wherever you happen to be shopping - whether it be the grocery store, the local marketplace or even an art gallery. Wherever money is exchanged for a service or for merchandise. Be different if you wish! It does not have to be a traditional market! We will love it! I promise you! Don't forget to use the hashtag #MarketFriday and @dswigle.

Weaving through the sea of umbrellas, there is food, fun and sometimes an animal or three. It is always a surprise what will be on the vendor's table. There were not specialty Markets, but rather, the everyday kind.

STOP!! BRAIN TEASER AHEAD!!

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If you have me, you want to share me. If you share me, you haven’t got me. What am I?

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Answer: A secret!!

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There were umbrellas and tables every place you walked in Old San Juan. In the parks, on the streets, on the sides of the roads. Nothing and nowhere was sacred. Put out your merchandise and people will buy. I'm serious. Especially if it says authentic, souvenier, or sale!

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Street food is part of the charm. There is food all around where people will gather, especially the bigger Markets or parks. Some of the food, I can smell for blocks before I see them!

I have seen animals of all sorts being sold on the streets of Puerto Rico. For the life of me, I cannot see how one can put these majestic beauties out without their regal feathers. I know that stress can play a part in their loss of front feathers, but, who knows?

The birds were incredible, but, these birds were definitely lacking in feathers. Were they sick or deficient in what they were eating? I don’t know, but, I didn’t want to hold it or see that little boy holding them. What if they were ill?

The rain came in drops, playing with the vendors. I can imagine how difficult without the benefit of a covering, playing with the weather would be no fun. The umbrellas keep the sun off, but, there isn’t so much protection from the rain.

Oh, yes!! It was torrential!

For all the rain that came, in buckets and torrents, it still was a pretty wonderful day. The sun came back again, drying the clothes on my back. How can you beat that? There should be forgiveness, no?

CUE THE MUSIC MAESTRO!

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I want to thank you for taking this trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico with me. I am still island hopping and so, will be gone for another week, so if I take a little longer to respond to your post, don't think I forgot you. I will answer them all! There were literally hundreds of other vendors hawking their goods, but, I am short on bandwidth and this is taking longer than intended, I will cut it off here! I appreciate your taking the time and energy to read the post and I hope that you have a most wonderful #MarketFriday! Steem on!!

¸.♥´¸.•♥¨) Let the sun shine in on your life
So the joy may touch your soul
(¸.•´♥ (¸.•´ ♥

A flower. There must always be a flower to color my world.

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Words have some degree of inadequacy
When I gaze upon your loveliness
You speak without saying a word
Or maybe a few, if perchance
There are whispers of the heart and love

My love, my love

How could I deny you
A last chance of the season
To make it all right
Once again

Today is the perfect day for a perfect day.

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Don't ever forget what wonderful world we live in, people. Let's hold hands around the globe and make this earth really spin. Some days, it is not as easy to see, so we must try harder to give everyone the proper focus.

Later that night
I held an atlas in my lap
Ran my fingers across the whole world
And whispered,
"Where does it hurt?"
It answered,

"Everywhere"
"Everywhere"
"Everywhere"

- Warsan Shire