As I reviewed my blog posts from 2012, I realize that each one discussed the historic flooding which took place this year. It really has consumed everyone’s attention and it still continues to impact many today who live in tents along the highway and in the rafters for their jungle homes. The waters are slowly receding but not soon enough for some. Many classes are still canceled, both in the city of Iquitos and the jungle. Villagers are still not able to rebuild as water levels remain too high. Many businesses are under water and even the local animal shelter, Amazon Cares, the only shelter in a city of 500,000 people, was destroyed. For my dog loving friends, check out: https://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/store/ars/item/49701/ 


Also for those who are interested, this is a great website by the Peruvian Navy that is updated daily. Here we watched it like a weather report each day as the water rose before our eyes: http://www.dhn.mil.pe/app/menu/servicios/rioamazonia/index.asp 


As the water recedes, new threats are posed. The CDC in Atlanta released a warning to tourists traveling in all of Loreto (the state where I live). But like the US embassy’s kidnap warning for earlier this year and last year’s dengue fever outbreak, life goes on—as it should. Recently, concerns for upcoming travelers prompted one to contact Dr. Linnea Smith, our resident American doctor who founded and still runs the Amazon Jungle Clinic. Her response was just right—she writes: “Well, I am in Wisconsin and have not heard anything in particular, but leptospirosis has always been around, especially in Belén. The flood has been so large that any animal urine is pretty well diluted, especially out where we are. (Note the CDC's mention of 'urban areas lacking sanitation" as being at higher risk). I don't advise drinking the Amazon ... but if I had to choose, I would take that water over the Wisconsin River, which not only has sewage and animal wastes but also has chemicals and pesticides that we do not have in the Amazon. The CDC has an obligation to warn everyone about everything. But there is no place in the world without risks. Right here in Wisconsin we have an outbreak of whooping cough, and there is St. Louis Equine Encephalitis and Lyme disease and histoplasmosis, oh my. Personally, I am not worried about leptospirosis”. I always appreciate Linnea’s clear-headed and practical advice. She is not an alarmist and that’s just what’s called for if you’re going to live or travel anywhere along the Amazon River or in the Peruvian rainforest. 

A fun story about how the Internet makes the world smaller. About a year ago, I wrote of two British gals who were volunteering at a nearby orphanage called Santa Monica. A few months ago, I found an interesting email in my in box from a young woman in the United States. She had been doing some research online for the Santa Monica orphanage and during the search, a link was made to the mention I wrote of it in my blog. And why was this young lady researching the orphanage? Well, she lived there until the age of 6 until she was adopted by a couple for the states! She’s from Iquitos and wrote to say she found it interesting that I’m an American living here and she’s Peruvian and living there. We had a nice conversation back and forth and made friends on Facebook. She’s now about 19 and just finishing high school due to a year’s delay. When she arrived in the US, she did not speak a word of English so this took some time to learn but kids are soooo great at picking up new languages. Her writing is flawless English and she claims to have retained none of her Spanish. However, she very much hopes to return to Iquitos one day and make a visit to the orphanage, perhaps even to help by volunteering her time. I really hope I’m still here when she makes her first visit. It will be quite the culture shock but I’m sure she retains many strong impressions of her time here and I’d love to meet her to discuss it further. 

Fore!

This past weekend was busy with last minute details before my trip home to Michigan. I’ll be there for the month of June and really look forward to seeing my family. Jack, my grandson, will be turn seven at the end of June so we’re all going to Cedar Point for the weekend. Talk about living dangerously! Before I left I attended a fun gringo gathering Sunday at the Amazon Golf Course. Yes, there is such a place and it was quite pretty. For real adventure golfers, this is the place. For $25 you get a 9 hole course, 12 balls, clubs and a machete! And you can go around as many times as you’d like. There was food and drinks and good conversation. I can’t say it was a Memorial Day weekend BBQ as many of the attendants were British but Megan and I thought of as exactly that. And from what I saw on the Michigan weather forecast, I think it was hotter and more humid there and here! In fact, a torrid jungle rain came through about 3 and cooled everything down. Once it passed, Megan and I took a turn on the course with one of the investor-owners, Bill Grimes who’s from Indiana! He and his wife, Marmelada run a local watering hole in Iquitos called Dawn on the Amazon. Anyway, the course was really beautiful and they’ve even imported some kind of crazy short grass for the greens that grows well in the tropics. Check out www.amazongolfcourse.com


I hope everyone enjoys the start of summer this weekend and I look forward to wearing only my shorts and flip-flops on this next visit to Michigan, just like here. It’s much easier to get the day started when the weather is always warm—Love it!!.