Jungle Heat

A thin film of sweat covers our bodies constantly. Our clothes soaked, the air is thick with odors unknown, sweet and not so sweet. The sounds of the jungle surround us like a tropical orchestra.

Welcome to the Amazon Jungle.

We departed the heights of Cusco for Puerto Muldonado arriving in the sultry tropical heat in, yup, midday. The kids began to wilt immediately, so after a quick Peru style Chinese dinner, we retired to our thankfully airconditioned room in the Hostal Cabana Quinta. We explored this town of 30,000 over the next 3 days tasting exotic jungle fruits, visiting the central market, and taking a tour of a rather large and quite fascinating butterfly research project. We then arranged a 4 day 3 night eco tour at the Posada Amazonas Lodge. No sooner had we arrived and unpacked than our very knowledgeable and affable native guide, Gilbert, took us on a night walk thru the jungle.

The more we saw the more we became concerned about what we could NOT see beyond our seemingly inadequate flashlights. But Gilbert proved himself time and again that our safety was his first concern. And so began an adventure that spanned army ants, huge snails, frogs galore, tarantulas (did you know there are purple tarantulas?), monkeys in the trees outside our lodge room, 3 ft lizards, macaws and lots of other birds, giant otters, 400 yr old Kapo trees larger in circumference than the biggest sequoia, an unexpected 45 minute night boat ride in a traditional canoe along the glass-like Tambopata River, a visit with a local Shaman and botanical medicine garden tour, great food and lovely company that, once again, did not include any Americans.

Now we find ourselves back in the big city of Cusco with all it´s attendant perks getting ready to descend into the Sacred Valley tomorrow and another week of language school.

All is well with us and our health. We miss you all.

Love,

The Varnes-Epstein Clan