In the highlands of Peru, I´ve been drinking a lot of coca tea to help with altitude sickness. I think it has actually helped (though I was told chewing the leaves was more effective). I´m in Cuzco airport right now waiting for a flight to Arequipa. We just flew in from the jungle, so the altitude is bothering me again. I ordered some mate de coca (this time in a tea bag and not just the leaves). The package lists the ¨properties¨of coca tea: Restorative and energetic Excellent for diet. Digestive. Anti-diarrheac action Acts against fatigue and alitude sickness. Relieves …

We just spent the last four nights in the Amazon jungle outside of Puerto Maldonado. It was great… but I have to say, the mosquitos were ridiculous. Growing up in Southern California, going to school in Northern California, and now living in Seattle, I´ve never really had to deal with mosquitos. Here are some things that I´ve learned: Mosquitos can bite through clothing. Smart little buggers! On one of the nighttime walks, I got about 15 bug bites on my back…. through my shirt. Ridiculous! Deet ¨repels¨ mosquitos….. but in the loose sense of the word. I was Deet-ed, and …

After Machu Picchu, we descended down in to the Amazon.  We decided on Puerto Maldonado, which has some of the more untouched rainforest.  Unfortunately, one of the catches of going to the Amazon during the rainy season is that you’re less likely to see wildlife.  (Since there’s a lot of rain, the animals don’t have to move around to get water… and likely to be spotted.)  What I really wanted to see, which we didn’t, was some funky monkeys.  🙂   a capybara – the largest rodent in the world.   a caiman.  (here’s another where you can really peer …