Monkeys playing tag

Thank goodness that today is not a bus day. We took a boat instead. We were on the boat 5 hours, it might be a long time but is so much better than 5 hours in bus. Before we left Erika Lodge we went on a walk with Jose, Tasha and Max while the others were zip-linning. The monkeys were really active, swinging around and playing what looked like tag. The two types of monkeys we saw were Brown Capuchins and the Common Squirrel Monkey. The Brown Capuchins are the ones that you see most but the others are prettier. We watched them for a while and then returned to the lodge to play cards before the others came back.

We stopped in Boca Manu (a little town 5 minutes away from the next lodge) to buy drinks after the boat ride. In the little abarrotes shop (that sells grains, fruits, vegetables, and candy) on the way into town we saw baby chickens, baby ducks and a pig. Helen and I had a fun time catching the chicks and naming them. Fuzzball was my favorite, the Crooked Wing, Big Chick and Ugly. He really was ugly.

When we got to Boca Lodge we were met by the sweetest puppy named Lobo. Almost all the dogs I know or have heard of are Lomo or Lobo but I do think they are nice names. The puppy ran around us until he needed to rest so we could pet him. The lodge was more like lots of cabins with their own bathrooms!!! Our beds had mosquito nets like always so I wore a t-shirt to bed for the first time. Before dinner everyone went on a night walk which was really creepy. We saw the biggest tarantula I have ever seen in my life, the body was bigger than my palm. We saw some big pawprints of a jaguar or puma but we didn't meet the real thing. I'm so glad we brought flashlights because at night the jungle is PITCH BLACK. It was pretty creepy. We also saw a couple Bullet Ants that were almost as long as my pinky. Jose told us that the local people call them 24 hour ants because your arm will hurt for 24 hours if it bites you. Jack was thinking about doing it but I am so glad he didn't. In Brazil for a boy to "come of age" he has to put his hand in a bag for 10 minutes with the Bullet Ants inside. They really do take that seriously!