Iquitos - Day 5

Our last day morning in Iquitos, we took a boat to the vilage of Indiana, then a 15 minute ride to the city of Mazan on the Napo river.  We toured to port and the local market, found a rolling cart pharmacy and then headed back to the lodge to get in one last swim and lunch.  On the way to the airport, we stopped at a small market known for its beautiful bloodwood pieces.  I didn't love anything I found from wood, but walked away with a large oil canvas painting of Belen.  I can't wait to have it framed.

This was such an incredible tip from start to finish!  I hope that we have many more vacation much like this one.

Iquitos - Day 4

A trip to the small jungle of San Luis to see more modern way of living, swimming in the Amazon and a visit to the Yagua village.

In San Luis, we touched baby caimans, picked flowers, and went into an authentic jungle home to see a typical kitchen in the region.

This man told us that he was taking his wood to the kitchen

Apparently, these thatched roofs will last 15 years.

Sophia slipped in the mud and was mad about it.

It was hot and so by 10am, most of the locals were ready for a break. 

The locals caught a couple of baby caimans.  One bite from this little guy would take off your finger.  

Soccer field 

Kennedy and Sophia

Authentic jungle kitchen.  This outdoor kitchen was attached to a 2 story home in front of it.  The first floor consisted of nothing more than a couple of hammocks and the upper floor is where everyone slept.

Masoto a.k.a. Alcoholic Jungle Drink.  This is made from yucca.  The locals chew the fruit for 5 minutes and then spit it into the bucket.  The salvia helps the yucca to ferment which takes about 3 days.  It is customary to offer masoto to wanted guests, however, if the guest refuses they will be enemies forever.

Steve and the kids swam in the Amzaon while I stayed on shore to take photos.  They learned the hard way that when you stand still in the water, the cousin of the pirahna will nip at you.

No Barlow vacation is complete with Steve finding a great place to flex. :)

Peyton and her best friend Alli

In the Yagua village, we learned how to use a blowgun (which was Abe's very favorite part of the trip - surprise, surprise, I know), the kids had their faces painted with seads from a local plant, we all helds a sloth and her baby, and danced with local people.  Steve even had the privelege of dancing with a 70 year old woman wearing only a skirt... and there is video to prove it.

Our guide, Paul was showing us the best technique for hitting the target.

Banana Tree Stump for target practice

Chief Yagua

Sophia loved the little sloth 

Apparently, the sloth likes to pose as well  

Beautiful Yagua Girl

A book in the hammock - a true sign of vacation

Sunday night primary devotional on the importance of families. Thanks Brooke!

Iquitos - Day 3

Our third day in Iquitos started off down the river to search for pink dolphins and fish for pirahnas.  This is an average family from the jungle.  Dad it on the right side and he was hauling buckets up from the river.  

Harvesting rice on the river bank.  They are taking advantage of the land the few months of the year that the water levels are low.

On the lookout for pink dolphins!  Luckily for 4 little girls, we found them, but have no photos to prove it.  They even jumped a few times.  So cool!

 Heading in to the Black River tribuatary to fish for pirahnas

Check out this black water that does not mix with the brown waters of the Amazon. It is black due to high level of tanic acid from the rotting tree roots.

Everyone caught a pirahna!  They started biting within seconds of dropping the meat in the river.

 On the way home, we stopped somewhere along the bank where a family is known to have a boa.

 We returned home for lunch.  The lodge cooked the pirahnas for us to try.

In the afternoon, we headed to Monkey Island and in true Barlow fashion, found a rainbow!

 This was certainly a day to remember.  The monkeys jumped up and down on Peyton's chest and tried to lead me away fom the kids and into the jungle, but it is sure hard to take pictures when you have little monkeys jumping onto your camera strap!