Padre Cocha on the Nanay River

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buenos dias Amigas,

I sure am havig a good time integrating into this amazing area! Wild jungle adn deep poverty side by side. Claire is a wonderful hostess and guide and her beautiful home is the palace of the village. While there is no running water, outhouse and shower stall out back, and electricity for only four hours at night, the place is very comfortable. I have a mosquito net on my bed but so far they are practically non existant. When we had a torrential downpour yesterday morning we lit a fire in the maloka pit and were quite comfortable. no chimney, teh smoke is good for de-bugging teh thatch roof and it is so high the smoke dowes not get trapped. my bed is comfy ad Claire keeps a thermos of hot water so i get to have my tea. you know how I am about tea.

My plans are changing , as i am told is the usual here. Ist not a problem though, just a matter of being flexible and letting new doors open up for me. After the two week retreat in Tarapoto starting on Tuesday, I will be traveling around meeting different folk. So glad this opportunity is here! Going with the flow and meeting some gret people. Kelly arrived yesterday in Iquitos yesterday. She just had oral surgery in Lima (where you can find excellent dental work inexpensively) and is recovering nicely. It was so fantastic to see her. Despite only being here a couple of days, a familiar face and her beautiful smile was a delight to see. I will be staying with her in Iquitos tonight. It is saturday night and the town should be hopping. this should be interesting.

It is not nearly as hot as I thought it would be here, thankfully. Humid though!! The rainstorm yesterday morning dumped no less than 6 inches of rain in a couple of hours. <it sounded so beautiful on the maloka. The entire village shuts down when it rains. The road to the port becomes impassable and it makes no sense to go anywhere. I loved it. Padre Cocha is across the Nanay river from Iquitos. there is a butterfly and animal santuary here I will visit tomorrow. <now it is off to the Belen market and meet more people. Clare is my guide today adn she sure knows her way aroud, having lived here for 7 years.

so much more to share....gotta go though

Love you all and so grateful to be here

Keep holding that good vibe for me, it is working! Robin

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Photos

Lima airport 4:30 am
At this point I am sitting waiting for a morning flight to Iquitos. <i have been up 24 hours with 4 more to go

Claire and I in mototaxi
A gazillion mototaxis rule the roads here. open air , fume filled transport

Boat taxi
the boat trip to Padre Cocha takes about twenty minutes and if the boat had ten people, only 1.5 soles (.40 cents).

On the warf
waiting for the boat to get enough people on it to cross the river. Hanging out with David, a boatman Claire is sweet on

Robin and the Nanay
i love you; from the boat dock

moto taxi at Padre Cocha
kids playing on their dads mototaxi until he gets a fare.

Store front talisman
they say the crocodile spirit protects the store and stops people form stealing. love it!

Catching a nap in transit
Padre Cocha Senoras traveling to Iquitos

On the bus
Getting to know the bus system. only 1 sole...