On my last night of the trip I walked around Soper's Hole for a bit photographing the buildings which are all painted quintessentially caribbean.
Last photo I took on my trip. I already miss this place!
I snapped this photo with my cell phone on the way to the airport. At that time it was over 80 degrees in Puerto Rico, meaning I would be experiencing a temperature change of over 100 degrees this day. A most welcome, and motivating thought as I drove to the airport at 2am, with a long travel day ahead of me.
A thick layer of low clouds Somewhere between Atlanta and San Juan.
On our descent into Atlanta I witnessed an optical phenomenon known as a "brocken spectre" which is essentially a seemingly gigantic shadow cast upon the upper surfaces of clouds when an object passes between the sun and the clouds. This phenomenon is most often seen by climbers on high mountain ridges or from airplanes. Also, there is a very visible ring of color around the shadow known as a "glory" which is another optical phenomenon cause by backscattered light, which I don't fully understand, and won't attempt to describe here. Luckily I had my trusty cell phone with me to capture this cool little treat on an otherwise boring flight.
Finally the clouds broke as we cleared the mainland of the U.S. Looking down on the warm waters of the Atlantic made me antsy to get on the ground and into some warmer weather.
Looking down on San Juan, Puerto Rico as we began our descent. The mountains you can just make out in the distance is the El Yunque Rainforest, where I would be headed in just a few days.
About to land as we pass over the "Bridge of Flags" in San Juan.
The owner of our place in the rainforest told me about a treacherous hike through the rainforest that led to a beautiful waterfall. Our place was located far from the tourist part of the forest and I was intrigued by the idea of getting to see a part of the forest most people don't. Plus, I was told the hike was treacherous and demanding and that most people don't make it all the way to the waterfall, so I had to give it a try. I was sort of cynical about his description of this hike, but I realized he was right as soon as I stepped off the property. No trails in a hilly rainforest makes for an almost impossible hike. I think I fell more of the way than I actually walked! A few minutes into the hike, I was already covered in mud from head to toe.
Things grow large here.
Back to the airport in San Juan for a short flight to the British Virgin Islands.
Looking down at the island of Jost Van Dyke from the plane.