Day 1 PM Making our way to Bora

After arriving at “People of Peru”, a short orientation as to what they do in Peru, (a lot, to be discussed later), we all hopped into the 3-wheeled taxis that are found throughout the 3rd world. In Asia they are know at tuk-tuks, here they are “motor-cars”. Room for three people to ride, and a driver on the motorcycle front. Very efficient, noisy and fast. A great way to get around town and see, feel and smell the city. And cheap, a little over a dollar to go just about anywhere.

Our destination was Belen. A small poor community where Paul Opp, the founder of People of Peru adopted two street girls 6 years ago. They had been living on the street for two years after their mom had died. They were 6 and 8 years old. For part of each year a good share of Belen is underwater. As the glaciers melt in the Andes, the Amazon rises and floods, inundating the lower part of the town. This is bad for two reasons, first, people live here and have to move out temporarily as the water rolls in for several months. However, more importantly, these people have no sewer systems, so all the raw sewage that has been accumulating in the town is now liberated as it submerges. They build temporary walkways to get to the 2nd floors of the buildings, but the filthy and disease remains until the water subsides. Yes, kids play in this cesspool, and yes, infant mortality is very high. Education has proved futile to date. It is one of People of Peru’s priorities – clean water.

After the requisite tour of the meat market, (first time sighting – alligator and monkey) we all pile into a river boat for our hour and a half ride up the Amazon to the village we will be staying out for 4 days. I do not know how the boats get around in the maze upon maze of jungle that is the Amazon here. But the boatman weave their way in and out of mangrove-type passageways until you end up at a little village. The village we will be staying in is San Andrus, a Bora Tribe. We are not sure of the population, probably less than a 75. We unpacked the boat with our bags, food and dental supplies, took a bath in the river (carefully) and relaxed for the evening. Heh, no mosquitos! When Gloria was here last with Rio Lindo six years ago, they had gone up the Amazon for 8 hours to a different village and as soon as the sun set, the air with THICK with them. No leaving your tent after dark, here, the evening was very pleasant with no bugs, but the clouds had moved on and the stars and noises of the jungle were spectacular!