Around the streets of Iquitos

No matter how hard we try to capture scenes with our camera, some images will only be in our minds.  The streets are sooo busy.  Like Lima, shops which sell similar items cluster together.  Near our hotel there's several party shops selling all sorts of balloons and decorations for parties.  Mini markets seem to be everywhere, and apparently not far from our hotel - so why was it so difficult for us to stock the fridge on our first day????  Well it was siesta time when we went out and all doors closed ... steel or metal doors cover the entire front of shops, so we missed them all.

The market areas are even more congested - umbrellas or blue tarps cover the stalls which fill the streets and the narrow footpaths.  We ventured into the food market area  ... but only briefly, the sights of poultry, fish, and other foodstuff will have to remain in my head - along with the strong smell.  We didn't last long, but were told it was not a particularly safe place for us to be in. 

Small street vendors can be seen everywhere even at night time.  And in the tourist area, the street sellers pounce.  Today we bought the usual - bracelet from the jungle, T-shirts, and .... chewing gum (from a small 11yr old boy who claimed the sales were for his school.... mmm).  Sitting in a nearby restaurant we were asked to move inside further to avoid the ladies who insisted in showing Milka all their items.  

The traffic is amazing.  And even more amazing are the people on these bikes and moto-taxis.  They carry everything on these - including whole families.  Have seem mum, dad, and 3 kids on motorbike, as well as mum, dad and a really small baby nestled between them.  Helmets are rare!!

You can often see riders wearing shirts on backwards protecting their arms and body from dust, grit and grime which flicks up at travellers.  Took a long (25min) moto-taxi ride out to the airport last night to pick up Milka.  Scary shit!!  These vehicles hoot along, passing everything they can, weaving in and out.  Appears to be 2 lanes in some parts but since motorbikes and moto-taxis aren't as wide as cars you can sometimes have 5 abreast in a 2 lane street.  Hand signals appear from either side ... and can come from driver or passenger, it seems.  Even the double white line in the middle is no importante .....  The short rides around the city and even the slightly longer ones to the ports have been exhilarating, but I am reminded about how dangerous it is since Milka's cousin's motorbike accident the day we had lunch with the family.  I understand he is OK, but the other 'driver' will lose some toes. And Milka's aunt has metal plates in her an

There's much construction happening around city and most roads (and footpaths) have large potholes, usually without any signage.  My guess is that everyone is responsible for their own safety here.