Amazon adventure - pt 1

I am feeling better as the day begins though I stick with tea to start my 8 hour bus ride down to the amazon region. The trip is one long windy road after another as we follow the most lush and incredible scenery downhill. Waterfalls cascade into raging rivers, snow capped volcanoes rise in the distance, lush green plants, vines and all manner of floral erupt before our eyes. It is surreal at moments and is such a privilege to be on this journey.

What is also amazing is that there are houses nestled in among the bushes and every so often a small village appears as well. For example, halfway there we stop in the middle of nowhere and pick up 13 pizzas for our lunch . They are the best pizza I've had in a long time too!. At Tena, the road quality changes abruptly and we find ourselves on gravel roads, sometimes very narrow ones. Finally we arrive at the edge of the Napo river where we board a long boat that will take us down the river to the Mingo lodge. This place was once a holiday destination lodge for those wanting to visit the Amazon, but has since been sold to Me to We. It's a lovely place that far exceeds the expectations of the group or me. A warm welcome awaits us, with a cinnamon beverage, fried plantain chips and an extraordinary view of the river. The diversity and richness of the flora and fauna is stunning as I walk through the paths. A parrot named Yolanda has taken up residence here as well and she is quite demanding. A tarantula that the teens have name Delilah is up at the peak of the dining hall. As night falls, it gets pitch black and the air is filled with sounds...crickets, cicada's, frogs, large flying insects, and many other yet to be identified creature sounds. I am excited about the upcoming night time jungle tour in a few days.