07/17/10
Day Two
Our flight finally left at about 12:55 am. Rode in fancy LAN plane.
Pick and choose movie wise I picked Valentine's Day and watched it almost all the way through. Turned it off at about 2:00 AM.
Slept lightly, head on tray table.
Woke exhausted.
Plodded into Lima Airport, got passport stamped. Went to Lima-Iquitos flight (1:20 hours). Fell asleep for an hour. Woke a little before we touched down.
Iquitos is beautiful. I think so anyway. Or parts of it are.
Landed in a large grassy area. Fresh air at last!
Met Arecelly at Lima Airport and Megan at Iquitos. Put luggage into huge truck and got into a (it seemed) windowless van with wooden seats.
We also met our guides. One is Caesar, the other Dono(?). They're both native to the Amazon.
It was a blast. We came all too soon to our hotel. It's name is Victoria Regia. It means something, but I don't recall what. Supposedly the city of Iquitos was named for the tribe that used to live here, the Iquites.
On the way to the hotel, Caesar told us about the cars here. They're called Motokaros if I recall correctly. They're powered by a motorcycle, have 3 wheels, and look kinda like something you'd see at Balboa Park.
We were assigned roommates. Nicole and I, much to my pleasure, were put together, room 512, top of five floors.
There's a pool here in the center and the hotel gathers around like this: [. .]
There's also a bumpy elevator -- which Nicole loves. I can't blame her. It's quite fun.
We had lunch after that. Odd chicken and salad and 'licious juice. Pineapple?
After that we went out shopping. We talked through one of the biggest markets in Iquitos. There were both good and bad bits about it.
Good -- The Peruvians have a lot more style than we do. -- IMO of course. On the bad side, the farther we went the -- and I hate to use this word -- but it got filthier and filthier.
Flies, birds, dogs, and trash. The road got more rough as we went on. I was surprised to see how many children were working with their parents.
I saw jaguar skins, anaconda skins, and several girls saw turtle eggs.
Once we came out of this haunting market, we came to a stone wall, which looked out at the amazon: Beautiful flowers, trees, and a view of the floating village.
We also saw several boys playing soccer or sliding down hills on cardboard boxes.
After this, we went to an artisan's market, as they are called.
Found some beautiful handcrafted items (cheap too). A purse and necklace for me, a wrist band for James, earrings for Mom, and a backpack for Dad + postcards. I want to give Mom something else though.
Nicole says we'll shop in the village tomorrow.
We're back in the hotel. Nicole (and I) watched part of a Spanish Powerpuff Girls (Among other things).
Went out to dinner. Had 3 pieces of vegetarian pizza and (out of a choice between Incan Kola and this) coke. Melanie G and Caitlyn each (at my go ahead) took a piece of my pizza. Cassidy eyed mine as well as she waited for her Hawaiian one to appear. While I dug hungrily into mine.
A musician, playing what looked to be a small piano but having some sort of straw device to aid his playing, and after a bit, a guitarist joined him. They sounded fantastic. Some of the best music I've ever heard.
After three songs, they stopped.
When we were done with dinner, all of us went home.
Arecelly went over what she calls TEAM.
Tomorrow,
Expectations,
Acknowledgements,
My best moment.
We also went over what we're doing with the scouts tomorrow. In acknowledgements I recognized Arecelly, Joanne, and Megan. Here are some notes about my trip, Peru, and things in general.
Nicole says we'll shop in the village tomorrow.
We're back in the hotel. Nicole (and I) watched part of a Spanish Powerpuff Girls (Among other things).
Went out to dinner. Had 3 pieces of vegetarian pizza and (out of a choice between Incan Kola and this) coke. Melanie G and Caitlyn each (at my go ahead) took a piece of my pizza. Cassidy eyed mine as well as she waited for her Hawaiian one to appear. While I dug hungrily into mine.
A musician, playing what looked to be a small piano but having some sort of straw device to aid his playing, and after a bit, a guitarist joined him. They sounded fantastic. Some of the best music I've ever heard.
After three songs, they stopped.
When we were done with dinner, all of us went home.
Arecelly went over what she calls TEAM.
Tomorrow,
Expectations,
Acknowledgements,
My best moment.
We also went over what we're doing with the scouts tomorrow. In acknowledgements I recognized Arecelly, Joanne, and Megan. Here are some notes about my trip, Peru, and things in general.
- When you shower in Iquitos' shower (much to Nicole's surprise) CLOSE the curtain so no water gets out.
- Talked to Caitlyn about handwriting analysis.
- Peru (Iquitos) has no stoplights! Therefore why you're always nearly getting hit!
- In Iquitos most stores are either booth like or have no front wall.
- In Iquitos sales people are WAY too pushy. (One stalked Cassidy to our hotel -- and since they aren't allowed inside -- tried to sell through the window.)
- There are now two groups. Scarlet Macaws and Green Treefrogs. I'm in the latter with a lot of the friendly people. Megan and Caesar, (YAY!) but I wish they wouldn't split it. Cassidy said it's done by last name.
