Lost 1 shoe... found 2 cats

Sorry for the delay. Life has been busy with trying to organize our new home. 

Last week we had a nice day in Lamas with Kristi, Rubén, and Tala. They took us to a waterfall not far from their home.

 

It was a nice walk in from the road through beautiful rainforest. There were lots of interesting and colourful bugs.

Max, Spencer, Kristi and Tala enjoyed a dip in the frigid water, I haven't unpacked my bathing suit yet and Rubén is just not a fan of cold water, so we stayed nice and warm on the sidelines. 

After the swim Max tried fresh coconut water, right from the source. Dark clouds moved in on our ride back. We hopped out of our moto-taxi to quickly run up the hill to their house before the downpour, but because of the rush I didn't notice that Max had lost his shoe. I thought I saw it at the bottom of the hill, but upon closer inspection realized it was a pile of dog poop... Shaped like a shoe. 

Rubén made us some Pisco Sours, which were delicious and strong! Perhaps that's what led to the next turn of events... Catching stray kittens. While we were having our drinks we spotted stray kittens and somehow we agreed that we would like to care for them at our new house (that we didn't have yet). So we caught the first kitten (a feisty girl that Tala named marshmallow). 

 And later that evening Spencer went back out in the yard and found the boy... Who Tala named Snowball. Not sure if the names are going to stick....

Quickly learning to not let toddlers name pets. 

Rubén bathed the kittens and treated them for fleas. They have been caring for them for the last week and we will bring them to our new house tomorrow.

Max and Tala had a blast playing together as usual. He was being a real ham, making toot noises for Tala to film. 

Kristi made us a nice spaghetti dinner to finish off the great day. Leslie, another Cuso volunteer joined us too. We feel fortunate to have such kind people to welcome us here.

Welcome to the Jungle

We have arrived in Tarapoto, and it's been a busy couple of days. We have been meeting people, travelling around, and looking for a house rental. 

How is it so far?

... Hot, humid, loud, and busy... But fun! 

We were happy to find that our boxes of goodies made it. The heat and humidity hit us hard stepping off the plane. People say you get used to it, but I find that hard to believe. 

So far Max enjoys watching the chaos of the motorbikes and moto-taxis cruising by. Our hotel is located in the centre of the city so it is very lively. 

Max is also enjoying all the moto taxi rides around town, especially when we hit the unpaved roads. The bumpier the ride the better in Max's world. 

We visited Takiwasi, where Spencer is going to be working. It's on a beautiful property just in the outskirts of the city, nestled in amongst beautiful plants and trees. While walking through we heard scurrying overhead and sure enough there were tiny little monkeys leaping from branch to branch. 

Max was mildly interested in the monkeys, but extremely impressed that the roads were made of sand and he could draw on them.

I have already discovered my home base in the city, a little créperie. They make delicious crépes, croissants, and bread. I'm pretty sure I'll be here everyday! 

We have met some of the other Cuso International volunteers while we have been here. We travelled to Lamas which is a small town about 49 minutes outside of Tarapoto. We had the best Frappiccino at Oro Verde café which helps find a coffee growing cooperative that some Cuso volunteers are working with. We went to lunch with Jo Su (who is in change of volunteers in Peru), Kristi (who volunteers at Takiwasi), Rubén and Lesley (who volunteer at Oro Verde), and Tala (Kristi and Rubén's 3 year old daughter). Max and Tala were shy at first and he reluctantly shared his trains. 

After lunch we took the kids to Wayku (an indigenous village in Lamas) where they could run around. 

Kristi and Rubén invited everyone back to their house for coffee and chocolate. Tala was very excited to show Max all of her pets (2 cats, chickens, a roosters, and Carlotta... A giant hairy spider living near the front gate!) 😳

Tala shared her toys with Max and even showed him how to hold his pencil properly. 

That evening we all went to dinner at Patarashca, a restaurant in Tarapoto that specializes in Amazon river fish... It was delicious! 

Max and Tala kept each other busy having races and counting stars. 

Spencer has been busy trying to find us a place to live. We rode around in a moto taxi for an hour looking for signs on houses. It was good to get a tour around but we didn't find much. 

We looked at a place close to Takiwasi that Spencer's new boss used to live in, which is a good possibility. This morning  Theresa, one of the employees from our hotel, took us to see her neighbour's house. It was really big, but no yard. Then Theresa invited us up to her house to meet her family. She had two very chatty parrots. 

The people here are so friendly and helpful. I think it's going to be a very nice year in the jungle. 

Lima

¡Hola! 

We had a great weekend in Lima with friends. On Saturday morning we were picked up by Spencer's friend Kristel in her 1961 Mini. Max was very excited about her car and the fact that she had a little toy version inside for him to play with. 

Kristel took us to an Artisan Bakery for lunch. The bread is made fresh in the back and all the ingredients are fresh and 'mostly' local. It would do very well in Vancouver! 

Kristel was so lovely and offered us any help that we may need while we are in Peru, even a place for Max and I to stay if we decide we don't like the jungle. ;P

After lunch Spencer, Max and I explored the National museum. It wasn't easy as The first thing Max saw were little chairs his size and that's about all he was interested in, and he was also swarmed by school kids wanting to hold him and take his picture. 

That evening we went for a nice dinner at Tanta in Larcomar (the fancy mall on the cliff). 

On Sunday Francisco and his family picked us up for a tour of Lima. They drove us to the outskirts of town to an area called Pachacamac. The restaurants there are very competitive and they put skewers of meat through your window to try as you drive through. 

Francisco and his mother both ate some but drove on as they already had a destination in mind. We went to a very rustic restaurant that Francisco's mother had been going to for 30 years. There was live music and live animals, and even a big green space that was great for Max to run around. I think he is getting quite sick of eating in restaurants, so this was perfect. 

Meeting the food! (Pigs, chickens, ducks, rabbits, goats,...

And Guinea pigs... Don't worry, none of us ordered them. 

Fabrizio (Francisco's younger brother) took very good care of Max. 

After lunch we went to a dessert festival in the town centre. Spencer bought Max a ball and we all played soccer in the square whole listening to a band play. 

When we arrived back in the centre of Lima, the family took us to "Friendship Park" which was very beautiful and VERY busy. Max was excited to meet his first celebrity in person.

Then we took a train ride around the park.

We watched a Shakira impersonator under the Spanish Arc. 

And enjoyed some Anticuchos (delicious meat on a stick) before heading back to the hotel to pack up. It was a wonderful and action-packed day.  

What a great way to end our visit to Lima.

Now off to the jungle!