First blog post from portable keyboard and iPad…testing!
Another experience traveling. I’ve been on the road a few days and it feels like weeks! It’s been a great start to my trip. I have had days here to eat well, walk, meet interesting people, have great conversations and everything I love about travel has supported me here! Today brought an “adaptive” surprise. This morning Jeny told me there was NO transportation to Yurimaguas. The heavy rain caused the hill side to slide and cover a large section of highway. It might have a path cleared tomorrow…maybe not for several days.
This is the part of my trip that required a bit of a schedule! Because of arranging staff and food for my adventures, people needed a time schedule. Tomorrow is the day I booked with a more deluxe hotel that has a pool. I had hoped to get an early morning shuttle and then relax and enjoy the luxury.
I’ll find out tomorrow how much adapting, if any, I need to do. It’s part of travel!
Buena Vista Lunch
So far, writing with this keyboard on my iPad is a pain. Things operate very differently! I’ll keep using it but may resort to less story and more photos! The other alteranative is to sit and write on pages and then transport it over here. That doesn’t have the flow I’m used to but, I’ll see how that work!
I’ll keep experimenting and see how it goes.. At the moment, it is muggy sitting upstairs with little air moving. However, it’s much less muggy than I expected! That is great!
Birthday in Tarapoto!
Birthday in Tarapoto! I had a relaxing morning, breakfast at the hostel, time in the hammock finishing a book, then a taxi to the coffee shop by the plaza. Along the way, I learned that the road where I am headed tomorrow is closed! Might be open tomorrow? I’ll find out! One more moment to stay flexible and adjust when reality clashes with plans. Best to have plans that flex!
I have see few tourist here…like three or four. I mean foreign tourist! A few local tourist. The foreign tourist here so far have been from France and Germany…so it’s like traveling alone. These don’t talk to anyone! But, all the locals do. They seem excited to meet someone who speaks a little Spanish!
Coming out of a restaurant my first night here, after once again experiencing the delightful flavor of Cecina, a white haired older man walking down the sidewalk stopped in front of me when I greeted him in Spanish. We had a lovely conversation. He asked me how old I am. He said “bravo” for living well and looking young. He is one to talk, he’s 86! Miguel. Taxi drivers, business people, police…with me smiling and saying hello, everyone if quite friendly.
One task I needed to accomplish here in Tarapoto was to find rubber hiking boots! It sounded like I was going to have to search through numerous options! If one business didn’t have them, check another. If one shop didn’t have them, try another. If the market didn’t have them, a different area might. I was set to relax, play through the process and find some.
Boy was I surprised. Walking home my first night, I turned right on the street known for selling “Zapatos”. I didn’t have the energy to shop! But I could walk and have a look. Three blocks later, as I approached the end of this area, a friendly man sitting in front of his store said hello and asked about my travels. His wife was there and quite friendly as well! As the conversation wound down, and I looked at the shelves of tennis shoes, kids shoes, ladies shoes, flip fops, etc. I mentioned I was going to come back and look for “botas”…the rubber boots. He said he had them and pointed. One pair of boots snuggled in to the front of the display for other shoes, almost invisible.
I mentioned that I needed large ones, 46 or 47 size. He said he had those. Perfect! After lunch yesterday, I stopped back by. Max was having lunch. He spoke to his wife and she headed off on the street. While I waited, I watched a crew trim branches off large trees hanging over the street and tangling in overhead lines. The work was done with a ladder, machete, ropes and extended pole…plus a lot of patience. I must have sat and stood there watching for 30 minutes! Max’s wife returned empty handed. They spoke, she got on a motor bike and disappeared.
About 10 minutes later, she returned with the bIke and a bag. She had done all the leg work for me traveling to who knows where to find boots for me. These were size 46. I tried them on and they fit perfectly. I was surprised because I realistically need a size 12 1/2 so shoes are generally too large or too wide or some combination. These fit perfectly. The imprinted information on the bottom indicated they were size 46 or 12 1/2!
I asked Max how much they were? The cost was 45 soles or $13 US. I gave him a $50 soles bill. He handed me a $5 soles coin. I asked him to keep it…he refused! Friends now. Kind people. And every step in take keeping dry in the forest I’ll be thanking them.
Typical travel day do far.
My travel day seemed long but it was short compared to past trips! Getting up around 2:00 am and arriving at my hostel in Lima around 1:30 am was tiring. I enjoyed the journey and was happy to land. The next morning, I had breakfast, the hostel provided a driver for me to the airport. He showed me where to go. It was smooth and simple. The new airport in Lima is awesome! Staff was helpful! I was early so had a leisurely time getting to my next flight. They boarded me early because of my knee brace.
Somehow, I had booked a “premium” seat in the front of the plane with a blocked middle seat. A LOT of room to stretch out and premium service from the staff for those eight seats. I looked forward to seeing the mountains and forest go by but it was cloudy so I had a short nap instead.
Arriving in Tarapoto’s small airport, the exit was crossed with people waving “TAXI” signs and trying to get your attention. I went a different direction for a quieter ramp. A young man caught my attention…he has “friendly” eyes. His cost was less than I was told and he had a car, not a motorbike! Very nice!
Several people recommended restaurant Buena Vista, it’s on the side of the mountain above Tarapoto with a view of a river and the hills outside the city. It was a great spot for lunch! Again, the novelty of trying to communicate with a gringo sho speaks a few words of Spanish surfaced. Patience and play emerged as well. When I speak a little, people assume I know more than I do and begin speaking to me as they would a normal native Spanish speaker. Eventually, asking with different words or explaining from a different angle, we communicate!
The staff at Buena Vista was the same and generally playful! I may go back this afternoon for an early dinner. We are overcast, intermittent rain, and an 80% chance for more showers. I left soon after finishing lunch yesterday because clouds were forming and moving in. The view was nice but the restaurant so open and exposed I didn’t want to get caught there in a rain storm!
Back at the hostel, the rain missed us. I found my hammock and had a rest! Very nice day!
This is a large small town. Vehicles are mostly three wheel motor bike taxi’s. The streets are small, full of traffic but wit courteous drivers. Sidewalks are lined with small stored, sidewalk vendors, and “life”. I love this experience. I’ve taken a few photos I’ll post here to give you a sense of what it is like!
Images so far
And that’s a wrap
I’m going to pack in case the road is open in the morning. I’ll be ready if it does! Take care!
Ps! Went out for a walk and found this KAKAO coffee shop with whole natural cacao. This amazing murals was on the wall. Lovely young lady and I talked about this the spirit of the painting and the animals and the meaning which is very cool!
Now back here writing, I just met a man who arrived last night. He and his partner are going to Yurimaguas when the road opens and traveling with the same company. Travel connection energy!
One more experience
I felt like taking a stroll after writing. Ice cream sounded good! I walked slowly through the market area, and then went down the street to Max’s shoe store. I wanted to see how the trees look at them trimming and say goodbye to him.
Leaving there, I wandered up some streets I haven’t been on yet. As I was getting close to the turn at home, a place across the street, grabbed my attention! I literally felt a pull to go explore.
I walked into “Kakao and Cafe”. A stunning mural in the photo below covered the wall. I asked the young lady about the story behind it. Another lovely travel connection formed. Awesome having these connections every day, Soul to Soul!
Happy Birthday! Great to tag along via your blog. And what experiences already.
Meeting people on the same journey, the shop owners who went above and beyond to keep your feet dry, and lovely restaurant!
I don’t see any photos except the video. Nothing farther down.
This is going to be a great adventure to vicariously experience!