Along the amazon on a boat like in the famous movie "Fitzcarraldo". Somehow I pictured myself on a wooden boat like that. In the end I've chose the luxurious version: 12 hours from Leticia/ Colombia to Iquitos/ Peru in a speed boat. Like a luxury bus - just on the river. At 3:30 am I waited on a runway surrounded by the dark with others for a water taxi that broad us from the colombian/ brasilian side over the river to Peru. The day before I had to get an exit stamp in my passport from Colombia and an entry stamp into Peru. Bureau-cracy! The boat ride in the end was quite comfortable. And during the journey we passed two (!) other slow boats. Those ones are more Fitzcarraldo style. Heavy wooden boats where the locals sleep in a hammock on the first floor and below are cows, pigs and all kinds of products. Sounds more fun but better with a group...After 12 hours we reached Iquitos/ Peru. A poorer version of Leticia. After on night I left the tropical climate towards Lima. And after an eight hours stopover there I continued to the Inca capital of Cusco - high up in the mountains with finally fresh air but lower temperatures!
The minute you exit the plane, it hits you: tropical air, super hot and humid. Welcome to the jungle! And welcome to the smallest airport I have ever seen: Leticia in Colombia's southeast. Surrounded by kilometers of jungle and next to the world largest river, the amazon. After entering Brazil its water flows towards Colombia and then into Peru. When I arrived at the waterfront in Leticia the river was further away due to the dry season. Normally its 10 meters higher. For the next five days I stayed at Casa Gregorio, a wooden open house on piles - with Heike from the Netherlands and her partner José and his kids. By boat their village is three hours away from Leticia.
First we took an express boat to a junction of the amazon and then José's cousin gave us a ride in his wooden canoe. And suddenly between the trees the first roofs of St. Martin de Amacayacu appeared. 500 people, electricity only from 9 to 12 pm and from 5 to 10 pm, internet connection only suuuper slow. The local school boat gets the kids two hours before school starts further down the river. Welcome to the most unique experience ever - among the friendliest people, the Tikuna, who showed me their life with fishing, harvesting, doing laundry in the river and just living close to the rhythym of nature. What I didn't see: anaconda, piranhas (only on a plate), pink dolphins and other weird animals. What I did see: mosquitos, catfish, the matamata tree (the phone of the jungle that works like an echo) and local soccer games each afternoon. La gringa in the jungle - mission accomplished! Welcome to the sweet, quiet life at the Carribean, northern coast of Colombia: Cartagena de Indias. From here the Spanish conquered Colombia in the beginning of the 16th century. That's why it still feels like an old colonial city - with an old wall, fortress and old buildings. 30 years ago the city has been designated Unesco World Heritage Site. It's also the city of world known author Gabriel García Márquez. Here he began his writing career. First as a journalist, later as an author. He honored Cartagena as the setting of his novel "Love in the times of cholera". The best way to explore the city is by renting bikes. Another, to explore the ocean by motorboat with friends on a lazy Sunday. Decadence at its best. And be sure: the next Cuba Libre is always around the corner. Que vida! Salud!
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Go West! Charlotte finally jumped out of the box and is travelling the world for the next months. Her favourite moment so far: staying with an indigenous family in the amazon river in Colombia. ArchiveKategorien |