Today is our last full day in the Upper Amazon. We started early with a quiet kayak ride along Rio Zapote. Some of us went for a skiff ride searching for birds and monkeys. Today we were very lucky for it rained earlier and cleared up in time for us to explore.
We returned to the ship for breakfast and then headed out for another round of kayaking. We had a gentle and fun ride along the river where we met children who were fishing. There was a particular 5-year-old child, David, who came along. He was learning to help provide food for the family like his older siblings. Life is very different here, there was no formal school today and it was time to learn from Mother Nature. The river and all its secrets are master from early years like it is for David. Soon after our outing we visited a small village we were welcomed with many happy faces as children practiced their high-fives and “hello” in English.
Back on board our National Geographic expert Kitty Coley presented the latest research on dinosaurs’ colorful feathers.
After lunch we had a how-to fold towels—yes, every day we come back from our excursions and to our surprise find our towels folded into all kinds of shapes and forms. Our cabin steward showed us how he does it and revealed his origami secrets.
We went back out for our afternoon ride where we were lucky to see birds and monkeys. This landscape is also breathtaking. We feel very fortunate to share our last afternoon in this ecosystem and all its beauty. For the last time we were part of the Amazon, part of the jungle where we relearned to hear, to feel, to smell, and to see.
Back on board we had a slideshow with all our best pictures presented, and soon after we had a farewell dinner with our naturalist and hotel manager. Fun was also “a la Carte” for our crew is also talented singers, musicians, and dancers who transmitted the joy of being here.
We had a blast and now it is time to return to our world ready to share our experience in the Upper Peruvian Amazon: a worlds of macaws, trees, dolphins, sloths, fruits, and flavors, from insects, to snakes, rivers, water, landscapes and people; all this and much more is now an experience that will remain in our hearts for a lifetime.
