El Yunque

Sunday, the 30^th of January we headed to El Yunque Rainforest, but it was raining a lot, so we didn’t get to go on the hike we wanted to because we wanted to hike a trail that boasted a wonderful view, and the whole peak was veiled in a thick grey cloud, but we did hike the La Mina/Big Tree Trail (which is pretty much paved the whole way). The La Mina Falls trail was closed for construction, but we barreled past the orange tape barrier determined to hike somewhere to find the only maintenance/construction being done was to pour some more concrete on the trail. It was beautiful, and the whole time we were alongside a small creek that ran down huge, smoothed out boulders creating a series of tiny waterfalls that would swell with sound when the rain fell harder. When we arrived at La Mina Falls, a huge Waterfall lay before us with a huge bridge across it for viewing. Lots of kids and families were swimming in the pool just below the falls, and tons of tourists were there. I think they thought we worked for the Park since we were dressed in field clothes and hiking boots. We continued past the falls to the other half of the trail; Big Tree Trail. The Big Tree Trail to La Mina Falls was lined with tourists of all ages, and sizes; some were wearing fine Italian leather sandals, some had clear ponchos provided by their hotels and I even saw one woman warily wobbling down the wet and treacherous concrete donning a pair of heels! I think we maybe hiked about 2.5 miles both ways, but some of the tourists seemed out of breath and taken back by the “strenuous” activity. We rushed past a throng of sun-burned guys with beer guts, one who adamantly announced to his buddies “If I had known it was gonna rain I wouldn’t have come!” “Welcome to the Rainforest!” I shouted. One lady tapped her husband on the shoulder and said “honey, move aside for the professional hikers.” I was amused; I guess there are lots of people out there that seldom leave their couches, at least that day they were out and about in a beautiful rainforest.