Four days, three nights, in the jungle.

I was picked up at six in the morning, stopping off just the once to pick four more people up from another hotel. We headed out of Cusco and after about half hour, we turned off the main road to Puno and headed into the mountains. Up and down we drove, zig-zagging our way along the mountainous roads. We stopped a couple of times to see some wildlife once we were in the jungle.

Monkeys, birds (Cock of the Rock), we even had a lunch picnic by the side of the road.

It was stunning country. Lush greenery, little waterfalls as the water from the top of the mountains found it's way down. Beautiful.

We drove through Pilcopata, over the river, and turned into our first nights lodgings. A couple of shacks with shared shower and toilets. It was about five o'clock, so we headed back into town for a much needed beer, and a get-to-know each other.

As we crossed the main bridge, an old bridge caught my eye.

The four of the group (two girls, two boys, about twenty years old) were Dutch. Our guide was about forty, and lived in Cusco. After the beer we headed back in darkness for dinner. I think an early night was had by all.

The next morning we continued on through the mountains to a small town in Atalaya, where we left our ride and boarded a river boat.

Twenty minutes later we pulled up on the left bank and disembarked, heading to our second camp. The lodgings had private bathrooms, but it was the camp (Paititi Lodge) and the grounds that made it for me. There were a couple of butterfly bushes out the front of our lodgings, where large and colourful butterflies flitted, along with hummingbirds. Awesome.

We had two nights here. Along with breakfasts, lunches and dinners. It was perfect. We went out on the boat and down river a while, before heading into the jungle for more wildlife.

I know we were not deep in the Amazon, but it sure as hell looked and felt like it! I suffered a bit on this leg with my toe, as there was a lot of uneven ground and rocky footpaths to step along, but i soldiered on the best i could. By now, the group new i wasn't cut out for this. I knew too! Oh well.

The next day i sat it out. My toe was hurting, but mainly, the view i had was enough for me for the day. I could have watched those hummingbirds all day. So, the group headed off, and i sat, soaking up the view and the sounds whilst doing some research for MY next leg. Besides, the group were family, so a day together, just them, seemed a good thing. I was content to the extreme.

I didn't need my alarm clock the next morning. The first night, it rained around two thirty in the morning. This time, it was a quarter to six. I freshened up, got dressed, and went outside. I guess this is why they call it the rain forest! And the hummingbirds were still doing their thing.

After breakfast we left for Cusco... As we left the mountains and reached local villages, i began to feel a deep sorrow for what i had left behind. By the time we reachecd Cusco and the 'chaos' of civilization, i was shaking my head in despair. THIS is why i wanted to travel. To forgo such trivances as "don't forget the milk"/ " supper at six". I was truly saddened.

We pulled up in Cusco and said our farewells to our guide Nefi and the driver. As for the group, we had already decided to have a farewell beer before departing company. It was only a few days together, but it was something we all shared, and something that probably 80% of the world's population would never get to see or have. Not just the jungle, or the wildlife, but a calling. This was why we were all here. Because we wanted to be here. Because this, is in our hearts.

Salud my friends. Safe travels.