Another early morning and I walk carefully between the carcasses of the cockroaches. May they rest in peace.
I pack like I never intend to use my things again... and to be honest, based on the smell, I'm not sure what will actually come clean and what should be burned.
We have a somber breakfast, and I could almost cry when I see there are no corn bread patties. I am trying to be a grownup, but its hard to leave and I hate to say goodbyes. So I don't. Instead, I say thank you's and ask Elvis if he will take a picture with me. He was a constant highlight of my trip and I can't imagine what the Amazon would be like without him.
We get into the boat and quickly put on our sunglasses... because we're cool... or because it's sunny. I find it hard to believe it's only been 2 weeks. I won't lie, I am dying to get home but I am also dying to stay. The fact that I didn't see any caimans means I will just have to come back.
We head back to Leticia where we visit the museum and an exhibit that has been curated by Diego and features some of his photography. A tribute to Amazonian tribes, there are beautiful displays of ceremonial art, clothing and food preparation tools. I borrow Allyson's phone and take dozens of photos. I want to soak it all up, to remember everything - but alas I am a goldfish and so my only hope is through images I can scroll through later.
They let us loose and we hit the town for a shopping spree. I learned my lesson in Costa Rica that exchanging money is like giving it away, so I decide to support the local economy. I buy a fantastic little bag, some ice-cream, come trinkets. I even stuff my face with empanadas that are so delicious and so cheap, I almost throw down my bag and refuse to leave. I could live in this wild border town forever! Why go?
We pile into the vans to take us to the airport when Marlene turns around in her seat with a huge grin and says "Who wants to go to Brazil for some chocolate?" Manically we all scream yes, and away we go. We pass by two guards and Marlene confirms that we have crossed the border. Too easy. We go into a store filled with chocolate and rum. A beautiful Brazilian woman offers me a taste of a bottle I am looking at and I enthusiastically say "Si! For favor!". It is practically paint thinner, so I buy 3 bottles (just kidding!). I stand there, gagging, trying to keep it in. She then tries pouring me another sample to be funny, but no-one is laughing.
We leave Brazil and go back to Colombia as unceremoniously as we left, and head straight to the airport. Our flight to Bogota is bitter sweet. But mostly bitter as we go through endless turbulence that leaves Leanna gripping her seat while Lee is snapping endless photos of the Amazon and me, quietly vomiting into little paper bags. I feel like the Amazon has given me a going away party and doesn't want me to come back.
We check back into our little Casa del Patio and are treated to one of the nicest rooms. Kelli, Allyson and I battle for dibs on the shower, while repacking our bags. We go for our last Colombian dinner and, reluctant to go to bed, we decide that it would be a shame if we didn't also have margaritas. I fall asleep to the sound of Allyson scratching her bug bites, with an eery silence that screams how far we are from the Amazon.
