The journey through the town of Puerto Plata passes by the Atlantic Ocean, the city congestion where motorcycle taxis are hauling up to 4 people on the back of the bike, the factories (I think I see a rum factory) and continues up into the hills. We pass by small villages, each with roadside food stands until we reach our destination: Yasika (like Jessica but with a Y) and boy, is it remote. Is it crazy that we just paid to jump off of a wooden platform?
After receiving brief instructions, I put on the leather gloves 4 sizes too big…with a HUGE hole in them. I tell myself I can do this. Thousands if not millions of other brave souls have done this. My husband, step-kids, myself and two sisters from New York are in this together. Halfway through the first zip line, I feel myself start to relax, maybe even enjoying it. Oh yeah, definitely enjoying it. I feel like a kid again. I feel free. It’s like nothing I have ever experienced. Wind whips through my hair as I fly by the tops of the trees. It’s like a dream, all until I realize that I am nearing the end of the line and I am desperately trying to remember how to apply the brakes.
The tour guide’s eye grow bigger as I near the end…which is where he is standing. My survival instincts kick in (like I’m in the outback in Australia, right?) and I have an ace landing. Whew, that was close! When can I go again? 7 more zip lines to go and I am already wondering if they will let us do the whole thing again. “Steven Spielberg”, our videographer lost his shoe on one of the lines. I’m glad I don’t have to go down there and get it! There were wild horses and cows down there. In my limited Spanish, I tell him the horse ate his shoe. I know, I’m funny, right?
They all laughed…probably more so at me and not my joke. But later, when a helicopter flies over and my husband asks if it is a military helicopter, one of the tour guides turns to me to try to translate. Hmm, maybe my Spanish is better than I thought… As we wrap up our adventure, I’m sad that it is over. They provided us with a huge platter of fresh native fruits and incredible memories.
I am a professional. Don’t try this at home.
