So the next morning we were up, late again 🙂 but off soon enough.

Our next stop was the only Tropical Rain forest in the US.

After getting a little lost on the way, we arrived at the visitor’s center of the El Yunque National Rainforest.

Me, observing the Canopy. I remember 6th grade science.
Also a word on my hat. We bought it on the second day in Old San Juan after I had sun stroke (not really). It cost $18 after tax. It was one of the cheaper hats in the store. I wore it to the beach and it fell in the water. Then totally lost it’s shape.

You can see down to the ocean from the top of the visitors center.

We did some learning about the Rainforest.

Then we made a quick stop in the gift shop. I tried to buy this PR parrot. Karl wouldn’t let me. It was $20. What is this, Disneyland??

We learned about the Ko-Kee. The little frogs that sing ko kee! They are every where. It was here I made the realization that the “bird” I thought was keeping me up all night for the past couple of nights was actually a tiny little frog.

Flora

There was bamboo everywhere. The ride into the rainforest was reminiscent of the Alpine loop. Narrow roads, going up, with people stopping all along the way to try and take pictures.

We nursed Mirah in the car before we headed up, so by the time we got to our first stop, she was zonked out.

Gettin ready for the hike.

Our first stop, La Coca falls.

We found this GIGANTIC leaf. Mirah really liked it.


There were all kids of people there. There was even this weird photo shoot going on.

Karl and Mirah decided not to go to far in.

Our family.

We walked across the street to see what the river looked like.


Jungle.

Next stop!

Up, Up, Up a spiral stair case.

To the top!




There was tagging everywhere we went. This tower was no exception. Carved into the fort in old town, on bathroom walls and all the way out here. People needed to write their names.

Family picture!


More views.

Then walking down.

The little gift shop at the bottom of the tower.

Looking up it felt like it was dark.

Next stop:

We walked up this trail, and you could hear the Kokee singing!

Looking down.

It started raining, in the rain forest!!!

El Banjo Grande.

Across the road were the trails for the little falls.

We found one of the huge snails that we read about in the visitors center.

Also, we found out there was a rabid mongoose, on the loose!

We stopped, in the rainforest for $18 worth on Pinchos.
Yes, Karl loves those Pinchos. He even paid the perimium price of three dollars a piece!

Coming down from the mountain!

We had no way of knowing how nuts people are here about their elections! This was our first taste of what was to come. People ringing bells and yelling. Honking horns (which is a big deal and you should never do except in this situation) waving flags.

oh yeah, and I guy riding a horse, up the wrong side of the freeway. 

Karl went out for Pizza and we ate in the room while little Mirah slept  We were able to find a red box so we watched Women in Black. It was really scary.