The story commences :-
So Juayua is a nice enough town - and the people are lovely but if I'm being brutally honest there isn't really enough going on here for me. I think this is partly due to the elections which are taking place today, and has meant a 48 hour ban on sale or consumption of Alcohol.I'd heard the food festival here was a huge party, it turned out to be pretty quiet. Anyway we thought we'd go for a walk to some nearby waterfalls today, and then make our way towards Nicaragua on Monday. The place we are staying at ( Hotel Anuhuac) organises tours. Simples. We spoke to Cesar who runs the hotel ( and speaks perfect English) and I explained that I was scared of heights so we just wanted a walk to some of the falls - not to jump 60metres into some. I was really, really clear about this.
Curious then this morning to see our very lovely local guide putting rope into his backpack.
Anyway off we go with Carlos - the fabulous four. The sun was out, the locals were as ever smiley and welcoming. We meet up with our other guides - two beautiful dogs at Carlos's house and we begin descending. It was another crimes against fashion day - as I will NEVER purchase any of those travelling trousers that unzip into shorts ( practical, but way too far on the butch lesbian scale for my liking) - I was sporting walking shoes, socks and a pair of shorts which being honest looked a lot better on me in my 20's. Expecting to perhaps get a bit wet I'd got my waterproof bag, bikini and shit loads of water. I was well prepared for a nice stroll.
The terrain starts to get more challenging - and was definitely off piste. The ledges started getting narrower, the sheer drops deeper, much grabbing onto trees was happening and a lot of ' oh my *ucking god' was going on in my head. So much so I decided to try and ask Carlos quite how much more challenging things were going to get - I got a smile and the word poco. Ah great just a little more then. Cool.
He neglected to mention the absail down a 30metre waterfall with just a rope to cling onto and no safety net. Or the two hours of scrambling over boulders and wading through thigh high water. Still the genius of a man had got me to do it, and he was lovely and helped as much as he could. Outwardly I smiled. Inwardly I was upset. I did actually cry at the bottom of the repelling ( is that what you call it) - but I don't think anyone saw - and brave face went back on shortly afterwards.
The thing with extreme sports is that I just don't get it. Never have. Never will. I don't feel the need to throw myself out of a plane, or off a mountain. I don't want to climb into a ravine, or go canyoning. That's not to say I don't like adventure or like being outdoors. Quite the opposite. I just don't need to feel my heart pounding with the rush of adrenaline. I'm more stroll than roll.
Anyway the day picked up - the final waterfalls we got to ( which are a nice cruisey 15 minute walk from town) were beautiful. I swam. I spent about 20 mins looking right up into the water falling down on my face. Natures hydrotherapy pool was absolutely brilliant. Stunning.
I just wouldn't want to scale down the other bloody waterfall ever again
My pants may be radical, I am most definitely not
X
Me neither! Definitely one of those 'once in a lifetime' activities. Your brave face was very convincing - serious respect for all you did today xx
ReplyDelete