Carl came in early Fri. and said pack a few things we are going to the jungle, Villa Tunari. So I packed a couple suitcases (never know what you might need) grabbed Evita and within an hour we were on our way.   It was supposed to be a 2 1/2 drive, however it is just a 2 lane road, up and over a pass in the Andes, paved some of the way, cobble stone some and gravel some.  No passing lanes even though it is the main, (only) road between Cochabamba and Santa Cruz.  As a result all of the trucks travel this road, and did I mention it goes up and over the Andes.  You can only imagine how slow those trucks go up that steep grade and how they go even slower down the other side, in low gear and brakes being applied the who way.  It is the Grapevine in Calif. only higher and like it was 75 years ago as far as condition of the road goes.  But the scenery was breathtaking, and around every turn something new.  

We got there at almost dark and my introduction to the jungle was indeed DARK.  I could not believe how dark it gets under a triple canopy.  Carl had talked about how dark the jungle was in Viet Nam, but I had no idea.  The resort was great, and as everywhere in Bolivia dinning was in the open and it was beautiful.  Great pool with a huge water slide.  Can't wait to get the kids here, we are going to have a ball on that slide, even if it will be winter here, in the jungle in the middle of the day it will be hot!

The next morning we headed for a park/wildlife refuge.  There are lots (!) of monkeys, some pumas, ocelots, lots of parrots, well it is open jungle (no fences or cages) so who knows what all is in there.  It dropped off on one side to a beautiful river, that was perfect for tubing.  We must bring inner tubs with us when the kids come.  Bolivia doesn't have piranha I hope!

It was such a treat to be right in the midle of the jungle with the animals running 

loose and wild all around.  Nothing like a zoo.  Just a few of the monkeys were friendly and they warned you constantly that they were wild and would, have and will again bite!  Now I have been bit by a monkey before and it does hurt!   We had a monkey as a pet when I was a kid, and as he got older his teeth especially the side fangs got really big and long.  He was usually pretty good natured, but if you crossed him, he did not hesitate to bit the holly heck out of you.  But he was wonderful fun, very smart and gave us lots of stories to tell about him.  I could have stayed there all day and just watched the inner action of the monkeys, it was fun to see the different personalities.  W

hat wonderful creatures they are.

Most of the workers there are volunteers, from all over the world.  They were really interesting to visit with.  You can volunteer there and work with the monkeys for 2 weeks or more.  However if you work there for a month then you get to work with the pumas and ocelots.  I am really thinking about doing that while we are here.  To be honest the only hesitation I have is 

you have to stay in a hostel for a month.  

I can be in the jungle all day and work with any animal they have, but I really am not sure about the hostel bit!  But for the chance to work behind the scenes with the animals and get to see and do things tourist just don't get to do, really thinking seriously about it.

I took so many pictures it is hard to decide which to post, so enjoy and I will post more later.

This little guy stole a brush from the caretaker.  Then took

it to the creek and started washing rocks.  The when the

caretaker tried to retrieve his brush he took to the trees

and started washing the tree limbs.  I wanted to take

him home with me, how handy would he be, he could 

get to all those place you can't reach!

Carl found black palm that he had 

experienced in Panama.  It is not

a nice plant, thorns that will seriously

hurt you!

 

 

Look close, it is a Mother with a baby on her back.  Notice 

the look she is giving us.  They warned us to be very careful

taking pictures.  Sometimes they feel threatened by the 

camera and will attack.

This is not the jungle, this is a palm grove on the grounds 

of one of the resorts.

This was a beautiful river, perfect for tubing.  Lots of 

rivers along the way flowing into from the Mountains. 

We watched it start out as a creek high in the mountains 

and grow into this.