Hi all,
We just got off the boat from our whirlwind cruise on the Amazon! It was great.
Despite only one week left, we have time to write because an avalanche cut off the only road out of this tiny port town of Yurimaguas. We docked at 8 this morning and are stuck here until at least 4pm. Keep in mind that's Peruvian time, so who knows when we'll be out of here.
Just checked the weather page and it's 30C, with 73% humidity and it's not even 11:00! j is melting, f is loving it!

Some highlights?

Motorcycle through Sacred Valley
We rented a motorcycle and rode up to see this great open market and one of the ruins. It was fabulous and way freer than sitting in a tour bus. The only thing we didn't count on was the sudden rain. It do get cold when the rain's a'pelting and the wind's a'blowing. Our hands were freezing, but it was totally worth every frigid second. We'll have some pics soon.

Iquitos
After much delays in the airport, we finally made it to the jungle. We looked around to find a good trek, but with little time left and so much land to cross to get back to Lima by the 23rd, we decided to just take a CRUISE along the Amazonas.
Okay so it's not really a cruise, but for all the sites and relaxation, it might well have been.
We bought a hammock and booked a spot on the top level of a cargo ship, making its produce drop-offs and pick-ups from Iquitos to Yurimaguas.
The travel guides all say this is dangerous and to never leave your stuff out of sight, but because it's only just the very beginning of their tourist season, there were only three other hammocks on the deck so we felt really safe.
We set up home and kicked back to enjoy the sights and sounds of the jungle and the water for three nights and two days.
The food was basic but really good (no vegetarian though - j survived on rice and potatoes, supplemented with homemade pb and jam, or cheese sandwiches). And the sites were spectacular.
Didn't see any animals, just bats and enormous, stupid May bugs. The ship traversed along the jungle the entire way and Just south of Iquitos, we were still on the Amazon. Then at one of the tiny villages it branched off into a tributary - the Rio Marañon.
The deck was covered, but completely open so we always had a view. At one point, yesterday's sunset spanned the width of the river! The sunsets, sunrises and star-filled sky were amazing to see. At night they tarped down the sides because the insects are tenacious. Plenty of mosquito bites for sure.
So here we are waiting, waiting, waiting.
Enjoy the pics of our other sites, and hopefully we'll upload more soon.
Now we're off to find some place cool and inviting.
Later
J and F