Yesterday after the monkey excitement, and about 25 minutes before we arrived at the Dracaena lodge, we sailed into the confluence of the Cuyabeno River and a nearby Laguna. Overhead flew two Blue and Gold Macaws, squawking loudly. "Okay," Lisa said, "I've just had my first 'I'm the luckiest girl alive' moment." Today, while paddling down the Cuyabeno River, I thought back to Lisa's comment yesterday and agreed. I am the luckiest person alive. We spent the first half of today paddling downstream in two canoes -- Lisa, Ami, Brenna and I in one, and Diego, Rod and Juliette in the other. Earlier Walter, our motorized canoe driver, while towing the two smaller canoes, had hauled and deposited us upriver so we could have a leisurely trip downstream. For the most part it was a quiet,
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