Pilgrimage To Peru: DAYS 9 - 11 - Yvonne and Srs. Pauline, Gloria, and Maria

Wed. – Fri. Feb 27-Mar 1 – IQUITOS (pronounced EEKEETOSS)

We arrived at the airport nice and early so that we could all get checked in. Joan, Denis, Lucie & Charles heading off to Cuzco and Machu Picchu in the mountains and Sr. Pauline, Sr. Gloria, Sr. Maria and myself to Iquitos in the jungle. We will wait to hear about the Cuzco trip once they get back to Lima tomorrow. We will be leaving this evening for Lima and staying overnight and picking up everyone tomorrow morning.

We have some free time this morning (Friday), with just some walking around the town and window shopping!

As we flew out of Lima you could see how the city sprawled in a huge bowl surrounding the Rimac River and surrounded by the foothills of the Andes Mountains. We soon left the starkness of the desert and when you could see through the clouds, everything was green below us with a long river snaking its way through the jungle. As we were close to landing you could see huge flooded areas as it is the rainy season here. Even the end of the runway was flooded! We were met by our driver and a tour guide and were informed that it had rained all night, but now it was hot and just a bit cloudy. We made our way to the airport and quickly sensed that this city of ½ million people was unique to itself, as every other city we have visited in Peru is. This city has its own smell, its own feel. The little motokars here are unique to themselves and are known as the “Iquitos Mosquitoes”. The sound of the street is different (motokars and motocycles roaring constantly). The buses are open with just a front and rear window! Visitors have indicated how surprised they were that not more scooters and motorcycles were in use in Lima and Chincha – well they are ALL in Iquitos!! Thousands of them are parked along the side of the streets (the seats covered with cardboard) and thousands whizz by on the street.

We were taken to our hotel and as we had not planned a tour today, the guide convinced us to go on one with him. We hopped into a couple of mosquitoes and headed thru town. We arrived at the crowded market near the wharf and made our way over a number of boards (partly covered with water) to a restaurant for lunch. Three rivers come together at Iquitos to form a huge lagoon or lake and then continue flowing as the Amazon. After lunch we hopped on to a boat that took us across the lake and down the Amazon to Fundo Pedrito – a privately owned ‘conservation area’. Here we saw piranha, alligators, turtles, paiche (a HUGE fresh water fish) all being fed by our guide. There were birds in the area and bats and the flora was wonderful with the huge Victoria lily pad and flower being our favourite. Back in the boat and on to another private ‘conservation area’ (apparently there are quite a few along the Amazon). Here we saw a brown wooly monkey, a toucan, two anacondas, a sloth and a ‘prehistoric’ turtle – we were allowed to handle all of these animals (except for the monkey, who would not let us come near him). It was pretty awesome! This family had suffered damage to some of their homes due to flooding and were in the process of rebuilding. It was getting pretty dark as we headed back to the wharf and our hotel and we enjoyed the quick sunset along the way.

The next day we were picked up at 9:30 by tour guides and whisked off to the same wharf area to take a boat across the lagoon again and down the Amazon. We were told that the river had risen 4 feet in the past week alone!! We let our hands skim thru the water and refreshed ourselves in the morning heat – 30+ degrees with a humid ex of probably 40+!! The lagoon has a lot of growth and branches, etc. floating in it, but the actual Amazon river is quite fast flowing and mostly clear of debris. We encountered other boats and we could see a few fishing canoes amongst the reeds. We passed by a refinery where large tankers were waiting to be loaded. Soon we arrived at the Amazonas Sinchicuy Lodge (you can spend a few nights here if you wish, but we had chosen to stay in Town). This is a very ‘woodsy’, ‘camping out’ type of place – electricity only for a couple of hours in the evening, but all other comforts available, but in an ‘adventurous’ way!!

After a delicious lunch we again got into the boat and went a short distance to a location where we could have walked to during the dry season. Here the Yaguar (pronounced Jaguar) tribe put on a demonstration for us of face painting, dart blowing, crafts and dance. This is their way of keeping their traditions alive. They actually live in their own village a short distance away, and live a simple life, as do most of these people who live along the Amazon. We all got to blow darts at a target and surprisingly enough most of us were very accurate! Then it was back on the boat to a village – Santa Maria del Ojel – to experience the art of sugar cane squeezing and making a fermented drink with lime juice in it. Then on to the house of the Shaman. This tradition is passed down thru the generations and still in practice. He told us about all the people he had helped in different ways and explained all about the plants and roots he uses. His favourite was his ‘follow me, follow me’ potion which he would make up for people who wanted to have someone fall in love with them, or to bring them good luck!! Again, these people live a simple life as a picture shows their home – no beds, just hammocks and not much other furniture.

The day is drawing to a close and we head back across the river and lagoon, thru the market area and back to our hotel. As we sit down to a light dinner at the hotel café, it starts to rain. Bubbles form on the small pool in the courtyard of the hotel as we enjoy some local dishes.

We arrived in Lima a little late on Friday, but Pedro was waiting for us and we drove to the Sisters’ apartment for an overnight stay. Yvonne