Photos: Revisiting Puerto Rico a year after Hurricane Maria

Atlanta Restaurants & Food

Photos: Revisiting Puerto Rico a year after Hurricane Maria

AJC food editor Ligaya Figueras returned to the site of her honeymoon 20 years ago to find some very big changes.

A postcard that AJC dining editor Ligaya Figueras found among the debris at Caribe Playa, a parador on the southwest coast of Puerto Rico that was destroyed by Hurricane Maria last year. Photo credit: Ligaya Figueras

The dining room at 1919 Restaurant in the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico provides a breathtaking view of the ocean. Photo credit: Condado Vanderbilt Hotel.

A view of Caribe Playa post-Hurricane Maria. AJC dining editor Ligaya Figueras and her husband stayed at the parador during their honeymoon in 1995. The coastal inn has been shuttered since the storm ravaged Puerto Rico last September. It was the strongest storm to hit the U.S. territory in 85 years. Photo credit: Ligaya Figueras

Juan Jose "JJ" Cuevas is the executive chef of the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico. As a result of Hurricane Maria, Cuevas has seen numerous farmers on the island plant fast-growing crops not found in traditional Puerto Rican cuisine. It has proved to be a boon to the menu at the hotel's farm-to-table 1919 Restaurant. Photo credit: Condado Vanderbilt Hotel.

Chinchorro culture is alive and well in Puerto Rico. Chinchorros are casual eateries and shacks that dot roadways on the coast and in the mountains. Pictured is one of many chinchorros that can be found on Carretera 187 near Lo za on the northeastern coast of the island. Photo credit: Ligaya Figueras

A view of the ocean from the luxury Condado Vanderbilt Hotel in San Juan. Photo credit: Ligaya Figueras

The exterior of the historic Hotel B lgica in Ponce, a Colonial city on the southern central coast of Puerto Rico. The hotel, founded in 1872, is located next to the town square. Photo credit: Hotel B lgica

The exterior of the historic Hotel B lgica in Ponce, a Colonial city on the southern central coast of Puerto Rico. The hotel, founded in 1872, is located next to the town square. Photo credit: Hotel B lgica

The exterior of the historic Hotel B lgica in Ponce, a Colonial city on the southern central coast of Puerto Rico. The hotel, founded in 1872, is located next to the town square. Photo credit: Hotel B lgica

The lobby of the Hotel B lgica. Photo credit: Hotel B lgica

The lobby of the Hotel B lgica. Photo credit: Hotel B lgica

A room with a balcony view at the Hotel B lgica in Ponce. Photo credit: Hotel B lgica

A room with a balcony view at the Hotel B lgica in Ponce. Photo credit: Hotel B lgica

AJC dining editor Ligaya Figueras with her husband at Parador MaunaCaribe in Maunabo. The couple honeymooned on the island in 1995 and returned in August when they became empty nesters. Photo credit: Tita Alejandro/CONTRIBUTED.

AJC dining editor Ligaya Figueras with her husband on their honeymoon at Caribe Playa in 1995. Ligaya Figueras/CONTRIBUTED

The pool at the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Photo credit: Condado Vanderbilt Hotel.

The pristine pool at Parador MaunaCaribe in Maunabo offers a dramatic view of the ocean on Puerto Rico's southeastern coast. Photo credit: Ligaya Figueras

The pristine pool at Parador MaunaCaribe in Maunabo offers a dramatic view of the ocean on Puerto Rico's southeastern coast. Photo Credit: Parador MaunaCaribe

The pristine pool at Parador MaunaCaribe in Maunabo offers a dramatic view of the ocean on Puerto Rico's southeastern coast. Photo Credit: Parador MaunaCaribe

A mural in Ponce. The inscription reads: Waiting for the return of progress in times of setback. Photo credit: Ligaya Figueras

Pastries at Panader a Espa a, a bakery in San Juan. Photo credit: Ligaya Figueras

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A postcard that AJC dining editor Ligaya Figueras found among the debris at Caribe Playa, a parador on the southwest coast of Puerto Rico that was destroyed by Hurricane Maria last year. Photo credit: Ligaya Figueras

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