Lima from our hotel window
Dad and I at the beach cliffs
Mom and I
Flying over the unnervingly close Andes on the way to Iquitos
The Amazon river
Some nice metal tape holding our plane together
More Andes
The rainforest
The Amazon
Our nifty wooden bus picking us up at the airport. The windows are hidden in the bottom of the windowframes and lift up. It soon started raining. Hard.
The family arrives in Iquitos.
The streets of Iquitos. The Rubber Barons used to run this place with an iron fist, until some British stole rubber seeds and planted them in Brazil. This place used to be the richest frontier town in history.
Iquitos is very crowded. 250,000 residents and 25,000 motorcycle/bicycle taxis.
Some of the 25,000 taxis.
Our launch dock. Explorama owns a fleet of boats, including the big-ass Amazon Queen to the right.
Starting out down the Amazon. Some of the constant boat traffic on private 'water taxis'.
Our view from the front door of our cabin at Ceiba Tops, the newest and swankiest lodge by Explorama.
Swank.
Dad roughing it in the Amazon rainforest.
The main dining lodge.
Our first hike on the day we arrived. Found many frogs (this one isn't poisonous, but we saw many that were)
There was one of these every 6 feet as we walked around. It's about 4 inches across.
Cute li'l millipede. 5 inches long.
It was very dark under the canopy. The guy in the white is Roldan, our guide, who just happens to be the senior guide for Explorama. We lucked out big-time.
Pointing out, well, something cool. Not sure what.
The immense Ceiba tree the lodge is named for. It's over 100 feet high and 30 feet across at the base. These trees are very popular for making PLYWOOD. Argh.
The flattopped Ceiba tree.
After our first hike in 100 degree temperatures in the humid steamy rain. A bit rumpled.
So we decided to sit by the pool and have a coke. I like my pink towel. It's fab.
Waiting for dinner.
