My next adventure will be a lot closer to home. Off this weekend to NYC and Woodstock, NY.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Adios, Peru
I have spent the last two nights in the capital city of Lima, taking in the sights and taking in the rich and delicious food -- it's amazing Peruvians aren't a lot fatter.
But, alas, it is time now for me to leave, for as they say in Peru, hmmm, I can't think of how to say it in English, "Visita cada dia, A la semana hastia".
I will post something here after I have uploaded the balance of my trip photos.
Adios.
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Meet The Team
Although I am back in Lima currently, and heading back to the USA tonight, I am still posting information about the trip over the past week.
In my blogs, I have been referring to "we" quite a bit. Well, in case you were wondering who I have been traveling with, I thought I would introduce you. No, Beth did not go on the trip, although I am hopeful she will come along on the next adventure.
Tom. "El Jefe"
Tom was the leader of our group. Tirelessly, he made sure we were where and when we needed to be, began at step one and proceeded accordingly, and ensured we had the answer to every question imaginable before it was asked. His Spanish is pretty good, too. Thanks for everything, Tom.
Barbara, our official Minister.
Like me, Barbara decided to do this trip because it was so outside of what everyone who knows her would expect, and, like me, she was glad she did it. Her calming influence and unique perspective and experience helped us to see the challenges and situations we encountered from angles we may not have considered otherwise. Well done, Barbara.
She was the fashion plate of the jungle, can drink a margarita (or two) and is a vocal proponent of hens' rights.
Cecil
Cecil had done the trip last year, so his insight of what to expect before it happened was very valuable (well, usually). Cecil has the remarkable ability to spot wildlife just before it disappears into the brush or beyond the horizon. An enthusiastic experiencer of life, he didn't miss an adventure or an activity. You're alright, Cecil.
Obsessed with chickens for some unknown reason.
Karly.
Karly was our Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar who will be studying in Lima for the next year. It was great having a young person's perspective and energy along. While the rest of us are just trying to change a small part of the world, Karly has the time and ability to make a significant positive impact, and she probably will. Good Luck, Karly.
She also has a unique way of telling jokes that must be experienced firsthand to truly appreciate.
What a team! Everyone played a part and contributed to our success. Thank you, everyone, it was a pleasure.
Jerry
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
In my blogs, I have been referring to "we" quite a bit. Well, in case you were wondering who I have been traveling with, I thought I would introduce you. No, Beth did not go on the trip, although I am hopeful she will come along on the next adventure.
Tom. "El Jefe"
Tom was the leader of our group. Tirelessly, he made sure we were where and when we needed to be, began at step one and proceeded accordingly, and ensured we had the answer to every question imaginable before it was asked. His Spanish is pretty good, too. Thanks for everything, Tom.
Barbara, our official Minister.
Like me, Barbara decided to do this trip because it was so outside of what everyone who knows her would expect, and, like me, she was glad she did it. Her calming influence and unique perspective and experience helped us to see the challenges and situations we encountered from angles we may not have considered otherwise. Well done, Barbara.
She was the fashion plate of the jungle, can drink a margarita (or two) and is a vocal proponent of hens' rights.
Cecil
Cecil had done the trip last year, so his insight of what to expect before it happened was very valuable (well, usually). Cecil has the remarkable ability to spot wildlife just before it disappears into the brush or beyond the horizon. An enthusiastic experiencer of life, he didn't miss an adventure or an activity. You're alright, Cecil.
Obsessed with chickens for some unknown reason.
Karly.
Karly was our Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar who will be studying in Lima for the next year. It was great having a young person's perspective and energy along. While the rest of us are just trying to change a small part of the world, Karly has the time and ability to make a significant positive impact, and she probably will. Good Luck, Karly.
She also has a unique way of telling jokes that must be experienced firsthand to truly appreciate.
What a team! Everyone played a part and contributed to our success. Thank you, everyone, it was a pleasure.
Jerry
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Peru
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Lima
This morning I woke up in Palo Verde Lodge (population 14 including the staff), and tonight I am going to sleep in Lima (population 8 million). Lima is a really busy, late night city. In contrast to Iquitos, which is probably the largest city in the world that doesn't have a Starbucks or McDonalds, Lima has all the comforts and brand names of a big US city.
I am staying at the Thunderbird Fiesta Casino Hotel (yes, there are countless casinos here) in the Miraflores District. Pretty central location, clean and safe, across the street from a big 24 hour a day supermarket.
You have to love the Brits. No matter what city you travel to, you can find their home away from home. Lima is no exception. I stumbled upon Old English Pub at the end of a place called Pizza Alley replete with darts, people with funny accents and bad teeth, and soccer games on tape delay on the telly. Decided this probably wasn't the best way to take in the local culture, so moved on (after a couple of pints)
Sorry, no pics. Didn't feel safe walking around this crazy city at night with my camera.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
I am staying at the Thunderbird Fiesta Casino Hotel (yes, there are countless casinos here) in the Miraflores District. Pretty central location, clean and safe, across the street from a big 24 hour a day supermarket.
You have to love the Brits. No matter what city you travel to, you can find their home away from home. Lima is no exception. I stumbled upon Old English Pub at the end of a place called Pizza Alley replete with darts, people with funny accents and bad teeth, and soccer games on tape delay on the telly. Decided this probably wasn't the best way to take in the local culture, so moved on (after a couple of pints)
Sorry, no pics. Didn't feel safe walking around this crazy city at night with my camera.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Lima, Peru
A visit to the local village
On Saturday morning we visited the local village of Ayacucho. It is just a few kilometers down river from the lodge and has a population of about 200. The lodge is actually built on land owned by the village and in return, Mike provides jobs on a rotating basis for the people of the village.
The people of Ayacucho are mostly subsistence farmers and fishermen and are obviously very poor. Most of the homes barely had walls.
This is "Main Street" where there is a community center, school, clinic and ...
thanks to Mike, a water treatment system.
At the conclusion of our visit, we went to the local craft market which was opened just for us today. As part of Mike's relationship with the village, guests of the lodge are brought there during their stay.
All the women and children waited patiently behind their long tables of crafts, and when we entered they all applauded politely.
There were about 15 or 20 families selling baskets and beads. It was tough not to buy something from all of them. I bought a handmade basket from a little girl for 40 soles (about 15 dollars) that would have sold easily for 100 or more in the Charleston sweetgrass basket market. Mike told me the 40 soles was equivalent to three or four days pay for her family.
The people of Ayacucho are mostly subsistence farmers and fishermen and are obviously very poor. Most of the homes barely had walls.
This is "Main Street" where there is a community center, school, clinic and ...
thanks to Mike, a water treatment system.
At the conclusion of our visit, we went to the local craft market which was opened just for us today. As part of Mike's relationship with the village, guests of the lodge are brought there during their stay.
All the women and children waited patiently behind their long tables of crafts, and when we entered they all applauded politely.
There were about 15 or 20 families selling baskets and beads. It was tough not to buy something from all of them. I bought a handmade basket from a little girl for 40 soles (about 15 dollars) that would have sold easily for 100 or more in the Charleston sweetgrass basket market. Mike told me the 40 soles was equivalent to three or four days pay for her family.
Location:Comunidad de Ayacucho
Club Sandwich
Back at the hotel in Iquitos in between my boat ride from the jungle and my flight to Lima.
As un-appetizing as it sounded initially, my curiosity got the best of me and I just had to order their version of the Club Sandwich.
It was exactly as described.
As un-appetizing as it sounded initially, my curiosity got the best of me and I just had to order their version of the Club Sandwich.
It was exactly as described.
Welcome to the Jungle
NOTE: Since I have had no Internet access for the past three days, the blog will be running a little behind. Although I am posting this Sunday morning, I wrote it Thursday night.
Thursday was our last morning in Iquitos. Soon we'd be heading to Palo Verde Lodge.
Here is the boat that will take us 100 km up the Amazon River to the lodge. It was a fast ride (about two hours). The vegetation around the boat just moves out of the way, but the prop needs to be cleaned.
The Palo Verde Lodge from the river. It has 10 one room cabins connected by a boardwalk and a common dining/living area.
Tom relaxing at the lodge with Mike Dickerman (our illustrious host).
Home sweet home for the next three nights. The blue is screens, pretty effective but not 100%
We took a jungle walk after settling in.
This is Beder, he will be our native guide for the next three days. Here he demonstrates which plant makes the best toilet tissue should that become necessary.
This is the window rat, or bartender rat, because he looks as though he is waiting to serve drinks.
Helicona, related to bird of paradise.
As close as I could get to the pygmy marmoset.
Black collared Hawk
After our jungle walk we just enjoyed the lodge and relaxed through dinner. Tomorrow is an early day.
Thursday was our last morning in Iquitos. Soon we'd be heading to Palo Verde Lodge.
Here is the boat that will take us 100 km up the Amazon River to the lodge. It was a fast ride (about two hours). The vegetation around the boat just moves out of the way, but the prop needs to be cleaned.
The Palo Verde Lodge from the river. It has 10 one room cabins connected by a boardwalk and a common dining/living area.
Tom relaxing at the lodge with Mike Dickerman (our illustrious host).
Home sweet home for the next three nights. The blue is screens, pretty effective but not 100%
We took a jungle walk after settling in.
This is Beder, he will be our native guide for the next three days. Here he demonstrates which plant makes the best toilet tissue should that become necessary.
This is the window rat, or bartender rat, because he looks as though he is waiting to serve drinks.
Helicona, related to bird of paradise.
As close as I could get to the pygmy marmoset.
Black collared Hawk
After our jungle walk we just enjoyed the lodge and relaxed through dinner. Tomorrow is an early day.
Location:Palo Verde Lodge
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Rotary Club of Iquitos
Tonight we visited our host club and partner in our water projects, the Rotary Club of Iquitos. What a great bunch of people, even though I only understood a fraction of what they were saying.
They prepared a special dinner, presented us with gifts and made us feel very welcome.
And who would have guessed their official drink was Johnny Walker Black which they have at every meeting.
Meeting adjourned shortly after midnight.
... To be continued.
They prepared a special dinner, presented us with gifts and made us feel very welcome.
And who would have guessed their official drink was Johnny Walker Black which they have at every meeting.
Meeting adjourned shortly after midnight.
... To be continued.
Location:Iquitos, Peru
A Better Day
Today our project was to install a full system at the village of Pena Negra. This was the largest village we visited and was less remote than the other two villages, located right near a busy highway.
Before heading to Pena Negra, we stopped at Nuevo Milagros to see if running the pump overnight cleared up the well water. Despite probably causing the road to wash out from all the water we pumped, we were happy to find the water much clearer than it was yesterday. It need a few more days however, so Team 2 will have to check back on Friday or Saturday.
Before getting started we were approached by a group of teachers to come tour their school.
The principal of the school is explaining to Tom that they can't start school on the scheduled date of April 1 until they can get running water for sinks and toilets. We didn't make any promises but told them we would try to get someone to fix or replace their well pump. Cost in US dollars = 20 to 60 dollars. A cost in Peru too prohibitive for the school.
We were overwhelmed by the number of children in this village. When they heard we were there they came from all directions.
After complete bedlam when handing out our initial stash of candy and baseballs, we were able to get the children to settle down. I don't have any good pictures of the riot we caused because i was concerned more with my own safety than taking pictures
Ah. They are quietly coloring now.
Even though we didn't have all the parts we needed to fill the well initially, the villagers were great improvisers, tying together pieces of PVC and hoses to get the job done.
Es un perro.
A thankful village.
Carrying away the first batch of fresh water.
Tonight I attend a Rotary Club meeting in Iquitos and tomorrow head out on a jungle excursion. I will be out there until Sunday morning and will not have any internet or cell phone coverage until then! Hopefully, I will be able to keep up on my blog and post Sunday or Monday.
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Location:Pena Negra, Peru
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Later that same day....
Tonight we ate dinner at Al Frio Y Al Fuego. It's a floating restaurant in the Itaya River and the only way to get there is by boat. Peruvian cuisine was served, which seems to always include massive amounts of delicious grilled meats.
http://www.alfrioyalfuego.com/
Location:Ricardo Palma,Iquitos,Peru
Trouble in Nuevo Milagro
Today we visited the village of Nuevo Milagro which translates to New Miracle. I am not sure what sort of miracle has blessed this place but it certainly wasn't obvious.
Never Milagro is a very small village outside of Iquitos of about 60 families. They have been getting their water from several manmade wells that are not very sanitary. Here's Cecil checking out one of those wells. Our job today was to install a chlorinator on a new well that had been dug 25 meters (sorry about the metric).
This is a boy we watched carry this water from one of those wells back to his house. We really hope his parents had the good sense to boil this before using it, but that's a long shot.
Unfortunately, we hit several snags and after spending almost the entire day there couldn't get the water to run clean. Even though it was treated, the locals won't see the value if it is still the same yellowish brown color.
This is me up on top of the water tower right after (unsuccessfully) trying to get a cell phone signal so we could call Water Missions in Charleston to help us .... And right before I dropped my cell phone from this tower in to a mud puddle. One of the villagers brought me some rice to immerse my phone in and a MIRACLE -- it works.
Here I am meeting the mayor of San Juan Bautista which is the district that encompasses both Nuevo Milagro and El Dorado. He never misses a photo op.
Here is where my investment in a Rosetta Stone really starts to pay off. ....
Es un perro.
So, the solution we came up with was to let the well pump run for a day or two to see if we can get to some clearer water. We are hopeful that someone can get back there later in the week to finish the job. Roger hates to not finish the job and he was really disappointed. Here he is telling me to Step Off after a long day.
Of course, we can't call the whole day a failure, as we were able to brighten the children's lives with a little love and attention.
This was the only blonde haired blue eyed in the village. Me thinks his Mom fell in love briefly with an American.
Shy girl. There's always one.
Location:Nuevo Milagro, Peru
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