La Ceiba – Day 2: Adventure in Pico Bonito
LA CEIBA
Day 2: Adventure in Pico Bonito
November 11, 2022
Being quite short on time, I decided to make my visit to Pico Bonito – La Ceiba’s national park located in El Porvenir – a day trip rather than an overnight stay, which is what most tourists tend to opt for.
The hostel staff hooked me up with Joel, a local tour guide, and once again, I was off on yet another adventure. While most people visiting the Cangrejal River go rafting and hiking around the main area, Joel told me he had something different in store for me – the El Bejuco Waterfall. Standing tall at approximately 90 metres, the waterfall is found down a steep rock face, making it one of the largest waterfalls in the region.
The road there kept me entertained throughout, with pineapple plantations lining the way up to the reserve and the mountain seemingly changing shape depending on the angle – pointy from the front and shaped like a hat from the side. Then we got to the El Pital – the trailhead. The hike itself was fairly standard – a tropical forest trail with a moderately steep incline, crossing a couple of bridges and wading through the river here and there. Nothing particularly noteworthy happened on the way up, other than Joel being the rate-determining step the entire time. That said, the waterfall at the top was absolutely worth it. The freshwater pool at its base rewarded us with a refreshing dip that had me feeling euphoric after the sweaty hike!
Unfortunately, Joel ruined the vibe with a series of inappropriate comments – talking about the size of his junk (TMI), how he once had a threesome with his girlfriend and her cousin (uh, what?), and that I’d be more than welcome to join in next time – if she gives the go ahead (what about mine?). The worst part? I have no idea how he segued into the conversation. I was talking about wildlife throughout the entire hike!
Scrubs, Stethoscopes and a Shiba Inu
Back in La Ceiba, Emma and Julia – the girls staying in my dorm – asked me to join them for dinner. Sadly, I had to turn them down. Happily, because I had a date with Gustavo – a hunky medical doctor I’d been chatting with on Tinder.
Given that La Ceiba’s roads aren’t exactly the safest at night, he picked me up in his white Benz – which, to be honest, was the least attractive thing about him. I swear I almost swooned the second I saw him. The man had a perfect face, a sculpted body, and he’s a doctor. Also, it turns out he’s well off, which I guess could be a bonus when considering a marriage proposal. Add to that the fact that he’s a great conversationalist, and I could already see our future together – me, him, our two kids and a shiba inu. And I never even wanted kids!
It felt so therapeutic to talk medicine with someone who actually gets it – someone who could share stories and listen to mine. I learned more about healthcare in Honduras and what being a doctor here actually entails. Having specialised as a GP, he underwent his training in San Pedro Sula and was currently working in his father’s practice. While he was finally in a good place it took a lot of hard work and dedication to get there. In fact, he told me all about the hoops and hurdles doctors here had to jump through. Apparently, it is commonplace for interns here to be thrown into the deep end with responsibilities European or American doctors wouldn’t even dare handle until at least a few years into their careers – like delivering babies solo, for example.
Talking medicine again was so, so good for the soul – sharing stories of success and tragedy, discussing treatment plans, debating the future of healthcare, and talking about our career goals. It felt just like the matutine, casual conversations I’d have with my colleagues back home. Man I missed that… And man I missed medicine.