when I go back to San Juan...

Once we landed at the lodge, it wasn't long before Pame and I put on rainboots and hit the trail with our guides Artemio and Pedro. Even though it didn't rain on our first day there, a good portion of the trail was covered in mud or submerged in river water. Don't refuse the rainboots, even though the 5 soles/day rental fee for a pair is not included in the package.

A friend joins us for the trail...

We passed a few real homes on en route to the Yahua...

Artemio and Pedro pointed out all of the fruit that grow in the jungle... mangoes...

plantains (unripe)

and ripe.

A family takes their laundry to the shore...

It may seem like this family owns the boat but in reality, they probably don't. Those who live in these Amazonian villages accept that boats are a necessity to everyone. Boats are docked in common places and oars and motors are either stored on board or under the home closes to the water. Now that's what I call community property.

It wasn't long before we came across the village of San Juan de Huanshaldo... or Hualshando... I'll never remember the name.

The soda and supply shop.

Yet another friendly companion!

All manner of vehicles and livestock hang out under houses, which are raised to accommodate the rising of the river.

Pame meets some local kids.

There were chickens and roosters all over the village! They're a relatively easy animal to care for, which is essential to a pueblo as small as San Juan de H.

San Juan de H. has just one road... On the right-hand side, from foreground to the back, is the village discotech, the village pub/movie theater, and the village school!

It was at the last house in the village that I met the new love of my life, baby sloth. Here, his entrepreneuring human takes him out for a ride.

Pedro showed us how easy it was to handle the sloth... see me cuddle el perezosito here!