quick update…

….have two mins before being picked up so thought I´d update on yesterday

I left tena by bus for a 6hr trip. Thankfully got a seat this time next to a guy called Ben who is in the peace corp. He told me that Coca where I was going is off limits to the peace corps (he was only going half way) as its so close to the Columbian border with high crime rates and ever so slightly lawless. Great. I wondered whether to take him seriously when ten mins later we were stopped by the military and asked questions. Normally if someone asks me something I dont understand then I take a 50/50 gamble and say ´si´or ´no´. Turns out he was asking me if I had any guns so I was glad I played the ignorant tourist and kept schtum.

The bus got a flat tire so arrived in coca late at about 8pm and went straight to Hotel El Auca which is where I was being picked up from in the morning. Its the best hotel in coca so I was thinking of finding somewhere cheaper but then decided to stay. It was the right choice. there was a blackout in the whole town about 20mins later and I was REALLY glad I wasn’t walking the streets in pitch black. Also turns out that the hotel was about the only place in town with its own generator (and pet parrot) so doubly lucky.

My pick up is here to go into the jungle. More travelling/fun. 2 hrs by bus to the river and then 6hrs by canoe to the lodge. Next update in a week.