Failed jungle expedition

For those who do not know yet, we flew to Iquitos, to see the Amzonian jungle. And, as the heading notes, it a failed one for me... In short - conclusion was that I do not like being eaten by moskitous, not having possibility of taking one or another kind of shower (or a swim) and on occasions being treated by the guide like a 20 year old ¨wannebe Tarzan (or Jane in my case)¨. Maybe its not a failed trip after all, since there is a lot to tell, but can say that if someone will try to get me back for a ¨nature¨trip into jungle, they can pack their bags while I will enjoy another peak of 3, 4 or more thousand meters.

The decision to come to Iquitos was made in Lima. After Trujillo we went to Lima to meet up with Karlis (my brother) friend Roberts. While thinking of going south or taking couple of days in Iquitos, the ticket price guess was decisive to come over here. So far, so good. Flight was excellent (with LAN), but then we started walking around to find a hotel. What we did not know, they have APEC summit (or one of group meeings) here, which means all the small but cheap hostels are booked. Eventually, we did find a place, and the first day was spent in the city and heading out to a laguna, where I did swim, and we also saw like a mini zoo with variety of local animals. So, the day was good. Hot, humid, but good.

Guess when making choice of the tours, we went for the cheapest one (sounded similar as slightly more expensive one) and the result was - some ¨untold¨ facts. We were reassured that there is a bathroom (toilet), but when we got there... well, there was a latrine, in the woods. Karlis took pictures, and when back in Lima will try to download it. Getting to that place was also in a small transport boat without life jackets. Not the best idea on the Amazona river for those like me who dont feel too safe swimming. Basically, one can also say - why did you go... But, we got to our camp. That was a family house, where we were given thier bedroom I think. House as well interesting, but that was ok part. People were nice as well, except what I did not like at all that when we were served dinner (meals included in the price) everybody was sitting around and looking how we eat... Ok, ok, we are tourists, but give some privacy - we were not staring how they eat.

Despite all the small not so nice facts, I however have to say that the day was ok. We went on Amazon river, then went walking through some coastal villages, went to a place where a guy kep some local animals for couple of months just for such purpose as us, before releasing them again and getting new ones... We also went by boat dolphin watvhing and saw some grey dolphins. And, we had some good food - fish and rice (for a change to chicken). So, in all we went to bed at 8 , and with some good-bad sleeping (mosquitos must have already been in the net when we got below it). And today, it was raining, so I just reconfirmed to myself that I have seen enough of the jungle and am heading back with public transport to Iquitos.

The first day here also was nice. We went to see lake Quistococha, with the small zoo. There I managed to swim! It was safer :) Except, the first moment was not at all refreshing - water must have had over 30 degrees - it was just too warm! had to swim further into the lake (not that far though) to get some refreshment.
The Quistochocha lake (laguna) was the place where we saw most of the animals, that in the jungle you just dont meet... they feel you before you even notice there could be anything. We saw the pink river dolphin which later in the river never showed up, x number of moneys - cappuchino brown monkey which tried to catch camera while Karlis was taking picture, cappuchino white fron monke which we later in the jungle trip got to hold and take pictures with (ugh, real tourists), others (dont recall the names), the caymans, crocodiles, turtles of different kind. So, if you want to see the animals before you go into jungle here (to recognise them in case some show up) take a trour there. Reccomended.

Well, with this, my Jungle tour will end. Maybe I will head tomorrow to see where Amazon river starts, but otherwise will fly tomorrow evening to Lima then Cuzco and the South.