Puerto Rico Part II

The next day we were greeted by warm rays on the breakfast balcony, an epic selection of pancakes, fruit, and water's tumbling cocophanies at the foot of the garden (which was, in fact, the El Yunque rainforest). It was a very special spot in the only tropical rain forest in the United States National Forest System. Of course we had to explore, prance under the liquid barrages, simmer on the rocks, and marvel at the giant ferns, breadfruit trees and wild orchids.

 

 

 

 That afternoon, we drove around the town in the valley and caught the end of a baseball game. we were thoroughly out of place but everyone was very friendly towards us. Puerto Rican hospitality was especially proven that night when we visited the local bar near our accommodation for a quick drink. We stumbled into a local girl's (Frozen themed) 5th birthday party and everyone was there. It was fantastic and hilarious. We sipped drinks brought by the friendly drunk, Aby was in high demand with locals for a dance and we both shook a wobbly leg as the night matured. We left with birthday cake in a goody bag. Perfection.

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Puerto Rico: Part I

It seems apt that two adventurous souls should meet in such a transient, time pressured environment- a gateway to new pathways and a platform for millions to set off on an adventure of their own. Personally, I was ready for a complete change in my life having shackled myself to the lycra and shaved legs world *cough* for several sweaty years. I was tired of the small world tunnel vision two wheels was giving me and needed a tall glass of perspective punch. Weeks travelling, camping alone and seeing Haitian life certainly gave me that.

After a nerve-racking wait in San Juan airport, Aby arrived in Puerto Rico and we began our adventurous 'first date' (Aby, also nervous, admitted to hiding for over 15 minutes in the toilet, considering ways to get back on the plane to London). In the first few days in Puerto Rico we explored San Juan's nooks and crannies and spent absurd amounts of time and money breakfasting. Our favourite place by far was the Waffle-Era Tea Room in Old San Juan where they serve baked-to-order waffles and extremely good coffee. The place itself is quaint and we seated ourselves in a spot near an open door leading to a charming courtyard. The way they made coffee was a science with all sorts of tubes and pots involved and it was so sweet after nearly two months cold turkey.

 

An innocuous entrance to a lovely little place.

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The Beginning

One airport, two people, wildly different destinations - Helsinki and Haiti. Two hands on one book, several awkward minutes, a gate number forgotten. A dozen people in a queue, eleven digits read, written, remembered. Days spent thinking, nights spent dreaming.

Months spent drifting, countless hours sifting- through plans and possibilities and potential propositions.

A stopover on Ile a Vache.

I spent seven weeks in Haiti engaging my inner hippie with copious rice and bean consumption, bucket watering trees in a desert of deforestation, litter and unparalleled poverty. I did some travelling and camping in unusual places, a fair bit of walking, and more sweating than recommended.

                                                 Gorgeous walking on the Haitian coast.

                                               

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