ExplorNapo and Canopy walk

If there is one thing I am learning in the Amazon it is how to face my fears. It seems like every where we go someone is afraid of something, but the Amazon has no patience for fears. Whether it's spiders in the shower, bats under the bed, or simply walking across a canopy one hundred something feet in the air, you just have to deal with it. This is their home too and it isn't as segregated here between humans and animals as it is at home. It has taken a lot of getting used to, but I think we're all doing okay. With that said, waking up this morning to a clean room free of cockroaches and bats was very pleasant.

Everything is cleaner here, especially the showers. There is much better water pressure and since they are outdoor showers, there are less bugs that get trapped in there. Yesterday at Explorama, there was something that I thought resembled a centipede (it was very dark) in the shower in my room so I tried to drown it, which didn't work that we'll either. Finally I just jumped in and took a very quick shower and then grabbed my light. It was a grasshopper.

That's just another example of how you just have to keep moving here. If you don't look for the bugs and the spiders and the bats, you won't see them. If you are constantly afraid and aware, then you will. You assume the worst is going to jump out of nowhere, but not everything here is trying to kill you. We all just have to share our space. It is a lesson not only for animals (bugs included) and humans, but humans and humans.

One last note: Mom, let Steve know there are cats everywhere here, especially back in Panama. Aaron and Lola will fit in just fine. But, I will gladly trade them for a baby sloth if Steve can make that happen.

- Lexi

Puerto Rico

Today we visited a small village called Puerto Rico. Going into this village, I don't think most of us knew that we'd fall so in love with the happiness of these children. We were welcomed with signs and smiles and everyone was so eager to meet and play with us. After a presentation from the children, we played several games like soccer, duck-duck-goose, volleyball and jump rope. We gave the village people lots of clothes we had brought along with the toys, which every single child enjoyed. Later, most of us jumped and swam in the river with the children (yes mom I did jump) and the entire day was spent laughing and feeling nothing but happy to be living this experience. Overall, today was already my favorite part of this trip!

Love you mom, dad, and Thaissa! Miss you

Thalita

Arrival at ExplorNapo Lodge

Sorry for not posting more. There has been limited time to be online and internet connectivity has been limited. Today we left Explorama Lodge and moved to Napo lodge, about two hours away.
Ken

Here are some notes from the kids:

I HAVE GUITAR ACCESS! Just had to get that in there. I love it here so much and I am having such a great time. It has been extremely hot the past few days, which made for some uncomfortable nights. Also, I really, really, really, don't like bats. Still, I wouldn't change a thing and I absolutely love it here. Watch out, mom, looks like the travel fever isn't dying any time soon. Tell Steve that the bugs aren't bothering me at all and I'm winning the bet. Love and miss you all!
- Lexi


My camera is getting some good use! I have like 600 pictures so far, finally started playing with the manual. I pet and anaconda yesterday and I didn't die, I was very proud of my self!!!!! The bugs rant to bad  actually, there are so many bats dad would hate it! For someone who doesn't like birds there are some really nice ones down here. Havering so much fun, miss everyone so much!!
-Madison

Ok. Lunchtime!  More posts later...

First day in the Amazon!

Hello mom,
It is beautiful here and we woke up to the birds along with many insects as well.We are just getting ready to head out for the day of community service with the village of Puerto Rico. We hope to make a small change with helping planting trees and painting desks for nearby schools. I can't wait and hope to tell all the stories of this week

Looking for tech feedback

I saw in some emails that this wasn't working or that it wasn't possible to post comments.
If you are in fact able to comment, somebody please do so that I can see it is working. If comments are disabled, maybe someone can investigate how I change the settings to make it possible for you to comment and then email me the info. Since my main focus is on ensuring that the kids are having a great experience while we're here, I can only do so much to play tech geek and figure out the blogging  stuff. Thanks!

How did I let this blog name happen? I'm in trouble, aren't I?
So after a 5:45 drop-off and months of preparation, the Hudson summer trip to the Peruvian Amazon is underway.