There is little refrigeration there, however we noticed some freezers and refrigerators in use in places like the bar and one of the markets, and it seemed each day they shifted ice over to the refrigerators to keep drinks (the only things refrigerated) cool. Eggs, milk, veggies and meat are all collected fresh and immediately used.

Yes. I think I am definitely a gringo. Down here, it’s not a very specific term — my color skin immediately makes me a gringo regardless of any other factors.

What would help these people have better lives? I talked with some people in Iquitos about this, and we weren’t sure they had bad lives. All their basic needs were met, and the people seemed happy. It’s hard to gauge, as I don’t think I could live like that having grown up and been spoiled by what we have in the states. But crime is very low there, and everyone I talked to seemed happy to be there — if extremely curious about the united states, where they seemed to think gold flowed in the streets….

I’m not sure why the lady in the restaurant was unpleasant. It seemed she considered feeding the town a priority to feeding tourists like me. Everyone else kept us at arm’s length, but were friendly enough once they got to talking. It had NOTHING to do with my money being “good” and that’s a dumb question on your part. There are plenty of cases in the past 100 years throughout the world where one man’s money wasn’t as ‘good’ as another’s. Applying that idealistic viewpoint to somewhere in the middle of the jungle is just nutty.

No, you don’t tip in these cases. In big cities in Peru, I’m told 10% is nice but not expected. It’s completely unnecessary in these small towns (and when 10% is down to 15 centamos — 5 cents — who cares?)

I don’t know if I had an opinion of those that flee the south for the US before this trip, but I’d say it’s unchanged. Peruvians and Ecuadorians (and those further south) don’t go northward with nearly the regularity of central Americans, mexicans or cubans.

I didn’t drink spit. i drank something that was pre-chewed before fermenting. Which means, yes, there were trace levels of spit in it. fine.