all work and no play...

We did go to Peru to work, but that's not all we did.  We had several days off.  This section shows us hanging around Iquitos.

The students at the Universidad Particular de Iquitos, were so wonderful.  They showed us around, took us to the lake, invited us to their party, and helped us buy food for our trip to the villages.  We toured their facilities and discussed with them some of the issues facing Iquitos and the surrouding villages. 

We also found time to just relax and have a look around.  One of my favorite things to do, is to just walk (or ride) around and explore a place.  One day we stumbled upon a restaurant that had no earthly business existing on a peruvian street: THE YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS!  We couldn't resist, so we checked it out.

  very strange.  Owned by "Big Tex" as we called him, the place was full of American sports memorabilia.  One my friends traded his University of Alabama Football T-shirt for a souvenior from the place.  Big Tex loves to collect everything American he can get his hands on. 

He told us about his 3-par golf course that was a work in progress.  We rode out to see it...If you are a golfer, don't go near this place! the condition of the course would make you shudder.  I don't know what it is about a golf course in the amazon that seems so wrong in so many ways.  Oh wait, I know what it was!  It was the smell of burning trees and the sound of chainsaws in the background while you're teeing off that gets under your skin.

  Some of you may disagree, but I think golf courses are best suited for wide open spaces.  When you are having to clear-cut the rainforest to make room for the 'back nine' something is very wrong.  That is just my opinion though...

One more thing, You can judge me all you want, but I'm one of those people who is dead-set on trying all the traditional foods.  Yes, I ate guinea pig.  It tasted...like chicken.  Pretty good though.  You don't have to eat a lovable pet to enjoy Peruvian food though.  There are lots of great restaurants.  My favorite is the juice.  So many different kinds. You never know what fruit you're drinking, but it's always delicious!

I can't wait to go back to Iquitos and the Amazon one day.  It was truly one of my favorite places.  Everyone please feel free to call me out, if I've grossly misrepresented anything, in any way.