Kathy's Travels: Amazon Riverboat Exploration

In the beginning of February, 2014 I went on an Earthwatch expedition to the Amazon River. The trip began in the Peruvian city of Iquitos. Historically this town was the center of the Rubber Boom Era in the early 1900's when the Amazon Rainforest was exploited for the harvesting of rubber to supply the demands of rubber for tires for the newly invented automobile. The local Indians were used as slaves to harvest the rubber and the rubber barons became rich and powerful. They built lavish homes and built steamships to carry the rubber out of the forest. When the demand for rubber subsided because it was deemed more profitable to farm rubber in a more hospitable environment, the city fell into disrepair and was reclaimed by the local people. Iquitos is a fascinating city at the gateway to the Amazon River. For hundreds of years the locals have lived in floating houses. There are crowded outdoor markets, curbside restaurants and buzzing traffic of unique motorcycle taxis. I have never been to a more unique city. I spent 2 nights at Casa Moray, a restored rubber baron mansion. There I was joined by my fellow adventurers and our leader Dr. Richard Bodmer to begin our foray into the Amazon.