— Travel and Trekking Jots & Shots
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My encounter with pacas was last night. I had just returned shortly before dinner from running some errands in Puerto Maldonado over the weekend: Getting some laundry done, since nothing ever properly dries in the rainforest unless it’s sunny for a few days; Stocking up on provisions, since Joel and Elissa and their delicious baked treats are gone […]
“Julia, viene.” “Si, Pico.” Being used to Pico’s orders by now, and orders they are, I got up from the chair I was curled up in, reading, and followed Pico to the main steps of Picaflor Research Centre, noticing through the screen windows of the library that he held a flashlight in his hand. “Tus zapatos.” My shoes. […]
We’ve lately had quite a lot of wildlife sightings here at Picaflor Research Centre (smiley face). While we were in the kitchen baking the other day, we noticed tree branches moving outside and soon saw monkeys playing nearby! We watched them for about 20 minutes, until we couldn’t see them anymore, then returned to our work. The next […]
The volunteer tasks at Picaflor Research Centre pretty much seem like a cover-up to disguise that the centre no longer appears to be in operation. We mainly just maintain the house and grounds, if and when Pico feels like it. One day we weeded the banana farm. Useless job. Another day we mowed the lawn — with machetes. […]
During my first days at Picaflor Research Centre, Pico took me on a small introductory tour of the trails behind the house (reed roof, walkways, screens instead of windows — very exotic). He pointed out various things to eat, like Brazil nuts and guanábana. We even saw two red macaws, a monkey walking high above in the canopy, […]
I ended up staying in Cusco one more night, for the simple reason that I mistimed my arrival in Puerto Maldonado. Since getting to Picaflor Research Centre for my volunteer commitment on the day I’d said I’d be there had become impossible, I took a one-way flight to the jungle. I was disappointed, for I was looking forward […]
I’m back in Cusco after a much-needed break from the city in Copacabana and Isla del Sol in Bolivia’s Lake Titicaca area, and thought I’d try to see a bit more of the city in my spare time while waiting in Cusco to begin the next part of my trip. I’ve got mixed feelings about Cusco. On the […]
After breakfast on Saturday, I headed uphill from Yumani, hoping to find some of the well-marked trails I’d heard of to go hiking on Isla del Sol. Thinking I’d found one, I followed a clear path. Isla del Sol itself seems kind of dry and brown. Can it be the time of year? It needs more verdure! But […]
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