We survived the Amazon jungle, complete with tribal tattoos. Canopy walkway (the highest swinging rope bridge was 36.6m above ground and ....there were 14 of them!!) - had Sophie committing to a life changing moment.....possibly now she is on terra firma this decision will like all new year resolutions - forgotten by day 2.
Our flight to Iquitos was initally delayed. We were meant to leave for Iquitos at 5.45am on Tuesday but ended up leaving at 5.15pm on Tuesday ...so probably missed a day. Ended up going back to the hotel in Lima where we were able to catch up on several hours sleep.
We spent the Tuesday nite in a 5 star hotel in Iquitos - because we missed the boat to the Amazon. the opulance was quite vulgar compared to the surrounding poverty of the local people. In the morning we left at 4.45am - travelling by boat on the Amazon River (the captain had to keep opening the windscreen and putting a torch out the window to navigate). We were both a little worried. We then took a moto taxi (a motor bike with a rickshaw attached) over a small island and then another boat to the Napo River to Ceiba Tops (the resort where we stayed for Wed nite).
Wildlife sightings included: saddle back monkeys (small and cute, charlie the worlds largest rat (the size of a medium dog), dennis the cutest little 7 month old ant eater, blue and pink dolphins, various toads and frogs, tarantula,condor farm animals - water buffalo, cows, chooks (with long legs - imagine the drum sticks).
We also watched a sharman concoct various potions - including one similar to viagra (for both men and women)- which apparently explains why families here are large.
Sophie learnt a Yaguan (Indian tribe) dance. Struan was a wall flower (ie. papparzi).
Struan negotiated a handicraft bag to Sl 5 (5 soles) and ended up paying Sl 15. Work out that one!!
Met a very nice younger American couple from LA (of course they worked in Hollywood in the movies - (We thought the guy was related to Ben Affleck). Laura (his girlfriend) had purchased the trip to Peru as a present and had a full face of makeup - in the Amazon rain and all. We also met another guy from South Africa (Mark) who was very patient with us on the canopy walkway when we were walking very gingerly.
Pleased to hear the Maroons one the state of origin. Make sure someone let us know the results of the third game by the blog or text.
