Our first excursion into the jungle is by canoe the first night. Robin (from Illinois), Harvey (from Florida) our Spanich Teacher, Paula, and our Guide, Dennis, slip out onto the dark water. The brilliant starry sky reveals itself behind the dark curtain of palm leaves and the jungle canopy above. Insects, frogs, and bird calls fill the air. We are looking for caiman. Dos puntos rojos is what Dennis tells us to look for on the surface of the water.
We spot a caiman sitting on the left bank of the river. Our headlamps are on him as Dennis quietly pulls the canoe over to the shore - within a few feet of the caiman. We are a little close for comfort. Suddenly the caiman lurches forward towards our canoe and dives into the water beneath us. Robin jumps and lets out a shriek! The canoe nearly tips completely over! We take in a ton of water. Dennis pulls us back over to the bank so we can get out (get out!?, I think) and empty the canoe. Suddenly I´m standing in the pitch black on the exact spot where the caiman was just sitting, wondering how many more are hiding in the blackness, hungrily conetmplating my ankles.
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