An Unannounced Arrival
- 26 Nov 07, 03:02 PM
Posted from: Catunga.
This is one of the most dangerous places we’ll visit on this journey, a place entirely beyond the rule of law but if we are to follow the course of the Amazon River, from source to sea, then we have to come this way. We stood on the beach with our pile of boxes and giggled nervously.
In order to try and minimise the risks, Almu, our brilliant Spanish researcher, had enlisted the help of an amazing Ashaninka woman called Ruth. She runs a local group fighting for the rights of her people against the extraordinary range of problems they face – cocaleros, illegal loggers, Shining Path etc.
We were meant to be meeting Ruth at Shirotieri and then driving on to Catungo, where she would make our introductions. But she wasn’t there and we had no way of contacting her. Our boats had left so we couldn’t go back to the river, but we did have three vehicles that had driven to meet us, laden down with camping gear and filming kit. We had to make a decision. It was getting late and it’s risky as hell to drive after dark in these parts – too many Cocaleros. We decided to try our luck and arrive unannounced at Catungo.
We arrived at nightfall to a bemused reception. Although Almu had visited here on a recce some months before, the chief was away and no one else knew we were coming. Luis, our local producer, together with Almu, charmed them into allowing us to camp for the night on the outskirts of the village. Hopefully Ruth would arrive in the morning.
Comments
Buenos dias to Bruce and the gang! (or Bom Dia if you are in Brazil already)
Really looking forward to seeing the series too, although worried I'm gonna miss it as I'll be departing for Sunny South America myself in a weeks time. Would love to buy you guys a beer and hear all your stories - although I realise that SA is a giantesque continent and the chances of us meeting pretty slim - but I'll keep my eyes peeled to the Amazon just in case!