Worst American-controlled territory left off of the worst state poll

just booked a week in the usvi tbh

Just got back from Puerto Rico. I was struck how much it reminded me of Albania, with beautiful beaches but crumbling buildings. Very surreal to see, say, a nice hotel next to empty lot next to a building with boarded up windows and trees growing through the roof, etc, almost as if a hurricane hit years ago and no one bothered to rebuild (which I suppose may have been the case where we largely were). Also, I saw lots of bombed out cars with missing windows and no wheels, plus lots of places referenced in guide books - parks, museums, restaurants - mysteriously closed, shut down or otherwise derelict. Apparently if PR was a state, it would be poorer than Mississippi.

I should also stress that there were plenty of well-maintained/modern/historic/interesting things to see and do, too. Just surprised by the dilapidated low-points.