Hello everybody! We just got back from our trip to the jungle! We were given a tour by a local and his family.  When we first arrived we set up our beds and the boys tried to claim dibs on the hammocks but were firmly denied by everyone else.  Prior to lunch we were taken to a view point on the Jatuyaca river and tried lemon ants! They were very sour, just like a lemon.  We also learned about all sorts of plants and their various uses (nail polish, tattoos, hats).  After lunch we hiked into the rainforest to climb some waterfalls. The first one we did not climb but swam around instead. Some people even stood underneath the waterfall.  Soaking wet, we climbed to the next waterfall where we used helmets, harnasses and ropes to climb up. On our way back to camp, we pretended to be Tarzan, swinging on one of the vines hanging off a tree.  For dinner we had fresh Tilapia although some people did not enjoy it very much. The next day, our guide took us to play soccer and volleyball followed by a refreshing swim in the lagoons.  They had a very strong current in some places so we were able to slide down the rocks like a slide. After a seemingly normal lunch, our guide brought out a huge local grub that some `people ate fried.  It was very, very salty.  Ben, being extremely adventurous, ate one alive.  He didn´t even throw up! After lunch we learned about the medicinal plants and the way the locals catch animals for food.  They then taught us how to pan gold in a small stream.  It was a lot of work for barely a fleck of gold! Also in this river, we found rocks that could be used as facepaint! The local family provided us with a ceremony.  It was hard to understand at times because it had to be translated.  We learned about local traditions, instruments and even acted out a traditional marriage ceremony! Today we had breakfast and headed back to Tena before starting our project phase in Puma Rumi tomorrow.
-Katie and Allie