Chasing Waterfalls

by Kirsty Sutherland (United Kingdom (Great Britain))

A leap into the unknown Martinique

There is something you should know about Les Cascades de Didier. Till this day, the two waterfalls remain a popular site to visit in Martinique. The trail is loved by locals and tourists alike. However, it is banned from public access. On your arrival, you will see the words 'INTERDIT' which is French for forbidden, scrawled across different signs. Those signs did not stop us. Naomi, Magdalena and I jumped in a car, started its engine and in less than 30 minutes we had left Schoelcher and our University campus behind. On that Saturday morning, we didn't let the rain disrupt our plans, we had an adventure in mind, we decided to greet those signs. Is this what it means to be a thrill-seeker? I questioned once we had arrived. I did not know how much of a life-changing experience I was about to have. We started to walk along the trail. It was muddier than I had anticipated and in the first 10 minutes, the blue shorts that I bought from a market back in Fort-De-France were ruined. I told myself that the views and the memories would be worth it. After some time had passed, we reached a grotty dark tunnel. There were no lights so the darkness surrounds you. All we could hear was the faint whispers of other rule-breakers making their way towards us also providing the tiniest dot of light. This tunnel was formerly used by slaves to transport water and other resources they would gather from the river. We had to walk on top of these humongous pipes covered in moss, trying not to slip. As we walked I imagined how those people must have felt walking this same route but as the enslaved. My freedom to walk this trail for a thrill suddenly meant so much more. Another 10 minutes had passed and we were out the other side. Once there, it wasn’t long till we reached the first little waterfall. I looked at it unknowingly. This was the waterfall I would talk about in days, months and years to come. Naomi positioned herself with our possessions, the camera in her hand. Magdalena and I were preparing ourselves for what we were about to do. The water gushed at our feet ferociously. She went first. Magdalena's blonde ponytail had leapt its way into the whites and blues of the river below. A crowd had formed below us and the eyes of children and adults were on me. It was my turn. It felt like an eternity as I slowly crept closer and closer to the edge of the waterfall. Just as I was stabilising myself to supply the springy boost I needed, my feet failed me. Whoosh. It was quick, it was thrilling and all I heard was crashing water and screams. The next thing I saw was white. At this point, the time had stood still. The water completely covered me and I wondered when I would see the river again. To my relief, it wasn’t as deep as I thought it would be. I did a frantic scramble, colliding with Magdalena at the same time then we finally reached the safety zone. My audience looked away and continued their walks. We met up with Naomi and watched what she recorded, half crying, half laughing at what had just unfolded. However, there was no time to wait. We wanted to see the huge waterfall and return home before it got dark. Eventually, we made it to La Grande Cascade (the big waterfall), and what a sight it was. We might have been cold, wet and shivering, but the waterfall quickly lifted our spirits. As we watched it in awe, the satisfaction kicked in. We had done it. Our smiles stretched the length of our journey back to Schoelcher as the sunset on our backs. As we drove, I reflected on the beauty and richness I had encountered in Martinique. It was shown not only through its nature and culture but the people too. I learnt that I shouldn't almost die by trying to live but if I must, I should do it with similarly adventurous and trustworthy people.