The Rainforest

​El Junque Rain Forest

 

   It was a perfect day today to visit El Yunque again. The day was warm with what felt like 99% humidity.  The sky was sunny so we took a quarter mile stroll down a graveled trail into the thick vegetation. Bananas hung from large leafed banana trees. 

   The rainforest offers many varieties of plants   They grow fast and thrive in this ideal climate. There was little wildlife to see; a few small birds and a snail near the trail.

   We grabbed our favorite cab and grandma driver. Her name is Luc, pronounced, “Loose”. She has taken us several places, saying, “I give you good deal”.  Perhaps she does but she makes a lot of money off of us!  We use her quite often in place of UBER.  But it’s still cheaper and less stressful than renting a car and driving in this traffic..   Luc took us to El  Yunque, which means, “the anvil”. I’m not sure why it means that. I guess I always thought it should have meant “the Rainforest “. I guess not. 

   It’s interesting that the first time we visited the Park, my National Park pass got us in for no fee at all. Today, they charged us $4 each WITH my pass to enter. I asked the Ranger lady at the information counter inside the visitor’s center why we were charged a fee. She said it helps pay for the amenities inside the Park. I asked what amenities. She said the use of the restaurant, the facility and the informational video that describes the rainforest. I said, “So we are required to use these amenities.”  She said, “No” but they are here to use if we want.”  I told her that all other National Parks do not charge me an entrance fee with my Pass. She says they, “can charge for amenities…it says so in the small print”.   I said, “Sneaky”. She shook her head. 

   El Junqye does have a very nice visitor Center. It’s well done and well taken care of. There is much to do inside the Park. There are numerous waterfalls, an observation tower and many hiking trails. There is camping, backpacking, swimming and hiking. There are no dangerous animals to worry about. If one can contend with the frequent rainfalls, mosquitoes, heat and humidity, you can have many great  adventures.  

   We stayed a couple of hours. At 11:30 our taxi driver, Luc, returned to pick us up at the entrance gate, as that is as far as she is allowed to drive. We walked up the hill the short distance and met her. As we drove out, Luc said, “I want show you somting if is okay”.  I said it was. Down the road a short distance she pulled into a small opening in a fence and onto a Plantain farm that friends of hers own. There were 5 or 6 men gathered around as we got out of the car and approached. The old timer of the group was the owner who had been there for 47 years. The others were workers and family   members. This, after all, was a family business. Walking ahead, we passed by pieces of cultivated parcels of land where Plantain plants of various plantings were growing. Some of the plants were barely 18” high While others were more than 7 feet or higher. I asked one man about the age of the tall ones. He said about 7 months. We were very surprised they were that young!  It’s amazing how fast these plants grow. Those about 2 feet tall were only 2 months old!  

   They make a living selling both baby plants and the Plantain Bananas to grocery stores and restaurants “for a good price”. 

   I asked if the smaller Plantain Bananas were as good to eat as regular bananas. He told me that after they turn yellow they are extremely good and very tasty. That’s also when the restaurants mash them up and fry them with various meets and served at all 3 meals. 

   While we were standing there, a tropical rain came down hard and heavy. Probably typical of rainforest rain. It was heavy and we ducked into a tin roofed shelter. Next to us was a very large Guava tree they say is 100 years old. There was also a Passion fruit tree which we sampled. It was tart but delicious. 

   Stopping here and learning a little about banana farming was a serendipity. 

   On down the road, in Rio Grande, we stopped off at a bakery to bring home some tasty sweets and our lunch of pork and rice.

   This evening we paid a next door neighbor lady to prepare dinner for us. It was very good. It was rice and beans with a shredded chicken salad.   Muy buena !!