Blogs from Amazon Rainforest, Iquitos, Loreto, Peru, South America - page 4

Rosencrantz: "We're on a boat." Guildenstern: "I know." Rosencrantz: "Do you think Death could possibly be a boat?" Guildenstern: "No, no, no. Death is not. Death isn't. Take my meaning? Death is the ultimate negative. Not being. You can't not be on a boat." Rosencrantz: "I've frequently not been on boats." Guildenstern: "No, no. What you've been is not on boats." Rosencrantz: "I wish I was dead. I could jump over the side. That'll put a spoke in their wheel!" Guildenstern: "Unless they're counting on it." Rosencrantz: "I shall remain on board. That'll put a spoke in their wheel!" Tom Stoppard - Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead Human Cargo With Iquitos behind, the Cabo Pantoja cruises up the river into the night. I stand at the front of the top deck and lean over the railing ... read more

"Tienen linternas?" asks the girl. "Unh?" I reply, rubbing the dry mucus of sleep from my left eye. It's 8:30 in the morning. I don't speak proper Spanish until a full hour of morning consciousness has elapsed. A cup of coffee helps, too. "You have flashlights?" the girl repeats in English. This is Magaly - a girl we have seen working back and forth between here - the tour agency office - and the hotel. I think back to Colca Canyon where Ross, Anna, and I contemplated climbing the wall of a canyon without the assistance of artificial light in the wee hours of the morning. "I've been lucky without one so far." I look at Luis. "Do you have one?" "Nope." "Nope," I say to Magaly. "Well, you're going to need them. There is ... read more

We have spent more time in Iquitos than any other place so far on our travels. It was certainly the most interesting and beautiful of all the towns that lie along the Amazon; including the Brazilian leg. The reason though, is because we did our first trip into the rainforest. After traveling nearly 4000km down the river we never actually went into the rainforest that surrounds it! After arriving in Iquitos we could tell we were in a completely different country and we were also nearly back on the gringo trail! We were surrounded the second we got off the boat by mototaxi drivers (motorbikes with extra seats on the back) begging for our custom. Iquitos wealth was due to the rubber boom, but that industry is all but dead and now they rely on tourists ... read more

OK. First weekend in Iquitos, we all get a long holiday. I didn't ask any questions. Friday, myself, Stephy and Stephy's friend Gilberto got a moto-taxi to Quiste Cocha - (for everyone I know on the Avalon Peninsula, the Salmonear Nature Park of the Jungle...with a beach). It was kinda heart-breaking the whole time to see leopards and pumas and magnificent birds all in cages, but I was told this was the best-kept zoo in the whole area... I was more interested in Gilberto's side notes about monkeys and random insect nests, such as: - the topical healing effects of a larvae nest that settles close to the edge of the water (think of a cocoon, but sky blue, and texture chaluky). On a more disappointing note, I couldn't resist the urge to be a tacky ... read more

Hola! This is my first ever attempt of a blog. So bear with me. So far, I love Peru. My first experience was with Lima, and because of that, I could easily forgive the fog, the drizzle, the cold and the bustle of big cities I am generally uncomfortable with. However, the language isolation and the dislike of the bustle of the big re-entered...and the dreadful flu I contracted made my last four days kinda rotten. But then....ILEFTANDCAMETOIQUITOS! This city is awesome. Although still a busy city, it's motos instead of cars, and there's sun, and it's along a lovely river called the "Amazon", and the people in this mighty jungle are absolutely lovely. So...why am I here? - follow the money: Money form CIDA (for international interns) is given to the Atlantic Council International Cooperation ... read more