town of Nauta

Just back from our morning skiff ride. What a great way to start the day. We were off at about 6:30 and toured around some little rivers until about 8:00. We are in Pacaya Samiria Natural Reserve today, the population is controlled in the villages within the Park, not anyone can just move here. There are vendors here that come by dugout canoe and go around the boat trying to get your attention to buy something, mostly young children and so cute. We see pink dolphins again, and 2 new species of birds to check off our list. We had breakfast on the skiffs this morning which was fantastic, we were parked in the shade. We are very spoiled, they brought along trays for us, coffee, tea, sandwiches, and tangerines. Quite a setting for breakfast.

After breakfast we continued along and returned to the ship at about 11:00, another great day. We are docked by a small village that is very typical of what we have seen so far. Pretty much these villages are in isolation, only way to get from one to another is by dugout canoe. This village is a little bigger than others, and closer to a large village so the children are picked up by water taxi to go to secondary school. We saw one of these taxis picking up the girls in their uniforms. The villages all seem to have many children, and all the activity is along the riverbank. The women in the morning are out washing the clothes by hand in the river, the children are playing in small dugout canoes, or volley ball or soccer for the ones that are old enough. We don't see many men around, they are usually out fishing and we see them often go by the river in their dugout canoes. Some of the canoes have little 3 hp tiny putput motors attached, but most are paddling by hand.

This afternoon we had the chance to go to the large village where we first boarded the ship. This was another interesting stop as it is much larger than the other villages we have seen. The city has approximately 10 thousand people, a couple of street lights, mostly paved roads in the downtown section, and many many mototaxis, which are basically motorcycle tricycles with a 2 seater covered section on the back for passengers, they look like a rickshaw.

We started off from the dock and were given 45 minutes to spend on our own going through the shopping district. This is not a tourist shopping district, it is for the locals. I love seeing these type places, really see the differences in culture here. You can buy just about anything you want, from local fruit and vegetables, food kiosk vendors, clothes, kitchen gadgets, passports, and my favourite were the tables of medications all mixed up together, the boxes had been opened and they were just all through all together and you could pick through and get what you want. The kids were the best sellers, we had one kid that kept appearing to sell us stuff, first I bought 2 tee shirts from him at the beginning when we first got off the boat. I spoke to him a bit, his English was fantastic, he was 14 years old and told me he learned all his English in school. He was quite small and I would have never guessed him to be 14, he told me he was in grade 5.

Next off we all met in the main square and happened across a parade celebrating Earth Day. There were hundreds of school children there, with the school bands, lucky for us to see. In the square you were surrounded by the police station, a church, a school and a stage was being set up for a celebration of the city’s 180 anniversary that is next week. The principal of the high school came by and spoke to us for a little bit about what it was like living in Nauta, he is from Iquitos originally. He spends the weekdays here and then goes home to Iquitos for the week-end to be with his family. School is for 9 months here, from March to December. The people here are very friendly everywhere we have been, very happy to speak with us and tell us about their lives, and happy to answer any questions we have. The 14 year old shows up in the park and now has necklaces to sell, I pass.

Next we walk over to a park that has a gazebo surrounded by water that is stocked with turtles and fish. These fish are huge, they are the largest in the Amazon and can grow up to 400 pounds, they are the biggest fish in the Amazon, we have had them for supper a couple of times this week, not our favourite.

Hotel

Next off we have an option of going on a 20 minute tour of the village by mototaxi for 5 soles per person, this works out to about $1.50 a person. We went in a big convoy one following another, very funny. We went about 5 miles out of town and stopped at a fish farm. The little 14 year old vendor has followed us here as well, I can't believe it when I see him again!

On the way back through town we go a back dirt road and pretty much get filthy. Pass by lots of homes and see quite a difference from the river people. These people have windows and doors, where the river people homes were wide open. Back to the dock where we board the ship and the 14 year old is here again, this time I buy a bracelet from him just for being persistent. This kid is going to go somewhere, perhaps the best salesman I have ever seen.

Back on board, shower time and then upstairs because the band is here again tonight before dinner. This is the joke of the tour, this band is made up of the tour guides playing different percussion instruments, I think it is our room steward on guitar, and another staff member playing different flute type instruments. Every time they play they introduce themselves with a different band name.

Tomorrow night is the battle of the bands, should be interesting. Tonight they do a great job of getting us all involved. I think when they did Country Road was what got us, country with a Spanish accent is just great, we all sang and ended up getting up and dancing. We sang and danced right through the dinner bell, and stayed a couple more songs, I'm sure chef was thrilled with them.

Early to bed again. Tomorrow we finally are going to be on the Amazon, can't wait. Tonight we will be tied up along the Ucayalli River, and then venture to the Amazon tomorrow.