Day 2: Belén Market

Today, at 9:00 AM, I set out with Jenn, Bhavna, and Amber to the Belén Market, a floating market during the wet season. Our tour guide, Kelwin took us in motor-taxis or “tuk tuks” to the market location. It was an extensive market with a variety of local foods, such as the Doncella catfish and the purple corn. Kelwin let us try the “jungle apple” called “mamay.” We also tried fresh honey with the hive from a local vendor. I bought handcrafted bracelets for my children and my “pink dolphin” earrings from local vendors. We visited the lower market where we took a boat out and saw the homes along the Itaya River. The people were out washing their clothes and fixing their latrines. People put their excrement into the river - yuck! 🤢

For lunch we went to the Fitzcarraldo and I got chaufa, a Chinese-Peruvian fusion of fried rice.

For dinner, we went to Las Terrazas at the SkyBar and got to meet with more of the ARIE folks. Argentina beat out Switzerland that evening in the World Cup.Read more