Getting Started

Today is the third day of February and I'm wearing a bright orange shirt. The color helps me cope with the gloom induced by the winter weather. I'm travelling next week to San Juan, Puerto Rico as a more direct remedy. Having never travelled before, I'm feeling a bit anxious. To help ease that anxiety, I'm trying to learn as much as possible about the place. I'll be travelling with four friends and we'll be rooming at a home that sleeps seven. I built a miniature of the home based on photographs from the Airbnb listing.

I obtained two field guides to take along. The first is Reef Creature Identification by Paul Humann and the other is The Amphibians and Reptiles of Puerto Rico by Juan Rivero. 

Tropical islands typically have a limited number of plant and animal species owing to their isolation. On the other hand, rainforests are known for their abundant biodiversity. The sea around the island is graced with coral reefs, which are often called the 'rainforests of the seas." So, I'm unsure what to expect.

While there are no guarantees, I do have a short list of plants and animals I'd like to encounter: tree ferns, wild orchids, mosses, coqui, Iguanas and sea turtles.

I'm particularly interested in the sea turtles. The waters around the island are frequented by greens and leatherbacks. Both species nest on Puerto Rico's beaches and the green sea turtle is commonly seen grazing on sea grass. To see these animals, I'll have to go snorkeling, which I've never tried before. The Airbnb host says that there's snorkeling equipment available for guests to use.  

This is also whale season in the Caribbean. They're usually observed off the west coast of the island. It's uncertain if I'll get to that side of the island, but I'm hopeful. 

I made reservations to visit El Yunque National Rainforest. This is where I hope to see the tree ferns that haven't changed much since the Cretaceous Period. 

Mammals are rare on most islands. Other than humans, Puerto Rico is home to seventeen different mammals. Eleven of them are bats.

Distressingly, Puerto Rico even has its own species of tarantula.