I may have to re-think  my love affair with jungles.  I’ve been to several jungles or rain forests and yes, I love the smell—the damp earth combined with decomposing leaves, fresh flowers, trees, fruit both eaten and decaying or ripening, animals… yet, it is fresh and real and somehow clean-smelling. The smell is absolutely intoxicating.  Sounds—bird calling out to each other, cicadas announcing their presence, monkeys, especially the terrifying sound of howlers click here for a brief sound: 

I actually find it all quite relaxing as these are the sounds and smells of primitive nature.

But, something very strange happened this trip.  While in the jungles of Peru I received many mosquito bites despite liberal applications of Deet.  I did not even realize I had been bitten or stung so many times until in Cusco where I had a full-length mirror.  I stopped counting when I reached fifty bites.  But, they weren’t hurting or itching so I was unconcerned.  But then yesterday the itching started.

Today I woke up in pain, scratching and itching all over.  I swear there are no additional bites but now they appear angry and swollen and red.  During the night, I scratched many of them open and, despite applying liberal amounts of anti-itch medicine, I hurt all over.

So, I am in pain and it is making me want to go home.  What is more comforting than to be home in your own bed with your little dog laying next to you?

Despite all of this, I did manage to enjoy this last day.  I hiked through the rainforest and walked around the resort.  I ate the sea bass ceviche (again) and had a delectable coconut flan for dessert.  I drank a couple of glasses of chardonnay (they were out of sauvignon blanc) and now I have been packing to leave.  My airport transfer guy is picking me up at 11:30 AM so the next time you hear from me will more than likely be when I am in Miami.  My original flight had me with a two hour layover in Miami tomorrow night but American Airlines cancelled that flight and put me on one leaving in the morning instead.  How annoying.

I have very much enjoyed my trips to both Panama and Peru. Despite the language barrier, I managed to eat whatever I actually wanted and drank whatever I was in the mood for.  But now, I want to go home.