Around Trini

It's been a little while since our last post. I think we expected to have daily stories for you about all of the trouble we've had getting our residency documents. Luckily, however, the process here in Trinidad is going smoothly. More on that later - we hope to celebrate submitting our applications for the one-year residency visas soon.

While we wait for some final documents, we've been getting to know Trinidad - Trini to people here - a bit better. We knew we were in the Amazon, but we were still surprised when we looked up from our empanadas in the plaza one morning this week and saw a sloth climbing down a tree. Of course we didn't have our camera, but we got this picture of him later in the day when he had climbed back up the tree. He's a bit hard to see, but maybe you can find him (he's there, promise).

Last time we posted, an Antarctic storm - a "sur" - had come through the Amazon. Temperatures went from 90 degrees one day to 50 the next. It stayed cold for a few days but is back to high 80s and 90s now. The only memory we have of our first sur of the winter is Kelly's cough.

As you would expect from travelers in general and from us in particular, we've enjoyed some more great food and treats, like fresh coconuts. We love our cocos, the coco water is the best and for only 5 bs. (~75 cents) you can have an entire coco all to yourself.

Along with his dissertation, Asher has started a new project. People in Trini get around by moto when not walking. There are motos everywhere! And as an anthropologist, Asher is prone to making observations. People here are very resourceful. Since the majority of people travel by moto, we see their resourcefulness daily through their #MotoCarries. We've seen full families on motos (the record so far is 2 adults and 4 kids), moto chair carries, moto bed carries, moto baby carries, our new favorite Moto Cake carries, and even a most impressive double Moto Cake.

MotoFamily

MotoChair

MotoAirbag

MotoSideSit

MotoCake

Double Moto Cake

On our upcoming posts, we'll talk about the 31 de Julio fiesta in San Ignacio de Moxos and our visits to the ethnoarcheological and fish museums in Trinidad. Stay tuned for more pictures and stories.