I woke up at 6.30 today to get ready for my first hiking
trip on the island. I had a light breakfast of bread and marmalade and headed
out. I took a road near my house that led to the Island’s Botanical Garden.
Lots of cars passed by, some offered me a ride to which I politely declined. The
main road forked and I took the eastward path. It was narrower, about the width
of a minivan. I passed by a single biker going in the opposite direction. As I
walked I kept hearing rustling noises on both my sides. Once I caught sight of
the origin of the noise. It turned out to be a big spider the size of a small
grapefruit. I walked a little faster after that. I kept following the road,
which broke into uneven patches. There was cow dung everywhere. Cow poop is many
times worse than Canadian geese poop. For one, they are massive and easy to
step into. The fresh ones are the worst because they are soft and sticky. They
also smell awful. Thankfully I didn’t step in those. As I continued down the
road the rustling noises got louder. I took a closer look and saw brown lizards
with a red colouring around their throats. They were fast. As soon as I took a
step they darted into the nearest hole or crevice.
By the time I got to the entrance of the Botanical Garden I
felt so sweaty and tired. Seeing the gate was like seeing an oasis to me. I
entered into a well-shaded path with different flora and fauna lining the
sides. I snapped a few photos of indigenous flowers and continued by
exploration. At the end of the small path was an open hut. On a table there was
a grey cat that was lounging peacefully. I petted it but it didn’t seem too
pleased by my sight. Nearby was a young man on a tall ladder painting the roof
of the hut. I asked him where I can get water and he directed me to the back of
the house. There was a water cooler and a sink in which I washed my apple.
After some hydration. After thanking him, I slipped some coins into the
donation box and headed out to sit on a shaded bench and enjoy the view of the
sea.
Then I headed back. Which turned out to be the hardest part
of the hike. Firstly, I took a detour. A path that wound down steeply towards
the sea. It was longer than I expected, but at the end I was rewarded with a
view of the sea against the rocks and a nice strong breeze. I was on a wide
open plain that was dotted with rocks and cow turd. After snapping a few
photos, I headed back to the main road. I had to climb the steep hill to get
back to where I had been. After about ten minutes, I felt thoroughly exhausted.
Once I got to the main road I couldn’t stop to rest so I continued back the way
I came from. Secondly, it was almost ten and the sun was high in the sky and
shone without any deterrence. The heat beat down on me from all sides. I was so
hot and sweaty even my knees were sweating. I could just imagine my eyeliner
streaking down my face amidst rivers of sweat. Okay it wasn’t that bad. But I
felt really tired. I think it was the heat mostly that made it exhausting.
Finally, after what seemed like half a lifetime, I reached
home at eleven. Four hours of hiking in total. Tomorrow I will go up the volcano.
In the afternoon, I walked downtown. My ankles were burning
from the morning hike but I ignored it the best I could. To my disappointment
the store I was going to was closed so I headed to the school library instead,
to find a solution to my laptop’s woes. I spent a few hours googling an answer.
But nothing worked. In fact, whatever I did made it worse and more problems
arose. I felt so frustrated I could have cried. I couldn’t call Apple support
because I had no phone. At 5:30 the library closed so I left. But the study
hall was still open so I entered in hopes of continuing my search for a
solution. Inside I recognized the man from yesterday who I had met in the grocery
store. He looked really concentrated, with his books and papers spread out in a
semicircle around him on the table. He recognized me as well and I told him
about my problem. He said he used to be in computers and that he would know how
to help so I handed my laptop to him. He ended up reinstalling the system on my
laptop, which did the trick. We spent about an hour talking about school and
life on the island and about his family. He was super nice and generous with
his resources. I also learned that his wife has a blog that I’ve read! Which
was pretty cool because it was meeting someone in real life that I had read
about before. By the time we walked out of the study hall it was almost pitch
black outside. We said good-bye and I went home to a dinner of left-overs and
stale baguette (yum!). But the important thing is my internet finally worked!!!!
Tomorrow I plan on hiking up the volcano (also known as the
Quill). And at 10 there is to be a walking tour for the new students on the
island. Life is good.
Walking towards the Botanical Garden.
Seconds before they attacked me with their tongues.
Some weird big plant that has leaves that look like garden hoses!
I called her Bessie.
Cactus.
Still more ways to go!
View of the volcano from around the back of the base.
Stinky cows.
Lizard!
Finally I'm here!
He's not impressed with my sweaty state that I arrived in.
I woke up at 6.30 today to get ready for my first hiking
trip on the island. I had a light breakfast of bread and marmalade and headed
out. I took a road near my house that led to the Island’s Botanical Garden.
Lots of cars passed by, some offered me a ride to which I politely declined. The
main road forked and I took the eastward path. It was narrower, about the width
of a minivan. I passed by a single biker going in the opposite direction. As I
walked I kept hearing rustling noises on both my sides. Once I caught sight of
the origin of the noise. It turned out to be a big spider the size of a small
grapefruit. I walked a little faster after that. I kept following the road,
which broke into uneven patches. There was cow dung everywhere. Cow poop is many
times worse than Canadian geese poop. For one, they are massive and easy to
step into. The fresh ones are the worst because they are soft and sticky. They
also smell awful. Thankfully I didn’t step in those. As I continued down the
road the rustling noises got louder. I took a closer look and saw brown lizards
with a red colouring around their throats. They were fast. As soon as I took a
step they darted into the nearest hole or crevice.
By the time I got to the entrance of the Botanical Garden I
felt so sweaty and tired. Seeing the gate was like seeing an oasis to me. I
entered into a well-shaded path with different flora and fauna lining the
sides. I snapped a few photos of indigenous flowers and continued by
exploration. At the end of the small path was an open hut. On a table there was
a grey cat that was lounging peacefully. I petted it but it didn’t seem too
pleased by my sight. Nearby was a young man on a tall ladder painting the roof
of the hut. I asked him where I can get water and he directed me to the back of
the house. There was a water cooler and a sink in which I washed my apple.
After some hydration. After thanking him, I slipped some coins into the
donation box and headed out to sit on a shaded bench and enjoy the view of the
sea.
Then I headed back. Which turned out to be the hardest part
of the hike. Firstly, I took a detour. A path that wound down steeply towards
the sea. It was longer than I expected, but at the end I was rewarded with a
view of the sea against the rocks and a nice strong breeze. I was on a wide
open plain that was dotted with rocks and cow turd. After snapping a few
photos, I headed back to the main road. I had to climb the steep hill to get
back to where I had been. After about ten minutes, I felt thoroughly exhausted.
Once I got to the main road I couldn’t stop to rest so I continued back the way
I came from. Secondly, it was almost ten and the sun was high in the sky and
shone without any deterrence. The heat beat down on me from all sides. I was so
hot and sweaty even my knees were sweating. I could just imagine my eyeliner
streaking down my face amidst rivers of sweat. Okay it wasn’t that bad. But I
felt really tired. I think it was the heat mostly that made it exhausting.
Finally, after what seemed like half a lifetime, I reached
home at eleven. Four hours of hiking in total. Tomorrow I will go up the volcano.
In the afternoon, I walked downtown. My ankles were burning
from the morning hike but I ignored it the best I could. To my disappointment
the store I was going to was closed so I headed to the school library instead,
to find a solution to my laptop’s woes. I spent a few hours googling an answer.
But nothing worked. In fact, whatever I did made it worse and more problems
arose. I felt so frustrated I could have cried. I couldn’t call Apple support
because I had no phone. At 5:30 the library closed so I left. But the study
hall was still open so I entered in hopes of continuing my search for a
solution. Inside I recognized the man from yesterday who I had met in the grocery
store. He looked really concentrated, with his books and papers spread out in a
semicircle around him on the table. He recognized me as well and I told him
about my problem. He said he used to be in computers and that he would know how
to help so I handed my laptop to him. He ended up reinstalling the system on my
laptop, which did the trick. We spent about an hour talking about school and
life on the island and about his family. He was super nice and generous with
his resources. I also learned that his wife has a blog that I’ve read! Which
was pretty cool because it was meeting someone in real life that I had read
about before. By the time we walked out of the study hall it was almost pitch
black outside. We said good-bye and I went home to a dinner of left-overs and
stale baguette (yum!). But the important thing is my internet finally worked!!!!
Tomorrow I plan on hiking up the volcano (also known as the
Quill). And at 10 there is to be a walking tour for the new students on the
island. Life is good.
Walking towards the Botanical Garden.
Seconds before they attacked me with their tongues.
Some weird big plant that has leaves that look like garden hoses!
I called her Bessie.
Cactus.
Still more ways to go!
View of the volcano from around the back of the base.
Stinky cows.
Lizard!
Finally I'm here!
He's not impressed with my sweaty state that I arrived in.
