Heading to the Amazon!

I got up early, but took my time thinking i would have time to walk around and find a boat. They say they never leave when they are supposed to. Boy was i wrong.

I got a mototaxi to the port. First it wasnt a port i was expecting. The one i got dropped off at, was all muddy, semi trucks all around,and only 2 boats in the water. They both looked pretty scrappy. They told me they were leavin today, but i thought i had time to check them out. Not to mention, i had about 6 guys all in my face asking if i wanted a boat, a hammock, and whatever else. I was so overwhelmed i didnt know what to do. They brought me down to the smaller one, and i walked around. It was pretty shabby, and i didnt want to be on it. When i got off, i noticed the larger boat was moving. Ahhh what!! Its leaving already. I didnt know what to do, and asked the one guy who wouldnt get out of my face to help me get on that boat. There were huge mud piles and no dock or platform or anything you would think would be at a dock. So with my huge backpack and my little one, he helped me climb down the mud piles, where a long canoe shapped motorboat came to pick me up and brought me over to the big cargo ship. I didnt have time to buy food, hammock, water, or anything before i got on. Luckily, people kept swarming around me, and one lady had a large water, so i bought that, before getting in to the little boat.

On the cargo ship, 4 guys were standing there and helped me onto the boat. They told me to go upstairs. I told someone i didnt have a hammock and another guy told me to go up another flight of stairs. Up there, i found 6 tourists. I was so flustered, that i wanted to cry, but decided to just sit down. I asked one guy if he spoke english and he did. Thank god!. Once i settled down, i found out that 4 of them were from Czech Republic and the other couple from Australia and they were sleeping in the cabins. I told them i didnt have a hammock and one girl had one i could borrow. Alright, so i had a hammock to sleep in for the night. I will figure out finding another one to use for the trip. The ticket lady came around, and i bargained for a cheaper price and then i was set. I paid and i had a hammock for now, i can worry about the rest later. The Czech guys even offered that i can keep my bags in their room. how nice! I wished i had left tingo Maria ealier like i wanted to, then i would have had more time to figure out this boat thing and buy the things i needed. Oh well, I was atleast on the boat, so time to relax and enjoy. Apparently, the boat had sat there for a few days, i guess it was waiting for me. haha.

I sat there for a little while longer, and decided to take a walk around the ship to check it out. I walked to the back and found the toilets. Against the back railing was a man with a large beer belly sitting on top a pail bucket holding a black shotgun. He looked nice...so i went to talk to him. His name is Louis. He was sitting there just for security. I asked from what..people or animals. people. Well, he never did anything with it, and after a few hours. Put the gun away and i didnt see it anymore.

I walked down below and found the whole room full of hammocks hanging from the ceiling. There were a crap load of people in their. I found the little tienda shop at the front of the boat next to the kitchen. And decided to go back upstair and sit on the bench and watch out of the river and all the passing islands. That night, one of the Czech girls, let me us her hammock, so i went down below and found someone to help me hang it from the ceiling. The only spot open was in the front where all the noise from the engine and lights of the kitchen were on. I didnt care, i was too tired. He put up my hammock next to an old man, who was quitely already asleep.

I made myself somewhat comfortable and feel asleep. 330am, i woke up to watch the boat being barged up against another boat for the night. Through the open sides, you can see all the other people hanging in their hammocks. I looked out over the side of my hammock to find the old man looking at me, and with a big smile said, Buenos Dias. I just laughed, that was the last thing i expected to hear. And said Buenos Dias back. This started out our good friendship with my hammock neighbor. I cant remember his name exactly but ill call him Maurice.

The next morning, i was awoken by my new friend Maurice who popped his head over my hammock and said its time for breakfast. that is what that loud bell was for? I looked behing me and people were already waiting in line. I didnt want to get up, it was so early.

Later, i was finally able to find a hammock from one of the crew that i could borrow for the trip for a good ol 13soles. I could just about buy one for that. But oh well, im happy i have my own hammock to lay in all day to relax, read, and just watch out open sides of the boat as the landscape passed us by.

Besides Maurice, ive also made friends with the Tienda girl. She wanted to learn some english, so i told her to write some words down that she wanted to know. Immediatley, she grabbed a book and started writing about 10 words. I translated them for her, and helped her pronounce them. After that two more people came up to me wanting to learn english, but nothing more than that came of it. I went up top to meet 2 guys who were stearing the boat, one was named Rosa, and the other Diego. I had made so many friends, that any time they all passed me, they would say ´Hola Mega´...haha. They cant really say Meaghan, so they just all call me MEga...fine with me.

I had a lot of time to enjoy hanging in my hammock, reading, daydreaming, and talking tot he other tourists and peruvians. Talking with Maurice, i learned that he lives in a village another 3 days up the river from Iquitos, where we are going. He owns a restaurant and hostel that his children run. And he is traveling back from Lima where he worked for the past couple of months driving bus. He had 3 kids, and his wife passed about 5 years ago. He was still wearing his wedding ring. cute. Hes a cute old man with a big smile and wrinkles at his squinty eyes.

One day we were sitting on the bench along the edge of the boat talking, when another old man came up and stood infront of us. He patted himself on the back. Immediately Maurice started patting his back. The man was choking. Immediatley all the training ive had over how many years, came rushing into my head. What do i do first...He was slightly coughing, but i coulndt explain what to do in spanish, so i watched and when the back blows wasnt doing anytyhing. I grabbed him from behind and did the Heimlich manuver. First time I have ever done that, and i was a bit worked up after. He almost felt like the dummy model that you practiced on. HE was short so perfect height, and i gradually added more pressure to the thrusts until he waved me off. What ever piece of food that was stuck, was now on the floor. And he walked away into the bathroom. Oh my goodness, I couldnt believe that happened. I went to check on him, and he thanked me. The then thanked the old man, and came back later to give him the fish he had just boughten from the village we had stopped at. crazy.

AFter 2 hot days, it turned cloudy, windy and rained on and off. Perfect for sitting below deck, in a hammock, reading a book. The people uptop in the cabins were misserable because they had to stay inside their cabins, to be bundled up to stand the wind. I was comfy in my hammock. AT one point, Maurice went and bought some coffee con leche, and had some bread. He came back and shared it with me. I sat up in my hammock with my feet dangling over the edge, swinging slightly back and forth. He handed me a cup, and tried to pour some coffee into it, becaue i was moving, he barely got any into the cup and it dripped onto the floor. We just laughed and he took the cup from he to fill it. Haha. Im not a coffee drinker, but it had enough milk in it to actually taste good. And it was cold out, so it was nice to have a hot drink.

Finally on wednesday, we came to port in Iquitos around 9am. Now i had to think what am i going to do now. Do i go with some of these tourists, or venture out on my own. I asked all of them what their plans were, and nothing fitted into what i wanted, so i decided, once again, im on my own. Off the boat, i said goodbye to my new Czech friends, who have encouraged me to come live in Prauge where i have a place to stay, and was again swarmed by all the motortaxi guys. I tried to get away and when i turned around, i was happy to see Maurice. I wanted to say goodbye to him before he left. He asked me something and i didnt understand but he pulled me away from all the taxi guys. Thank you! he said he was meeting up with his neice, and within 2 seconds, a woman and her daughter came up to us. He introduced me and said hello and kissed on the check. He helped me find a cheap hostel and bargained the taxi price down for me. It was sad to say goodbye to Maurice, he kissed me on the check and i climbed into the back of the mototaxi. Off to my new home for the night. i desperatly needed a shower!