Source:
Today is Flag Day. That's for my fellow citizens in USA. While here in Puerto Rico, the Caribbean Island that many of those citizens forgot or simply ignore, everyone is excited for good or bad, because the US President, for which we do not vote, decided to make a short visit. I am sure you all know that we Puerto Ricans LOVE visits. We are more than friendly. We give everything to make visitors feel welcomed. And for the president, hello! You don't expect any less. We spared no expense.
So Mr. Obama let clear that he will only be here for 4 hours. What!? There's a lot to do in so little time. The government paved roads, painted the Governor house under pouring rain, hid the homeless, changed the old traffic signs and of course they were skeptical that any of the protestors against the US Government, or the political status or the political prisoners, or whatever may be seeing close the President.
Air space was close 25 minutes in advance and the main avenue that goes from the airport to the Fortaleza had strict security forces. Mr. Obama arrived to the Island and my first thought was, of course, about his clothes selection.
Hey Mr. we are in a Caribbean Island, we live here and even we can't bear the weather. Is HOT as hell and HUMID. Bad mix. So Me, was thinking, what if an important guy like you, comes to an official event like this, in shorts and t-shirt? Only then will we, mere mortals, would be capable of have a decent dress code.
Then I saw that Obamita, took of his suit, enrolled his sleeves and proceed to talk. It was very informal. He mention singer Marc Anthony, athlete José Juan Barea, 101 year old veteran Juan Castillo and he even mentioned that we Puerto Ricans are as Americans as rice and beans and apple pie.
Here, comes me, again: Dude, I know I am American, I am as American as any Canadian, Peruvian or Argentinian. We all live in a continent named America, that's pretty clear to me
I told my friend MariaE, with this heat this guy will be at 1 pm in shorts and with a Barea Jersey.
The message finished and Mr. President proceed to Old San Juan. There were hundreds of people waiting to see him. Oh we are so folkloric! There were hundreds of protestors too. All waiting down the burning sun.
Once in the Fortaleza, Mr. Obama was greeted with some excellent music from the youth Symphony Orchestra who played En mi Viejo San Juan and Cumbanchero
And a group of people pro-independence where there to raise their voice. Hey, even my idol Silverio Pérez, were reading a letter sent to Mr. Obama demanding clemency to Oscar López, a political prisoner.
Source:
And then the unexpected occurs. The one and only Mr. President, was invited by the PPD Candidate, Alejandro García Padilla(the opposition)to have some lunch in a local cafeteria. The funny thing is that Mr Obama had a fundraising lunch at 35,000 per plate scheduled and he decided to first eat in this cafeteria, a fancy one, but still a cafeteria, located between the poorest and the highest class of this funky area called Santurce.
Source:
Immediately Kasalta became a Trending Topic on Twitter and EVERYONE was in shock to discover that the President of the United States were having lunch precisely where the majority of the Dominican immigrants live. The Governor must be blaming the mother of García Padilla, cause he surely knew how to became part of the center of attention in this media frenzy.
Obama ate a Medianoche, a sandwich made with ham, roasted pork, pickles, Swiss cheese, mustard and mayo between two slices of sweet yellow bread and went back to Caribbean Hilton Hotel were the high joyety of this country waited with their 35 thousand plate to have a picture with the US President.
The traffic was closed and by that I mean to tell you, LIVING HELL. We Puerto Ricans, do not like traffic, we don't care who is where, who had an accident, where is the flood, we simply don't handle well the traffic situation. So I guess Obama must have been mentioned in many cars followed by curses.
By 3:30 pm, Obama was leaving on the Air Force One, an hour before the plan. Suddenly, the news began to have the normal news in their websites. Someone killed someone, Car accident somewhere and the rain forecast.
I would LOVE to be part of the history and talk to Obamita, but I couldn't. Maybe one day I become famous enough to be invited to the White House. But the thing is, he came, we received him with open arms, we feed him and gave him money. But what will he give us in exchange? I'll be waiting Mr. President.
PS:Next time, go to La Viña and order a Pastrami, is way better and by far more cheap. Plus the owner is Puerto Rican
