After several days of not getting the workflow right, and being confused by a mysterious error in uploading (that I now suspect may be the result of insuffient permissions in FireFox at this end), I have resized and uploaded a handful of photos from the Amazon part of the journey. Story about the Amazon, a story about the photo-posting workflow (so that I remember it, and in case anyone has better suggestions) and of course more photos from the rest of the trip to come…
This python was minding its own business, coiled up in the water below, when our local creature spotter (in green) took a hefty stick and lifted it out, the better for us to see. He put it down on the bank of the stream, but this seemed the better action shot.
We visited the amazonian village of (insert correct name here). One of the things that they showed us were the sorts of food that they usually prepare. Several varieties of catfish, plantain and cava, prepared in many ways.
This capybara family were so surprised to see our skiff that they all ligned up to get their photo taken. They sat like this for many seconds, before turning and walking along the river and then into the jungle, single file.
The guides were always very excited when macaws flew over. They must be rare. They’re certainly striking. This one was happily perched in the top of a nearby tree, yellow chest shining in the sun.
Not the sin, but the namesake Amazonian creature. This one was lolling in quite a small tree, so it was well within range of a photo. The other sloths that we saw were really just specks against the sky.
Seen while night-spotting with a torch, from the skiff.
Jumping attack fish, so-called because it jumped into our skiff, hitting Catherine directly in the side of the head. It then landed in the bottom and freaked everyone out because it looked so much like a piranha. It was only when captured and seen to not have the piranha’s fierce teeth that it was given another name.
A couple in a canoe that we passed had a large haul of red piranha. She showed one off for us.
A young local is not bothered by the river mud as he makes his way to the boat where the catch of piranha are being shown.
Once thought to be a remnant version of the prehistoric archeopterix, it turns out not to be. Just a bird. A weird-looking bird. The only place we saw these was in a single tree deep up a protected river in the reserve. There were hundreds of them in this one tree.
