Tarapoto

Last night we had a nice dinner at a local restaurant and marveled that we were able to sit in an open air restaurant in the evening on Jan. 29th.  The food was very nice but the meals and drinks arrived in a peculiar order.  David received his main course before his salad, Russ and Marie rec'd their salad and main meal and were finished eating before John and I received our drinks (Pina - Pineapple - juice) let alone our meals.  Oh, John was told emphatically by the doctor NO BOOZE while he is taking all this medication.  He is looking forward to feeling his old self AND to have some beer! 
 
We had another night of not much sleep due to John's coughing, but today he woke up feeling MUCH better so we are all very happy and relieved!  We were up at 5.30 a.m. and then went off in the van and drove 1.5 hours outside of Tarapoto to bird.  We had breakfast on the road (complete with table and chairs) that consisted of buns, cold meat, avocado and tea or coffee and lecuma yogurt (lecuma is a local fruit).  The others all went for a walk but I stayed with Baldo, the driver, and we sat in the shade and eventually sighted the Dusky Titi monkeys so I was very pleased.

The others came back an hour later and we did some more birding but then the heat got to everyone (it was over 30C by then) and we drove back to Tarapoto for an early lunch.  Lunch was great, everyone was very pleased with their various meals and some of us had Guanabana (another fruit) Mousse for dessert, which was like cold and most refreshing.  Afterwards John went off for his shot and came back feeling even better so they are all off birding for the afternoon.  I can't recommend the hotel we are staying at, Cerro Verde, here in Tarapoto but luckily we leave tomorrow for Moyobamba where we spend 2 nights not 1 as I typed yesterday.