The Belen Market and the Floating Village of Belen

I started blogging to share my adventures in South America over one year ago and my blog has developed into a place to share what I hold dear.  Today I am going to share one of my many adventures in the Amazon Jungle of Peru.  Below are some photos from the Belen Market and floating village of Belen.

You can't image all the animals, fruits, veggies, and other products are sold here.  Among the most unique I saw: alligator (they eat he tail of it and it's delicious), turtle (for turtle soup), tiny jungle deer, paiche (a ten food fresh water fish).

There are many elixirs and concoctions  made from different plants and animals sold in the market along with the skins of what animals were killed to make the elixirs.

My husband and I ate grubs.  They taste wasn't bad but the thought of it was. And yes, those are giant bugs.

The floating village which is located just below the market.  The houses are anchored and move up and down during the rainy season.  During the dry season they rest on stilts.  

Schools, gas stations, grocery stores are among the houses that float here.  The natives also sell food and other items house to house by boat.  Prostitution also occurs on the boats at night on the water.

Below are giant lilly pads growing in someone's "backyard".

When (and I say "when" not "if" because I am afraid you have to go)... eh hem... when,  you go Iquitos, a city in the middle of the Amazon Jungle, you need to visit the Belen Market and the floating village of Belen.  It is a remarkable sight that shows a remarkable way of live.  If seeing this village doesn't change your perspective on life, well, I am not sure what will.

My husband and I traveled Peru and Argentina for four months last year and I'd have to say the Amazon Jungle is one of my favorite places on earth.  It is rich of culture, folk tales, wild life, shamans (AKA witch doctors), and creatures big and small.  It is ridiculously hot and sweaty and there are abnormally large critters to be found, however it's completely worth all the discomfort.  

Iquitos was founded in the 1800's during the rubber boom.  Inside the city there are beautiful colonial buildings and many historical sites founded during the 1800's.  Along the ride of the city lie houses on stilts, slums, and poverty.  In the jungle surrounding it there are natives who still live off the land and wear grass skirts. The floating City of Belen is a place of it's own among the great city of Iquitos.  It is also one of the most dangerous parts of the city.  When you go, be sure to take limited amount of cash, no wallet, no jewelry, and wear plain clothes.  

It is smart to have a guide. That way you can understand the significance of what is going on and it is safer.  We went with a local which is the best way to go in my opinion.  Our guide was from the floating village and was respected among the people.  We were safe with him.  

Going to the Amazon Jungle has been one of my life goals.  I am so grateful I was able to fulfill my dream of visiting.  Wherever your dream travel spot is, I hope you make it there.  Make it sooner rather than later.

Shabby Apple Dress GIVEAWAY!!!! {CLOSED}

From the first time my eyes feasted upon the fabulous frocks on Shabby Apple I knew it was love.  I love vintage inspired dresses, such as the Block Party Sweetheart Bust Dress from their 1965 Collection.  I think it belongs in my closet and it will hopefully make its way there soon. 


They don't just carry dresses, they also have swimwear, maternity clothes, vintage inspired aprons (love these!), and infant and toddler dresses! How darling is that? My favorite part about these oh-so-stylish items is that they are modest. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the fact that these dresses cover up my goodies. 

I adore the Inca Trail Collection, specifically the Peru Polka Dot Dress and the Quipu Bow Dress. Other favorites? The Hackney Blue Pencil Dress and the Aquamarine Side Saddle Dress from the Side Saddle Collection.


So, what's up for grabs today? Well, the Ahoy! Dress from Shabby Apple is! The color is absolutely dreamy and that bow at the waistline is the cherry on top or an already gorgeous dress.  

To Enter to win the Ahoy! Dress {CLOSED}:

"Like" the Shabby Apple Facebook page and let me know that you did in a comment below

For Extra Entries:

+1 Be a follower of my blog

+1 Heart my Etsy Shop, Ande Monster Vintage

+ Go to Shabby Apple and tell me what item is your fave

+1 Tell me your favorite thing about the upcoming season

Please leave a separate comment for each entry you do.  Please leave your email address if it is not on your blog.  This giveaway is open to those who have a U.S. address. The giveaway will close on Friday November 18th at midnight.  If you would like to hold a giveaway on It's Simple Love please contact me at itssimplelove(at)live(dot)com.  Thanks so much for your support!  Good luck to you all! 


If you see a dress you like (how could you not?) use the coupon code "ITSSIMPLELOVE10OFF" for 10% off. This coupon code will expire on December 3, 2011.

Weekend Wonderment: French Friends Come to Visit

Virginie, my husband Chase, Me, Regis

I am not sure how many of you remember when I lived in Peru and went on a 3-day boat ride down the Amazon River.  Well, if you want to read more about it go {here}.  And if you want to see more photos of when I lived and traveled Peru go {here}.

So while my husband and I were on this boat we got to know the couple in the hammocks next to us quite well.  Regis and Virginie are from France and have been traveling South and North America since last September.  (Yes over a year of traveling!).  They are coming to stay with my husband and I for the weekend!  Isn't that exciting!?  I will report next week on how it goes!  

If you were visiting Salt Lake City, UT for the first time what would you want to experience?  

Food?  Sites?  Nature?  Adventure?

My Favorite Place for Lemons and Laundry

Hello to all!  Its Simple Love has the honor of guest posting on Lemons and Laundry today!  

Be sure to check out my "Favorite Place" post.  

Happy Wednesday!

From A New Perspective

I want to share with you some of the beauty I saw in Peru (I lived there from January to May 2010).  When visiting various ruins I would fall in love the flora and fauna that beautified each place (not that these ruins needed anything else).   Here are some ruins from a different perspective.  These photos are from Pisac, Qorikancha, and Machu Pichu all near or in the city of Cusco, Peru.

The moment one gives close attention to any thing, even a blade of grass it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.  ~Henry Miller

Grubs, Elixirs, and Floating Houses

Be sure to check out my {GUEST POST} on Wild and Precious.  I never shared my experience of the Belen Market and the floating village of Belen in the Amazon Jungle of Peru.  Amazing photos.  Don't ask me why I never posted these!  There where too many amazing things to share, what can I say?  

If you want to see more, visit my guest post on Blair's blog {HERE}.

The Truth About Butterflies in Glass Cases

Blue Morpho Butterfly

I wont lie, I love these butterflies in glass cases.  I saw these butterfly cases many places in Peru while I traveled but I waited until I got to the Amazon to purchase some.  

So here's the truth (and it's a sad story) about these beauties.  After I had purchased these, I went to a butterfly farm on the Amazon River (this is where I held the baby sloth and baby ocelot).  As we were walking through the butterfly farm I asked the owner what she thought of the butterflies in cases. The owner proceeded to tell me of how these beautiful creatures come to their doom.  

Many sellers will tell you that they find dead butterflies on the jungle floors of South America, this is a LIE. The jungles are covered with ants that eat the dead butterflies in the matter of seconds.  The butterflies bodies contain vital protein to the ants.  

What really happens is hunters go out, set up nets where the butterflies can get in and can't get out.  They tempt them with sweet nectar in the center of the nets.   The owner of the butterfly farm, Gudrun Sperrer,

 went with a local hunter to see what exactly happens.   She said in one afternoon they caught 467 butterflies!  One afternoon!  And when they got to the net the man killed them all with poisonous gas without looking to see what was inside. 

That is how these beauties come to be in these glass cases for your enjoyment.

Now this wouldn't be a problem if it was in moderation and if there were more butterfly farms to cultivate more butterflies. The fact is, there is ONLY one legitimate butterfly farm in all Peru; The Amazon Animal Orphanage & Pilpintuwasi Butterfly Farm. Gudrun Sperrer is only one person researching the host plant of the 2,000 unique butterflies native to the Amazon Jungle.  The host plant is vital in the farming of butterflies.  The caterpillars only eat one plant.  Without knowing what they eat you cannot breed them.  

Gudrun Sperrer has found the only 47 host plants of 47 Amazon Butterflies.  There are 1,957 more host plants to find.  It has taken her more than 20 years to collect those 47 different host plants.  We can't keep using the resources in the Amazon without doing our part to farm and cultivate what resources we are using and diminishing.  The fact is many of the resources in the Amazon are not protected and are being used at a rapid rate without the research and restrictions to learn about what we are using up and to protect these things from extinction.  

I encourage you not to buy these butterflies in cases.  If you do make sure that you know where they are coming from, though you might be lied to on how they caught these butterflies.  If it is from Central and  South America, more than likely these butterflies were hunted.  They say they are farmed to make you feel better. 

If you do buy these, I encourage you to donate to the butterfly farm to aid the researching of the host plants and the farming of Amazon butterflies.  

For more info on the Amazon Animal Orphanage and Butterfly Farm go {here}

Other ways to incorporate butterflies in your home:

1.  A Mills and Boon Romance- Butterfly Framed Art 2. Butterfly Garland -  Sugar Plum 3. Butterfly and Roses Print 4. Vintage Dictionary Art Print 5.  Pink Glasswing Original Signed Photo 6. Blue Wing Limited Edition Photograph7. Moth Silk Screened Pillow 8. Large Vintage Butterfly Silk Screened Pillow 9. Butterfly Postcards

On Top of the World

It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.  ~Edmund Hillary  

Yes I am in Argentina now, but I still have so many pictures to share of Peru!  There were so many picture perfect moments and I do believe you cannot take a bad picture there.  Peru is too beautiful.  

Pictures 2, 3, 4, and 5 are from Wayna Pichu, the trail above Machu Pichu.  You can see the mountain we climbed n the background of photo 1 and 6.  They only let 400 people a day climb that hike and I am so glad we were able to be a part of it!  It was painful but worth it.

So before I move on to Argentina Adventures (I will be sharing my shopping experience soon enough have no fear!) I wanted to end with one of the highlights of our Peru stay, Machu Pichu.  I can't explain how peaceful, humbling, gratifying, awe-striking, and dumb-founding is it.  You must go before you die.  You could be like the German gentleman in his seventies we met up there, he has gone 18 times in his life.  At least go once.

Me and my love high on a mountain top.

Nuts

Pair number 

84

Welcome to the madness. 

Trujillo, Peru (where my husband and I lived for the last three months) is known for their leather shoes.  They have an entire street dedicated to shoe stores.  It's like candy-land.  I found these babies for s/60 or $21 U.S. dollars.  Love them.

Free Polaroid Image Maker.  Download {here}.
Be careful.  It's addicting.

Floating with the Clouds

Knock on the sky and listen to the sound.  ~Zen Saying

No matter how many times I fly, I will always be mesmerized by the majestic clouds I have the honor of floating with.  


Photos from {weheartit}