Early this morning we took an excursion up a tributary to a small lake to see the giant lily pads. The lilies are known as Victorias Regias, after Queen Victoria. The plants were huge, about five feet in diameter. We were hoping to be able to set Alden on one but they were much too thin.

After this excursion we returned to the boat for breakfast and headed up the river a bit further to the village of the Witoto tribe. They were within walking distance of another village, the Boras tribe. These two villages shared a primary school as well as a high school. The Witotos had also dressed up for us. They were wearing painted skirts and dresses made from the bark of a tree that is pressed and stretched to a fabric. They were also wearing headbands with beautiful feathers. We were able to hear a quick message on the talking drums. The Witotos sent the message that they had guests. Then the tribe sang and danced for us. This tribe seemed happier and friendlier than the Yaguas and invited Arlin, Grampa, Lilly and David up to dance with them. One of the dances they did was the Anaconda Dance using a long log to represent the big snake. After this happy welcome we traded with them and took pictures before we went back to the boat.

This afternoon we stopped up a tributary for an adventure of canoeing with the natives, swimming, and playing in the mud. The canoes we saw the natives using all along the Amazon are great little boats. They sit very low in the water and had a nice shape to them. David almost bought one. The paddles were made from the wide roots of one of the rain forest trees. The paddle ends were teardrop shaped and were made in all different sizes for the children and adults. David did end up bringing two paddles home. The canoes were carved with a small rudder on the bottom to keep them from going back and forth, so the villagers paddled from the front of the boats. We all got a chance to paddle them and to have a water fight in the middle of the tributary. Again the water was great, just the right temperature, the current not too strong . We were curious how the water differed in the tributary and in the main channel of the Amazon, so a few of us walked across the small piece of land to the main river. The water was about the same temperature but the current was so strong that we had to work hard just to stay in one place.

This evening we all sat at the front of the boat and watched one of the most amazing sunsets that most of us have ever seen. The spectrum of colors was very vibrant and the cloud formations were magnificent. As Emily E. said of the sunset, “It was the best because we’re all seeing it together, and that is pretty special." The debates about the shades of color raged back and forth. The shape of various clouds and what they "were" became the main topic of the discussion. We saw very many things ranging from pterodactyls to cartoon bunny characters. Rabieb cooked a fabulous birthday dinner and even managed, using only a frying pan and a few ingredients, to make a delicious cake for Grampy’s birthday party. It was a perfect last night on the Amazon.

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