Waterfall

While we were in La Manzanilla we were lucky enough to meet a rather unusual couple who told us about several great places to go and interesting things to see.  We called them M & M because both of their names started with M, Mateo and Maria.  He was a surfer and she a public health nurse working on a project there.  They thought that we might enjoy the hike to the waterfall and gave us some very vague directions out of town.  


We left Casa Porter (where we were staying) and headed through the town square.  Very soon it became clear that we needed better directions.  So we turned to Sigfrid (aka Kenny).  


Sigfrid (a big perfectly bald German man)  and his wonderful, equally big Mexican wife own a restaurant in La Manzanilla called Kenny's.  At Kenny's you can also get your hair cut for 40 pesos, a straight razor shave and many other salon type treatments.  Ron just couldn't help himself and went for a Christmas Eve haircut.

Every morning Sigfrid records a morning announcement about the restaurant specials of the day and a truck with loud speakers on it's roof drives around town blasting it for about an hour.  It's wonderful to hear Sigfrid in his heavy German accent saying, 
"Good Morning La Manzanilla it's Wednesday and today is Posole day at Kenny's.  You must try this wonderful traditional Mexican dish, for only 45 pesos.  That's at Kenny's restaurant." 
He sounds just like a cruise ship captain making the morning announcements.


We had Christmas Eve dinner at Kenny's.  It was served in 4 courses, a beautiful green salad, then potato soup with chirozo and homemade French croissants, then a plate full of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables.  Dessert was a choice of German apple pie ala mode, flan or chocolate cake.  It was delicious and perfect on Christmas Eve!  


While we were sitting at our table on the street, a pair of little angels dressed in homemade costumes with tinsel hallows came hurrying by with their mom.  They crossed the square and hurried into the church.  (Different country, tiny little town, same holiday tradition.)    


Kenny seemed to know everything about La Manzanilla and he was happy to fill in the details about our hike.  He said to go up the road to the bridge, but not to go over it.  Instead, go under it and follow the dry riverbed.  Eventually, you will come to the jewels (crystal clear pools among the rocks)  keep following them and you will find the waterfall.  He did mention that it was the dry season and the water would be fairly low.


So off we went with Holly and Rally.  We walked for a while until we came to a barbwire fence across the riverbed, it was stretched out in one section and we could all squeeze through easily.  We walked quite a bit farther and came to another barbwire fence, this one was in good repair and there was no way to squeeze under or around.  It was getting hot, we hadn't seen any water yet and this seemed to me like a great place to turn around.  


But not so fast, Ron and Rory hollered into the pasture next to the river where a man was tending a herd of very large steer with long horns.  In their best broken Spanglish they asked him where the waterfall was.  He pointed to a barbwire gate that lead to a road, next to the fenced pasture is herd was in.   


We followed the road and it wound along and climbed uphill next to the river, after a little while we could see a tiny stream in the riverbed.  We almost turned around again, but the kids and the dogs were having so much fun, in search of the waterfall, we had to keep going.  After more hiking we came to a collection of clear pools amoung the rocks.  It was really pretty and we all waded in the cold water to cool off.  Holly waded right in and swam around the little pool snorting and spitting water.  Rally even ended up in the water.


There really wasn't a waterfall where we were sitting and that was not good enough for Rory.  He took Holly and Reilly and pressed on.  They found what they were looking for and soon we were all hiking up to a higher pool and an 8 - 10 foot waterfall.  It was truly beautiful.  The pool was maybe 20 feet in diameter and 12 -15 feet deep.  It was crystal clear and refreshingly cold.  We all swam.  The kids climbed up to the top of the waterfall and jumped in.  It was a magical place.  We had gone from dusty, dry, hot riverbed to lush, green, jungle.  The sun was right over head and shining into the pool at the bottom of the waterfall.


On the way back we walked through the stream and Regan spotted a treasure Rowan was thrilled with.  It was an armadillo shell along with skeleton and tail.  Rowan singlehandedly carried it all the way back.  It is a very cool treasure. 

The hike was certainly worth every step.  I'm so sorry I don't have pictures.  I hope it is something I won't soon forget.  The whole adventure is still so vivid in my mind I can almost still hear the waterfall.