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Following our traditional tourist hotel breakfast, we left a full duffel bag and carry-on bag in the office.
Out guide, Weny, met us at 9:00 and we piled into a three-wheeled motorcar and headed into the city center to find an ATM. Since the ATM dispersed only 50's and 100's and we needed smaller currency for purchases in the small villages upriver, we went inside the bank where the armed guard made Weny and Dave remove their hats.
With our cash in hand, we flagged down a motorcar and headed back to the B&B. This was at least a 15-minute ride with three lanes of motorcycles and motorcars all in one lane -- pretty exciting! We didn't see a single moving car! The motorcar ride was 3 soles (just over a dollar).
Within minutes we, along with Lauren, were on a 30-foot, shallow hull boat flying at a pretty good clip up the Amazon! It is not an exaggeration that sections are almost a mile wide. We can't imagine 3000 miles down river when it empties into the Atlantic.
After about an hour we split from the Amazon up the Rio Tahuayo. We only made one stop
at the tiny village of Tamshiyacu. We took a few pictures of locals; a 10-year old boy fishing and a spirited game of Casino (card game) by four men on a porch in front of the general store. We watched for a good 15 minutes and didn't pick up a clue how the game was played! Also from the porch we saw at least six grey dolphins.
We arrived at Amazonia Expedition's Tahuayo Lodge at approximately 12:30. We were greeted by staff and Daniel, the host of the dining room, who offered us a welcome drink. Our room, No. 16, was twice the size of most of the thatched roof homes we passed along the river. It must be 30' x 30' with a king bed, two single beds and two hammocks. Like all the buildings at the lodge, it is closed in with screens and built on stilts. There is a large dining room, kitchen, hammock room and wi-fi area. The computer/wi-fi room is used by guests and the many research teams who come here.
Our first adventure was a shallow-hulled canoe trip from the lodge to the flooded nearby jungle. Since we are here at the
end of the rainy season and the end of the snow melt from the Andes, the rivers are flooded. What is now six feet of water, in a month will be hiking trails. This is normal for this time if year. The flow crested several weeks ago about two feet higher.
After a very short (maybe 10 minutes) canoe ride, Weny read the clouds and headed back. As we stepped off the canoe, the skies opened up. Our planned night canoe trip also had to be called off because of continual rain. It didn't stop until almost midnight.
Everyone was called to dinner by a drum -- this is the call for all meals. We met the other six guests (who we had not already met) that were staying at the lodge; two women traveling together from Tampa and a family of four, a boy eight and a girl six. They are in the last weeks of what sounds like an incredible around the world one-&year trip. They tell wonderful stories of their adventures and the kids can talk nonstop about the great time they have had.
Each night after dinner we meet with our guide to
plan the next day's adventure...
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