Saving a Anhinga

It was late afternoon; we were at the mouth of the Dorado River, this dry season is presenting itself early, the river has been receding rapidly so I think this excursion by boat through the waterways will be the last of the wet season. We went through a very narrow stream of shallow waters, we got stuck, so Roque our captain had to jump into the water and push us out while we bounced from one side to the other to help get the boat out.

Finally we got out, and started to cruise up river, the water was almost green with lots of algae which has grown because at this time there is less oxygen in the water. We met up with a troop of squirrel monkeys, they were a large group, actually they ware also accompanied by white capuchin monkeys mixed with the troop. They sometimes travel together; it’s common to see these two species together. We were very concentrated watching this loud group jumping from one tree to another.

Suddenly on the other side of the river we saw an anhinga, it was a male, black with long straight bill and very long slender neck and silvery patches on the upper wing. He was standing very still on a dead tree trunk protruding out of the water; looking intently down at the water very close to the trunk of the tree. Roque told our guide that there must be something in the water; first they thought it might be a caiman, so we approached but as we got closer the anhinga flew away.

Our guide Adonay saw that there was a bird under the water, the only thing that could be seen was a wing with the feathers all spread out. We got very close to see what was going on…..it was also an anhinga; we thought it was diving to catch fish.

From Alvaro Roca Rey

Muy estimados amigos del Delfin:

Estoy nuevamente sentado en mi escritorio y por momentos me parece estar despertando apenas de un sueño fantástico y propulsor de nuevas visitas a ese fantástico universo que ha establecido la naturaleza pero que no sería apreciado en esa dimensión de no ser por la creatividad y sensibilidad que han puesto tu y tu esposo en ello.

Insisto, al margen de las bellezas particulares con las que Dios ha glorificado esa parte de nuestro país me ha emocionado ver el grado de compromiso con el que valientes empresarios – como ustedes- apuestan por su patria. Para el favorecido viajero es en todo momento manifiesta la búsqueda de la perfección, de hacer las cosas bien, de ser lo mejor, de demostrar que somos y podemos.

Me impresionó mucho la sensibilidad artística en lo que no serían propiamente detalles, sino elementos. En todo componente hay sensibilidad, elegancia, belleza, arte. Llámense, flores, velas, uniformes de la tripulación, adornos de cabina, batas, toallas heladas y perfumadas al potpurrí, decoración de mesas, adornos en cócteles, biblioteca culta y surtida, ausencia de contaminación acústica (música de ascensor, que le llaman) limpieza…y tantas otras cosas que hacen sentir al viajante complacido y mimado, y al peruano orgulloso de lo que también ofrece nuestro país. En resumen, sería como la antítesis de lo que recibes en Cusco y su obligado Macchu Pichu y en ello no me voy a extender porque tu sabes a que me refiero.

About a small anteater (Part II)

March 2009

It’s amazing how times flies, it´s been almost two month since the little princess got here, she is growing, getting stronger and hopefully feeling better, she must have miss her mother a lot, must have not understand nothing at all, but at least she is fine, she is well fed and comfortable…!

She sleeps in a nice and soft cushion, at first she grap Rambo´s blanket and hold on to it. She sleeps like a small ball, all curved and with its long tail she hides her face, I think she likes it to be very dark when she sleeps, she doesn´t like the light when she sleeps… When I wake her up she opens her small eyes and looks at me…!

An amazon sunrise

I woke very early
The sun had not risen yet
The night still dominated the day
A half moon was still there
Followed by this wonderful shiny star
Venus they say…..always following the moon