We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open. – Jawaharial Nehru
Monday, March 12, 2012 (DAY 8)
Standing in an unfinished room of the Hotel Acropolis that is without walls, a roof, or any safety precautions from the three-story drop below, we agree to a full day excursion with Rudy, which is the only way he would depart our presence annoyingly enough. The morning begins with an absent breakfast that is promised the day before, and at 7:30am Rudy already has an irritable van of passengers. Easily enough, we enjoy breakfast burritos on the other side of the river, complete with homemade tortillas made right in front of us from the street cart of a tiny two-person operation.
Standing in an unfinished room of the Hotel Acropolis that is without walls, a roof, or any safety precautions from the three-story drop below, we agree to a full day excursion with Rudy, which is the only way he would depart our presence annoyingly enough. The morning begins with an absent breakfast that is promised the day before, and at 7:30am Rudy already has an irritable van of passengers. Easily enough, we enjoy breakfast burritos on the other side of the river, complete with homemade tortillas made right in front of us from the street cart of a tiny two-person operation.
90 minutes later, over the roughest roads we have experienced yet, we pile out of the cargo van and begin walking through the lush dense jungle down a trail with a series of steps that lead to the opening of the jaw-dropping Rio Frio Cave. If a caves had mouths, this one was wide open, enticing its prey to enter as a river flowed from the bottom and various rock formations clung from the ceiling. Once inside, a harsh dogleg to the right allows you to see daylight from the backside of the cave. The middle has a constant source of flowing water with small drop-offs and an uncanny little sandy beach at the elbow of the formation. Skipping carefully across the water to the rocks on the opposite side, we are lead to almost every possible foothold that could be touched within the walls before disappearing through the back and reentering the dense jungle.
90 minutes later, over the roughest roads we have experienced yet, we pile out of the cargo van and begin walking through the lush dense jungle down a trail with a series of steps that lead to the opening of the jaw-dropping Rio Frio Cave. If a caves had mouths, this one was wide open, enticing its prey to enter as a river flowed from the bottom and various rock formations clung from the ceiling. Once inside, a harsh dogleg to the right allows you to see daylight from the backside of the cave. The middle has a constant source of flowing water with small drop-offs and an uncanny little sandy beach at the elbow of the formation. Skipping carefully across the water to the rocks on the opposite side, we are lead to almost every possible foothold that could be touched within the walls before disappearing through the back and reentering the dense jungle.
We are guided through an hour-long hike, the immense humidity begins to rise with the heat of the day where shade is only felt between the larger leaves that cool the jungle floor. Exhausted and slightly dehydrated upon reaching the entrance to the Twin Cave, which is far less impressive at first glance, and then we realize we would be venturing 125 feet below the surface of the earth, in utter darkness. One by one, we begin walking, crawling, and eventually squeezing through crevices between rocks until our sense of direction is discombobulated. At one point we humorously ask if any of us know the way back out if something were to happen. I’m sure this comment came with a small amount of truth, and a small amount of fear. Winding back to a familiar formation, any tension of wandering around in the dark for countless days is brought with a sigh of relief. Emerging back into the daylight, covered in mud, dirt, and massive amounts of bat droppings, it is time to cool off in the Rio Pools.
We are guided through an hour-long hike, the immense humidity begins to rise with the heat of the day where shade is only felt between the larger leaves that cool the jungle floor. Exhausted and slightly dehydrated upon reaching the entrance to the Twin Cave, which is far less impressive at first glance, and then we realize we would be venturing 125 feet below the surface of the earth, in utter darkness. One by one, we begin walking, crawling, and eventually squeezing through crevices between rocks until our sense of direction is discombobulated. At one point we humorously ask if any of us know the way back out if something were to happen. I’m sure this comment came with a small amount of truth, and a small amount of fear. Winding back to a familiar formation, any tension of wandering around in the dark for countless days is brought with a sigh of relief. Emerging back into the daylight, covered in mud, dirt, and massive amounts of bat droppings, it is time to cool off in the Rio Pools.
Climbing back into the dreaded van for another session of four-wheeling among so-called roads, we eat our packed sandwiches carefully since we have the droppings of possibly disease-filled bats all over our hands. This, however, does not stop Char from eating everything with her hands, including licking her fingers on a dare, which horrifies us and sparks a mixture of shouts and laughter as we bounce down the dusty dirt road.
The resurgence of ham and cheese sandwiches gives us the energy we need for a nice cool swim among a series of large rocks that poke above the waterline, where a gushing waterfall is the central focus of this swimming hole. After feeling the enormous pressure of gallons upon gallons of water rushing over your body by the second, we are once again told to follow Rudy downstream. Jumping from one rock to another, the waterfall behind us grows smaller and smaller in the distance, and the view in front of us becomes more and more beautiful. Large hills covered in blankets of green foliage with continuous channels of water snaking its way between the various rocks past narrow waterfalls with steep drop-offs, the river continues beyond the point of where we stop in awe of the scenery around us. Rock jumping and swimming our way back upstream, we are on our way to the last stop of the afternoon, Big Rock Falls, certainly the most impressive of the two swimming locations.
The resurgence of ham and cheese sandwiches gives us the energy we need for a nice cool swim among a series of large rocks that poke above the waterline, where a gushing waterfall is the central focus of this swimming hole. After feeling the enormous pressure of gallons upon gallons of water rushing over your body by the second, we are once again told to follow Rudy downstream. Jumping from one rock to another, the waterfall behind us grows smaller and smaller in the distance, and the view in front of us becomes more and more beautiful. Large hills covered in blankets of green foliage with continuous channels of water snaking its way between the various rocks past narrow waterfalls with steep drop-offs, the river continues beyond the point of where we stop in awe of the scenery around us. Rock jumping and swimming our way back upstream, we are on our way to the last stop of the afternoon, Big Rock Falls, certainly the most impressive of the two swimming locations.
Sadly, we are unable to make it to the coveted Five Sisters Falls due to a private wedding, but this is still an impressive spot. Exchanging my flip-flops for hiking shoes, we begin the steep descent to the canyon floor below. Every step brings us closer to the rocks below and with it the sound of gushing water powerfully pouring into the pools below. Without hesitation, Kelly, Tim, Char, and myself begin quickly hopping from one rock to the other towards this incredible site. Our first jump into the pool is only about 8 feet in height. This leads to a very short swim towards the source of these misty falls. Placing our bare feet on the damp rocks that are constantly covered in water from the airborne condensation of the water, traction is a bit of a challenge, as Kelly slips with both legs in the air and falls directly on his back. Mortified, we come carefully rushing over to his aid, and before we could get to him he is already on his feet. Assuring us that the sound was much worse than the actual impact we are all relieved, and begin our climb to the jumping point above. Tim is the first to make the leap, as onlookers begin to take notice and more attention is drawn to the now three of us standing atop the rock peering down at the waters below. Not wanting to be embarrassed by hesitating out of fear from the height, and telling myself this journey is also about overcoming fears, I jump, falling thirty feet as I am swallowed by the waters below. Surfacing for air, the mist of the water is now all around me, I feel incredible–full of life, and know that this feeling is part of this exciting journey as I swim towards the rocks along the edge. I can’t help but stop and ponder what I would be doing on this Tuesday if I hadn't committed to living out this dream. I took a long deep breath, soaking in the moment and releasing a smile of week two of my new life. I hope that all of the readers that continue to follow my blog will realize that dreams are achievable and reachable once you can overcome the fears that are associated with change. The day was coming to a close, and despite realizing later that the cost should have been better negotiated, the $130 BZD ($65 US) was already paid and instead of pockets lined with more money, we now had memories that can never be taken from us.
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