Random pics from Puerto Rico

We visited El Yunque, the semi-tropical rain forest in Puerto Rico that covers an expanse of 28,000 acres and is supposedly home to the world’s smallest orchid, so small that you need a microscope to spot it! Or so Peter, our tour guide said. In fact, this rain forest houses the rare Puerto Rican parrot, only 44 of which remain today. Sad to say, we didn’t see a single one… We did two small hikes in El Yunque. It was raining cats and dogs all the time (what do you expect in a tropical rain forest??!!!) and I didn’t even dare to take my camera out. I managed to take a few pictures near the Visitor’s centre.

In the forest, we found this waterfall and it was a highly popular picnic spot. Scores of families had come with picnic tables, lunches and hampers. I don’t know if a wet picnic is their idea of a great one but a wet hike is one that we are used to. Pinch and I have done many hikes in the monsoons in the Sahyadri range and now that I think about them, we were plain lucky that we didn’t break a limb doing Kalsubai, Rajmachi, Chanderi, etc. in the pouring rain with sneakers and jeans and a backpack.

Lastly, a random lamp post pic from Old San Juan. My free Flickr account has reached its limit and I need to get an upgrade.