July 27, Sunday, into the jungle

Up at 4 AM, breakfast, leave on the bus at 5AM to the Juliaca airport at 6, for the flight at 7 to Cusco, transfer to fly to Puerto Maldonado. We are changing zones from Alpaca caps, sweaters and scarves to T shirts, from cold grey by the ocean to sunny green, lush jungle.It was 85 F when we landed. We were joined by Natalie Arsenault, director of the Hispanic Center where we started at the University of Texas, Austin. She came along to help us focus on our curriculum projects and enjoy the jungle and Machu Picchu, which is next.

Continuing the total care of the Fulbright travel we were met by a representative from our lodge, the Incaterra Reserva Amazonica, in an open bus at the airport. We had a short stop at a butterfly farm before we got on a launch to ride 45 minutes down the calm, muddy yellow and very wide, Madre de Dios River. The lodge is only accessible by boat.

Lunch was ready and again, gourmet delicious. Spencer Elvis, our waiter, was devoted to our dining happiness. We settled in, discussed our projects with Natalie, then after dinner took a boat ride up the river to see by flood light what goes on on the banks of the river at night. We saw several caymen on the shore. Who knew that sometimes they bury their heads in the mud of the bank leaving their large behinds exposed. We thought it was plastic and a joke until it moved.

This lodge is heavenly in design with double occupancy cabanas by the river, mosquito nets, one light bulb in the bathroom, kerosene lanterns at night, and birds, birds, birds. And stars, stars, stars. It is delightful. Another wonderful day for some lucky teachers from the USA.

Carol B., ESOL teacher, Springfield, VA