PERU
Amazon Region
The thatched boat which took us a few miles down the River Amazon from Iquitos was a delight. The toilet and outboard motor were at the back. The river was about a quarter of a mile wide here, 2000 miles from its mouth at the sea. (Drawing Pen)
Explorama Lodge was our destination, a short walk from the river through the rainforest. The lodge was in a clearing. The who;e place was built of wood and it stood on poles about ten feet above the ground. There were no windows, just gaps in the walls. At night the jungle noises were very near and very loud. (Drawing Pen)
These two indigenous animals wandered the lodge grounds as a precaution against other wild creatures. They were quite tame. In fact, the capybara sat on my wife's feet at one meal in the dining area. (Drawing Pen)
A jungle walk ended at a clearing where several grass-skirted locals were waiting. They produced blowpipes and demonstrated their accuracy by targeting a cigarette packet nailed to a tree. (Drawing Pen)
We had a go with the blowpipes but were well off target. The locals again showed us how it should have been done. Later, as we walked back to the lodge the heavens opened and we were soaked. Incidentally, we met the grass skirted men again along the path. Now they had changed to ns and T-shirts. (Drawing Pen)
Parrots sitting on a bamboo pole near the lodge walkway enjoying the daily tropical rainstorm. (Ink)
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