Day 2 was an early of a morning…5:15am breakfast in order to leave on our paddle canoe to see the illusive pink river dolphins (which we never did see). Our guide told us that the pink river dolphins ended up in the Amazon river during the last ice age, then when the Andes formed, the dolphins got trapped and adapted for their fresh water habitat. On our journey to the lagoon to see the dolphins, we did see at least one hundred parrots flying in pairs for morning feedings, giant caimans (river crocodiles) and lots and lots of other migratory birds who come down to the Amazon for their winter break.
Probably the highlight of this day was piranha fishing with homemade fishing lines. I wasn’t successful, but my companeros caught a bunch! Luckily the guides knew how to release their saw-like jaws from the hooks. (I actually went for a swim while everyone else was fishing…I was assured the piranhas weren’t interested in me-and they weren’t! Not one piranha bite J)
Next was a cultural visit to the Sani Isla community. Then women of the village are slowly but surely organizing themselves to sell beautiful jewelry made of jungle seeds. They also cooked a typical meal for us. (I’ve tried it all before as I’ve got friends from the jungle, but the rest of the guests might have been slightly horrified at the roasted tree larvae) But there was also roasted fish, roasted hearts of palm (wrapped in banana leaves and roasted over the fire) baked yucca and plantain. The women spread the food out on a giant banana leaf and we ate with our hands.
After the community visit, time for hammocks and reading back at the lodge. The day ended with a delicious shrimp dinner and cards.
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