Amazon River Basin

We spent a couple of days in the Amazon River Basin where we took a canoe ride up the river to our accommodations which were in a lovely eco lodge.

Here we all are in our canoe going up one of the tributaries of the Amazon River...

The river was very wide and fast moving..

Our first view of our lodge was impressive as we thought we would be saying in another basic accommodation but this was not the case...

We had wonderful meals, swims in the huge salt water pool and just enjoyed the sights and sounds of living in the jungle...

Both nights we were there the sky opened up with rain, thunder and lightening that went on for hours. As soon as the sun starting going down the jungle sounds were amazing, all types of critters making unique sounds that then joined into one amazing choir!

One day our local guide, Frankie, led the group on a nature hike but I was so sore from the last two days that I stay behind and enjoy the solitude. While I sat there butterflies of all sizes and colors were everywhere as well as really big bugs!

And beautiful flowers everywhere...

The highlight of the stay for me was a visit to a local community called Santa Barbara which is only accessible by canoe and was about 40 more minutes up the river.

We were accompanied by our local guide...

The river further upstream was faster and wilder...

Here we are arriving at the village...

Frankie showed us some traditional ways they hunt for food using traps...

Look at the size of that tree...

We also passed a typical village house with a straw roof...

Santa Barbara has around 120 residents, most of them children as they tend to have large families. There is no electricity or modern conveniences here.

We met the people of the village in their community meeting place and was introduced to the leader who told us that they have elections every two years for a council to run the affairs of the village.

He doesn't look that old, but he has 10 children!

He told us about life here where they grow most all of their own food and sell the excess at the market. They have no interest in bringing in electricity, satellite tv or internet here.

The children go to elementary school here taught half days by a local Quicha teacher who travels by boat to teach them. To attend high school they make the hour trip down the river by canoe every day to the nearest town.

Here is the school...

He then offered us their traditional drink which is made out of yucca, this drink when fermented also becomes their alcohol.

The drink was offered to us in a small ceramic dish that is also made in this region.

We were then treated to a traditional dance by the children of the visit. They were so in step and we really enjoyed it.

After the performance we were all invited to the dance...

                        Don was having a lot of fun!

Next we were invited to sample their traditional dishes with ingredients that they harvested themselves. It was interesting to say the least...

Grubs and hearts of palms baked in banana leaves

Frankie and I eating the grubs!

We all sampled what they had so graciously prepared for us.

They were very welcoming and lovely people...

They even taught us how to use the blow gun...

The children were beautiful...

          These two little guys were tending the fire.

I had a great chat with these three in my limited Spanish.They are 11 and 12 years old and very interested in knowing about me.

Before leaving we got an opportunity to look at their crafts...

A final picture and we said goodbye...

I felt it was a privilege to be able to visit this community with a lifestyle so different than our own. Again, another great experience!