The colorful letters spelling out P-R-O-G-R-E-S-O on the malecon didn’t last long.
The buzz on social media is that vandals took away most of the letterforms. But city officials say that the letters were taken away legitimately, for maintenance. It was not clear how letters installed less than a month ago already need maintenance.
The installation was inaugurated with great fanfare on July 22.
Parks and boardwalks all over the country have been installing similar letters, which tourists appear to enjoy posing with for photos. The Plaza Grande in Mérida has a similar attraction.
