Momentary Escape

I just had to post another waterfall picture after today's tour that included a trip to La Paz Waterfalls Gardens. There, we walked a trail that led through its aviary, serpentarium and a felines exhibition (I squealed when a jaguar rolled over and and then kept pawing at me through the glass). There was also a frog and butterfly garden where I witnessed a couple newly-fledged butterflies attempting to emerge from their cocoons. And only a few feet after that we found ourselves surrounded by hummingbirds zipping here, there and all around us only stopping for a brief second to feed and allow us a mesmerized glimpse (and endless attempts to take their photo). It felt like a fairy tale. Or at least that Shrek scene where Fiona sings with the unfortunate little blue bird.

But then the trail led us into the rain forest (and through the rain) and ended with breathtaking views of the La Paz waterfalls. It was there when, wet and surrounded by lush greenery and the roaring cascades just out of my reach, I completely forgot that I had this other life in NYC. I forgot that I had a job and about the concrete jungle that I lived in. I forgot about to-do lists and stress. It was a simultaneous connect/disconnect. I was just that taken by how much nature was around and how loudly it was calling out to me. So this city girl just stood there in semi-disbelief that places like these really do exist outside of dreams.