Heading out on another excursion.
After lunch we took a nap and lounged on the upper deck until we went on the afternoon expedition to “Monkey Island” and the village of Porto Miguel. We went zipping down the channels after an initial foray into the grasses to find more Amazonian water lilies. We went “monkey fishing” with a stick and bananas. Jonathan pulled some nice video on his iPhone, while I took shots with the water-proof camera as it was raining on our departure from the Delfin. With 20/20 hindsight I should’ve brought my main camera.
After Monkey Island (which isn’t an island) we stopped in Puerto Miguel to deliver the school supplies contributed by the guests on the Delfin (including us), and to shop at the artisan’s market. There was a lot of sameness to most of the crafts, but some very nice work too. We picked up a pair of woven placemats for our breakfast table and a tightly woven shallow basket with which we were taken. The ride back to the boat was quick as the Delfin was nosed into the treetops/river bank just around from the mouth of Río Yarapa.
Heading out on another excursion.
Amazonian waterlily.
Amazonian waterlily.
Amazonian waterlily - that flower bud is bigger than a softball, but not as large as a volleyball.
Our usual skiff-mates - the Bautista family in the front; Melissa and Steve Wilson seated behind us.
Another attempt at exemplifying the flooded forest.
A black (gracile) capuchin monkey (Cebus negrifrons) comes down to take the bait.
The Peruvian black spider monkey generally gave the red howler a wide berth - except when cornered on a limb.
Black capuchin monkey.
The black capuchin monkey gets his reward.
The red howler with a mouthful of banana.
Cornered out on a limb again.
I'm not sure the howler knows that the spider monkey has got the goods.
The Peruvian spider monkey (Ateles chamek) was very tenacious, where the other individuals would come and go.
Hey! Come back here with that banana!!
Oh yeah, this is good stuff.
Got any more?
Hey, you with the camera…
Seems like most of the photos I took of this fellow he was vocalizing.
Another snap.
Going for the jackpot.
Sweet bliss!
The howler reappears.
Stepping off the landing at Puerto Miguel looking down the main drag.
Palm fronds being prepared as roofing/thatch.
The artisans market.
The artisans market.
The tightly woven basket we purchased. It's about 11 inches long.
One of the two placemats we purchased.
The main drag looking back to the river.
Rudy and one of the younger Bautistas prepare to hand out school supplies to the kids in town.
Moriche palm (Mauritia flexuosa) in fruit (aguje).
My notes say these are 'greater schiffornis (Varzea schiffornis)' but I'm not very sure.
Greater schifornis.
Back on the boat, tonight I'm hoisting a camucamu sour.
That evening we noticed we had an extra boat attached to the Delfin. …
… It turns out it was a launch/taxi to take one of the passengers on to Iquitos earlier the next morning. That passenger was the owner of the tour company that owns and operates the Delfin II. We had not realized that she was on board until then.
The dinner table settings.
Some intricately carved gourds served as decoration.
Corn appetizer.
Dinner was a barbecued buffet.
The crew was multi-talented - Elvis (I think that's right) was busking on the streets of Iquitos, …
… when he was invited to join the crew of the Delfin. The owner's strategy is to find talented individuals (e.g. musicians) and then train them how to be cabin boys. Elvis was an amazing flutist.
