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November 20th - Ecuador, Jatunyacu and a jungle lodge

Wendy:  We awoke this morning and spent some time doing errands in Tena.  The rivers were still very high due to the never ending rain (and this is the "dry season"!!), so we were off to the Jatunyacu (pronounced hot-un-yack-oo), a big water class III run with fun wave trains and surf waves.  We stopped on the way to do a short hike to a lookout over the river.  Mary (guide) told us about the local plants and animals in the jungle, and gave us a taste for the Ecuadorian diversity.  We also stopped at a lagoon to wash off some sweat and enjoy the cool water.  There, in the middle of no where, was a fence put up by the local people.  Little businessmen that they are, they've gotten smart and started charging to get into their lagoon!  We had fun playing in the pools, and it was well worth the $1 per person.

The run was like a roller coaster ride. At one point we came to a relatively flat section along a beach, and there were children playing in the water.  I paddled near shore to say hola, and the next thing I knew I had 7 little kids swimming out to my boat.  They were screaming and laughing as they swam out, and much to my surprise they attached themselves to my boat!  I tried to paddle away as fast as I could, but I was weighted down with giggling children!  I was yelling "no mas, no mas!" (no more, no more), but they didn't care, and more were coming out.  Finally, being unable to move I resorted to turning upside down to knock them off.  As I flipped up, they were all floating around a little stunned and I paddled like hell to the middle of the river.  One little guy tried to swim after me, so persistent!  It was pretty cute, all the little guys laughing and having so much fun.  Phil (guide) said that they used to stop at that beach for lunch, but the local children would commandeer their boats while they were eating and play in them in the water.  Of course he didn't mention this to me before I paddled over!!

We spent the night at the Jardin Allemano, a jungle lodge.  The lodge rescues tropical animals that have been hurt, and nurses them back to life.  As a result, they have macaw parrots, spider monkeys and toucans on display in various stages of health.  One of the monkeys wanders the property at his leisure, and he unexpectedly approached me to play.  I put my umbrella in the way, otherwise he would have jumped me!  

You too can maximize your sexual appetite in Latin America!  This poster was hanging in the Tena natural foods store...notice the dress blowing in the wind!

This is our guide?!  Phil DeRiemer being his goofball self, near one of the hugest butterflies I've ever seen!  This butterfly was sitting in a bush outside our hotel in Tena (a relatively large city).

A view of the Jatunyacu

Wendy, Mary and Morlee playing at the lagoon

Macaws at the Jardin Allemano.  They look fake but they aren't...amazing animals!

Morlee, Wendy and Mary M. hanging at the Jardin.  We stayed up chatting until late in the night!

Monkey at the jungle lodge

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