Hello, out there all you “Love Is In Da Bloggers” can I interest you in the monthly “Love Is In Da Blog” challenge? I’ve started it a couple of months ago and so far not many have found their way in. The idea is to have a bridge to the month-long challenge in February. Of course, it would have made more sense if I’d put the invitation at the end of this year’s “Love Is In Da Blog” challenge in February. Well, my mind doesn’t work like that 😉 .

The last two prompts were simply music prompts but this month we go poetry & music. The prompt I challenge you with is

“not mine/ no mia/mio – find a Spanish-language love song and/or write a Decima poem”

I think I might have used this poetry form before and am excited to try it again. Hopefully, there are some like-minded people out there too. Looking forward to hearing your music and read your poetry.

Here some suggestions on how you can take part. Please keep in mind that link-backs do not work on my blog as it is private now. You need to leave your link in the comments for us to be able to visit your post. Thanks.

“Love Is In Da Blog” Rules/suggestions

1. Join in! No matter where, when and with what. You missed the first day or month? Don’t worry. Just jump in when it suits you.
2. Send us the link! The ping-back option does not work as my blog is private, so please leave a link in the comments of the post with the prompt you take part with.
3. Tag your post either with “Love Is In Da Blog” or “LoIsInDaBl” or “Love Is In Da Blog 21” or #LoIsInDaBl21 or “#monthlyLoIsInDaBl21”. You can also use these as hashtags for Twitter and other Social Networks to give your post more exposure.
4. No matter which music the prompt favours you create with it whatever you please, and whatever length you please (no pun intended  ) as long as it is about “LOVE.”
5. I post the prompt posts for the February event in a list sometime in January so you can prepare. In February I repeat the prompts the day before they are due. For the monthly event, you will be surprised but you have a month to do your post so no preparation is necessary. 
6. If you like, use these pictures for your readers to find the posts:

Now my friends please go, create and have lots of fun. And if you feel like it come away with me to Puerto Rico 🙂

1.Introduction to Puerto Rico

Dear me, have I learned a lot since December 2019. Mostly that there are countries, islands and places that I thought were their own country but aren’t. That’s what happens when you do not prepare a challenge properly. But maybe I am not the only one who is curious to find out more about these places.

I assume my US-American readers know a little about Puerto Rico. I have heard about the place but mainly via the musical “Westside Story” and immigrant narratives to the US. Otherwise, I was rather ignorant. So, I was rather saddened to hear of the huge problems Puerto Rico faces. They are an overseas territory of the United States but do not have all the rights “normal” US citizens have. For example, their representative can’t vote for the president. I hope I got that right. I find the US election system rather puzzling. And I am from Germany…

Never mind that. Some funny law changes over the years meant that the country lost lots of money and to make ends meet even wrote in their constitution to save on medical care and education. Duh?!? Rich people from the US were invited to stay for basically no tax but teachers and doctors are getting sacked? Is that how it works there? Well, I might be wrong but that’s how some of the videos in my introduction playlist sounded like. Odd. Now the people of Puerto Rico are a little at odds with each other on how to treat that problem. Some want to be a “proper” US states others want full sovereignity because let’s face it: Their status is a pretty colonial affair and we thought that part of our history is over. Well, turns out it isn’t, we are just ignoring it pretty well.

Am I sarcastic? Probably. So let’s have a look into Puerto Rico. As always: I have no rights to the videos. Copyright lays with the creators and please forgive adverts in the videos. That’s how creators can be rewarded for their hard work and I feel they deserve it.

I apologize that this was more a political playlist. It seemed important to know about these things.

An Artist of Puerto Rico

Today, I would like to introduce you to Imna Arroyo a painter and print maker from Puerto Rico. Her work explores “Women’s Energy” and topics of Puerto Rico’s history of slavery. According to the Fitchburg Art Museum she “transforms violence, death, and grief into a meditation on strength and spirituality”. That is awesome in my books. I’ve found two wonderful videos by the Fitchburg Art Museum where she had an exibition in 2020. It is an interview between the artist and a curator of the museum. Arroyo was born in Puerto Rico but lives in the US. She emphasis the importance of her work as a conversation and exchange. Please find out more here:

If you like to dive a little deeper into her work, check out her page. But there are more creative and world-changing women from Puerto Rico.

3. A Climate Activist of Puerto Rico

Please meet Amira Odeh, a climate activist from Puerto Rico who started her campaigning by a fight to stop using bottled water in the early 2010s. You can read a little about her here and find out a little more in this video:

4. Food of Puerto Rico

The video I chose to bring you a peek into Puerto Rican food culture is fun and doesn’t show much of the problem of this country has to import 85% of their food and the according problems. But we heard about that in the introduction. So let’s have some fun with these guys.

Pssst. It’s not only about food. I love a Pina Colada…. 😉 but no alcohol for me anymore 😦

Looks like they can party in Puerto Rico despite all the problems. Or maybe because of?

5. A Poem About Puerto Rico

I think it speaks for itself…

That is why I chose it instead of introducing a Puerto Rican poet. But if you want to know some Puerto Rican writers and poets check out this post from Book Riot.

6. Mental Health in Puerto Rico

Short but poignant….

7. A Song For Puerto Rico

I mentioned Westside Story at the beginning of the post. Lin-Manuel Miranda created a wonderful song that takes part from the musical. The rest is mainly a mention of villages, towns and cities in Puerto Rico. The song was created to raise funds and help Puerto Rican’s after Storm Maria.

You want to add a music or travel post of yours? Please do so here at this Linky. Click on the image and the form pops up.

And where are we going next week?

Come Away With Me 2021 Musical Challenge Country for Monday, June 7th, 2021

I am taking a rather random route around the world, but sometimes it makes sense. Next week we venture to St. Christopher Island. Please find musicians from St. Kitts at NevisPages.

As for the suggestions to take part:

1. Join in! No matter where, when and with what. You missed the first year? Don’t worry. Just jump in when it suits you.
2. Send us the link! The ping-back option does not work because my blog is now private so please leave a link in the comments of the post on the day you take part. Or leave it at the “Come Away With Me 2021 FB page“
3. Tag your post either with ” Come Away With Me Musical Challenge”/ #CoAwWiMeMuCh” / “Come Away with Me 2021 Musical Challenge” o/“CoAwWiMe2021MuCh” / . You can also use these as hashtags for Twitter and other Social Networks to give your post more exposure. If you add #blog and #music with your hashtags it will get you more readers.
4. No matter which music or country the prompt favours you create with it whatever you please. This is supposed to be a fun challenge and no chore.
5. I post a prompt for the next week with every “Come Away With Me 2021 post” I write.
6. If you like, use this picture for your readers to find the posts.

Just one more thing before you go: The hospital that is treating me is fundraising for a dedicated breast cancer unit which would allow some same-day diagnosis and better premises for patients and staff.

Please, if you can spare a little money hop over to their Just Giving Page and give as little or much as you can. Or share the page on your social media. So far the campaign has raised about half the amount needed: £450.081 of £800,000 (May 2021).

Your support means a lot to me! Thank you very much.

Thanks, my dears, for staying with me until the end.

I appreciate your presence.

Please stay safe, stay kind and remember that you rock!