Arrival in Iquitos

I had a quick free breakfast before heading to the airport. Outside the hotel there were police with shields, so we were leaving at precisely the right time - before whatever protests or chaos was about to commence. I shared a cab with Magretta who was slightly eccentric. This flight went smoothly and I met Freddie outside Iquitos airport! Magretta insisted on her taxi man carrying my bags and tried to get Freddie and I to get into her cab to give us a lift. We got away eventually but not before I was introduced to her entire family. We went in a motor taxi to La Pascana hostel. The weather was extremely hot and humid and would take some getting used to. After a lovely two course Peruvian lunch in Waisai for £3 we went to buy some supplies for the jungle. We went with Louis and Hulio, two of the field work assistants. We went to a store which sold absolutely everything you could imagine. The store was known as the Peruvian version of Harrods. We bought pots, pans, rain ponchos, plastic containers, a spade and some other bits and bobs. When we returned to the hostel the food we would need was discussed. The quantities were decided upon and a list was finalised.