Conquering El Yunque: Our Journey from Falls to Victories en la Jungla
The lush green mountains of El Yunque in Puerto Rico were beckoning us, as my partner and I embarked on a new adventure. It was our first-time explorando this beautiful landscape, and we were excited to see what it had in store for us.
The night before our hike, we were hit by a heavy rainstorm, and it left the trails muddy and slippery. Our hearts sank as we realized that this might make our journey more difficult than we had anticipated. However, we refused to let this dampen our spirits, and we decided to push ahead regardless.
As we began our hike, we were immediately struck by the breathtaking views that surrounded us. The rolling hills, the vibrant greenery, and the cascading waterfalls made us feel like we were in paradise. We were grateful for our guide who gave us a brief history of the area and the importance of preserving the natural beauty of this rainforest. Fun fact: this is the only rainforest located in the United States.
However, the terrain was much more challenging than we had anticipated, and the muddy trails made it difficult to maintain our balance. We fell several times, and the mud clung to our clothes and shoes, making the hike even more challenging. Thankfully our guide advised our group to leave our phones in the van.
Despite the constant falling, we refused to give up. We were determined to conquer this challenge and do the whole guided tour. We kept pushing forward together, inch by inch, and even when we stumbled, we picked ourselves back up and continued.
As we climbed higher, the view became even more breathtaking. The misty clouds hovered above us, and the chirping of birds echoed in the distance. We were surrounded by nature in all its glory, and it made us feel alive.
Just when we thought we had conquered the toughest part of the hike, we faced a new challenge. The rocks were wet and slippery, and the steep incline made it almost impossible to maintain our balance. We could hear the sound of rushing water in the distance, and we knew that a waterfall was just around the corner.
We knew that the only way to reach the waterfall was to navigate through the slippery rocks, and it was a daunting task. ¡Que espantoso! However, our guide was incredibly supportive and gave us the confidence we needed to keep moving forward.
As we made our way toward the waterfall, we slipped and fell a few more times. The mud was now mixed with water, making it even more difficult to maintain our balance as our shoes kept sinking in. But we refused to give up.
Finally, we reached the waterfall, and it was an awe-inspiring sight. The water was crystal clear, and it cascaded down the rocks, creating a serene pool at the bottom. We took a moment to catch our breath and marvel at the beauty of this natural wonder.
As we sat by the waterfall, we reflected on the journey we had undertaken. We faced numerous challenges and obstacles, but we never gave up. We kept pushing forward, and with the help of our guide, we were able to conquer this challenge.
We may have lost a toenail, and our clothes were drenched in mud and water, but we had gained something much more valuable. We had gained the confidence to take on any challenge that came our way, and we had strengthened our relationship with each other. Being an overweight couple, we also took great pride we completed the entire tour but got us thinking of doing more hikes, potentially losing weight, and returning to see how different our experience can be.
Nevertheless, this brought us closer together, and we learned the true meaning of resilience and determination. It was an epic story of overcoming challenges and never giving up, and it was a journey that we would never forget.
As we made our way back down the mountain, we were exhausted, but we were also exhilarated. We had accomplished something that we had never thought was possible, and it had made us stronger, both physically and mentally.
Off we traveled back to our Hotel to get ready and go out for some well-deserved Mofongo!
