Amazon-and-on-and-on...

We spent 3 days in the Amazon at Muyuna, a small eco-lodge (i.e. no electricity  - no fans, no lights, and definitely no air conditioning). We saw some animals and crazy plants, but, mostly, we sweated.

Entering the Amazon

Our lodge, Muyuna

The parade of animals begins...

Teeny, tiny frog

Sarah making friends with the natives

Piranha fishing

Thomas the Tank Engine knows no borders

Our guide with his trusty sidekick

Look, Mom, it's my old parakeet, Venus!

Can you find the frog?

Snack time!

Amazonian air conditioning!

Iquitos

No trek around South America would be complete without a trip to the Amazon. We chose to use Iquitos, Peru as our base because it's the most populous city in the world that cannot be reached by road. I'm fascinated by isolated places and how they develop their own culture. Iquitos did not disappoint in this area! And despite the intense heat and humidity, the views of the Amazon were incredible!

Scooters and motorcycles are the primary, if not sole, method of transportation for most people. 

They definitely push their scooters to the limit!

We spent our last day exploring Belen, the half market/half slum neighborhood of Iquitos 

built on top of an area that floods annually. The homes are designed to float 

during the floods and rest on land during the dry season. 

Amphibious chickens

Scary!

Caiman soup for lunch?

Views of Belen 

Views of the Amazon River

Cuenca

After the Galapagos, we had almost a week until we needed to be in Lima to catch our flight to the Amazon. We decided to visit our new friends, Boris and Carol, at their home in Cuenca.

The hostess with the mostest - Carol with Luis Alberto and Xavier Ignacio

Boris, eating the best pulled pork sandwich south of the Equator

Carol made us authentic Venezuelan arepas

Amazing sunset over Carol and Boris' house outside of Cuenca

Museo Banco Central - amazing indigenous cultures exhibit, including shrunken heads!

Cuenca is famous for its amazing historical buildings

Cuenca street food - bananas fried with cheese

Nat eating some street fruit with sour salt on it

Surprising fact - the "Panama hat" originated in Ecuador,

where it's called a Montecristo. Here's Nat modeling one