into Brazil

Next day: Not to destroy any allusions you might have about our primitive living conditions, we are staying in quite a swank lodge. We have air conditioning and a swimming pool. So much for jungle drama. We are however surrounded by armed personnel. The town is full of military police, private police, and police police. Hidden away in the jungle are the coca plantations.
Today we decided to stick around town and give it a going over. For a small burg it is alive with activity. A frenetic stream of motor scooters dart up and down the avenues playing dodge ball with the pedestrians. As this is the only town of any size, electricity, and roads etc within thousands of kilometers, it is definitely the down town of the Columbian Amazon. We walked to Brazil today. It took all of 20 minutes. Once you cross over the border though the vibe definitely changes. To my eye the streets looked barren and unfriendly. We turned down a side alley and walked down to the river front. Curious faces peer at us with little expression. I'm feeling a bit paranoid and am happy to retreat back to our now familiar little town. We catch a river taxi and are back in a jiffy. At sun down parrots descend in wave upon wave into a set group of trees in town. We stand mesmerized as they keep coming and coming. There were literally thousands upon thousands of the little fellows. After a point it seemed that the trees were more bird than tree. A cheerful cacophony of bird sounds drowned out even my thoughts. I'm always on the lookout for souvenir trinkets to bestow upon friends. There's little of interest in this department, mostly just shell or stone necklaces and woven wrist bands. Oh well. I mean I could buy a full on Indian headdress replete with parrot feathers, but really what does one do with such an item? I settle on a couple of bone and pyorrhea themed necklaces for my nephews.