Poor Sherry has been feeling so bad for about 7 days of our trip. She has been such a trooper and tried to carry on, but she started getting a high fever when we were in the Amazon rain forest. We got back to Otavalo last night and we called Cherie, the sister we are renting the apartment from here, and she came over and took us to the doctor. We had been introduced to him the last time we were here. He's German and speaks very good English. He was very interested in Sherry's symptoms as we told him that we had been to the Amazon. At first he wanted to test for Malaria, but since her symptoms had started before that trip he went in another direction. Final conclusion: Sinus Infection. She is on antibiotics and a nasal spray and is already feeling better. The most astounding part of the 45 minute visit is when he told her "that will be $9.00". Our mouths probably fell open.
So, when we flew from Manta to Quito and stayed in the cute little hostel we figured out that we could catch a bus to Tena from near there instead of going all the way back to Quito. We did that and rode the 5 hours to Tena. I had found The River People on line after they were recommended to us by some brothers in Manta. We reserved a lodge with them in a package deal. Best choice we've made so far. They said they would pick us up at the bus terminal and they did. The taxi driver took us to lunch to a place that was recommended because they cooked this amazing fish in paper over hot coals. It was fabulous. Sherry got chicken and didn't eat much because she was having a miserable day. Needless to say I got to try both dishes. We were then taken to the River People office and on to our lodge. Thatched roofs, no electricity except at the reception area where we could charge our electronics, everything made from sustainable local materials. We had our choice of river rafting or hiking to waterfalls. We (yes, even sick Sherry) chose the class 3 river rafting. What an amazing day. We traveled 17 miles down the river and will never forget the sights we saw or how many times we thought we were going to drown. We had so much fun and Sherry did so good the whole day, but by the time we got back to the lodge she was burning up with fever and went to bed. To bad cause she missed the "after dark bug hunting expedition" I went on. Actually not to bad...she doesn't handle the bug situation to well. We saw a poisonous snake, a tarantula eat a grasshopper twice it's size, and a multitude of creepy stuff. The night before we watched them make chocolate out of the cocoa beans that grow wild here. Yummy! The rain forest can't be described. The change from the top of the Andes to this dense, lush forest with the biggest ferns I've ever seen is remarkable. Memories I will never forget.
The next day we were taken to the bus terminal by taxi, rode the 5 hours back to Quito, transferred buses to Otavalo, rode another 2 hours, took a taxi to the apartment. We have become world class travelers when it comes to bus and taxi. Bus ride cost $8, $3, taxi $2.
As I'm writing this there is the sound of an ice cream truck outside. Funny thing is it's not an ice cream truck, it's the garbage truck. They come by every day, every other day being either food garbage or paper garbage. Everyday the street sweepers (actual people with brooms) are out sweeping. This is a very clean place with very good smells as the street vendors are cooking all day.
I'm sorry this is long and believe me I could go on and on, but I'll give it a break for a while. Just making up for lost time in the Amazon Jungle. (Can't say that enough cause it doesn't seem real to me). Miss you, but having the time of our lives.
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