Thomas Auer

Honey & Grapes Go To The Amazon Thomas Auer

My beloved grandparents, whom I call Honey and Grapes, spent their Thanksgiving holiday of 2018 in the extraordinary Amazon Rainforest, which is the most biodiverse place in the world. First, they flew from upstate New York to the country of Ecuador in South America and stayed in the capital city of Quito near the old town. Then they flew over the very long Andes Mountains to the small town of Coca on the powerful Napo River, which is in the heart of the Amazon. From Coca, they took a two-hour motorized canoe ride and then a two-hour paddled canoe to reach a remarkable and remote eco-lodge called the Napo Wildlife Center. They stayed there for four days and took daily hikes and canoe trips to visit the Kichwa Añangu community and to experience the magnificent wildlife in the jungle and around the many sparkling streams. They observed salt licks where birds feast on salt and clay, and they hiked under the rainforest's overlapping branches and leaves that are called canopies. Next, they boarded a small boat called the Anakonda, whose superb staff works hard to protect the Amazon Rainforest and preserve its wildlife. The boat glided down the Napo River to the border between Ecuador and Peru. They spent four days on the boat and took daily excursions by motorized canoe to explore the community villages, national wildlife reserves, and observation towers to study the astounding wild animals. In the villages, they spoke to the indigenous people to learn about this stunning region and its challenges and the people's varied lives on the Napo River and in the Amazon Rainforest. They visited the Yasuni National Park and Limoncocha National Biological Reserve, which were breathtakingly beautiful. Finally, the boat steamed back up the Napo River to return to the town of Coca. They flew back to Quito to stay at the Hacienda la Jimenita, a dedicated eco-reserve and a marvelous refuge for wild birds and hummingbirds. On the last day, they flew back to the United States to return to their countryside town in upstate New York. I helped my grandpa create this photo book in 2020 so that my sister and I could share their experiences and so that our whole family will always remember their magical journey.