El rapido no esta aqui
19 01 2007So we had set our alarms for 5 AM to catch the 6 AM rapido launch we paid for yesterday. Got to the dock at about 5:30, but no boat! We didn’t end up leaving until 8. A rapido is a 20 passenger (cramped) boat with a roof, operable windows, a 200 HP outboard, and several huge gas tanks. It has one purpose - to get a lot of people down the river really fast. They also act as couriers, dropping off packages and mail (some passengers get off too) to tiny pueblos along the way. Also, since we are going fast and we are much smaller than the H.M.S. Baylon I (our previous barge), all the logs and other debris in the river must be swerved around. Makes for an interesting ride.
We stopped at a spot where the police? checked our passports but it wasn’t the border. I think they just shake people down. Anyway, it was there that I saw my first naked Peruvian child. Most of the poverty has been somewhat disguised by the fact until today, everyone has been clothed.
Finally got to the island in the mighty Amazon, Santa Rosa, where Peru has its immigration hut. First we got stamped by the National Police, then immigration took our landing cards. We are no longer officially visitors of any country until we get an entry stamp in either Colombia (Leticia) or Brazil (Tabatinga). Interesting.
