Day 2: Meeting the Amazon

Well, I crashed the app trying to upload too many pictures. 😂
Today began with my first jungle-uber/tuk-tuk ride. I was very glad I wasn’t driving! It is truly an art form. I was dropped off at the tourist launch site where I met my guide for the next couple of days. He started by showing us some of the local fare, specifically the palm tree worms. While I happily pet the wriggling one he presented to us, there was no way I was eating one, grilled or not. I did give the little girl in my group the courage to touch it, so I felt successful.
We climbed on our fabulous blue boat and headed up river. You could clearly see where the dark, tannin rich river we started in met the latte brown Amazon (which you can clearly see on the map of my route). Our first stop was for an indigenous performance. They welcomed us by painting our faces in a traditional manner with red dye from a spiky fruit. They sang and then “taught us” to dance with them. It was joyful and beautiful, but as you can imagine, I just wanted to be back on the boat.
Our next stop was to feed piranhas and caiman and the fish I had for dinner last night. I soon realized we were not really going to be looking for dolphins in the way that I had imagined. 😂 But it was a gorgeous day on and around the Amazon River, so I soaked up the wonder.
Next we headed for the lodge and the rest of my group slept while I reveled in my time on the water. We had a delicious lunch and then some down time. I decided to explore the elevated walkway from the lodge into the jungle. It was only about 6 ft high but had no railings, and if you know me, you know I’m easily distracted and excitable. So I really had to focus on not falling off! But I took my binoculars and my Merlin app which identifies bird songs and spent some time soaking up the sights and sounds of nature. And I didn’t fall off.
The afternoon took us to an animal rescue center where they rehabilitate animals from the black market and pet trade. We also tasted the local “medicinal” alcohols. My favorite happened to be the pink one that lowers cholesterol, which is just what the doctor ordered. 😂 We got drenched in a downpour, saw a prehistoric turtle, monkeys, and a capiberi, and headed back up river as the sun began to set.
I’m looking forward to spending time looking closely tomorrow…
What small things can I find growing? How many birds can I identify? And of course, will I maybe see a pink river dolphin??? What do you want to know???
I’m falling asleep under a mosquito net to the sound of rain and frogs and insects… a tropical lullaby. xoRead more