I just finished reading “The Lost City of Z.” It was a great adventure story within an adventure story. The author, journalist David Grann becomes obsessed with the fate of long missing explorer Percy Fawcett. Fawcett disappeared while searching for a hidden civilization within the Amazonian Rain Forest.
As I read about battling hardship after hardship in the jungle I couldn’t help thinking about how you could now get a taste of the Amazon with very little discomfort. In fact, you could be quite pampered. Before my trip I worried a little about things I could contract like malaria or parasites but I made sure I was inoculated. Then as we sorted out our flights I learned to worry about the flight path of Condors. And I may have had a few irrational moments worrying about the many harmless bugs that scare me. But at no time did it seriously cross my mind that I could be attacked by spear wielding natives. Although I did get the opportunity to learn using a blow dart gun is not easy.
It was an amazing few days in the Amazon, and we had a fantastic guide. We chose Explorama and I would have no hesitation recommending them.
But back to the book, if you’re interested in armchair adventure, history and culture I highly recommend reading “The Lost City of Z.”