The first village you come to upriver from Sambu is Villa Keresia. Approximately seventy five indigenous Embera live here. They were building a community center for artisans to work in, hoping that they can attract more visitors in the future. It was here that I met Mariela and Roberto a most friendly and warm couple who showed me around and eventually stayed with the next year. The quality of the art goods here is incredible! Depending on the water levels you can come in a back way via a small tributary or take a gorgeous 2 k walk in from the Rio Sambu. We  walked in alone but we were escorted out by a group of young girls who were a lot of fun. I hated to leave.

In the village of Churoco word had arrived that a gringo was coming to visit and they prepared a fantastic presentation for us. They went all out with the traditional dress and dancing. I was told that it was the first time they had danced and sang for a gringo in this village. After the dancing Merci, the village cacique or chief, aka la intelligente, wanted to show me an ancient forest of giant trees so Merci, Vidacho, a small five year old boy from the village and myself went off for a four hour hike. Merci immediately spots this beautiful yellow and black snake crossing just in front of us and then the climbing started. These guys are running through the jungle barefoot like deer! It was all I could do to keep up (and I am no slouch mind you). At one point while crossing over a moss covered log even the little boy held his hand out to me to give me a hand. Priceless! After we returned we had some awesome Darien rice and chicken soup. The rice they grow here is so good! After lunch the woman brought out their art pieces and I purchased some amazing art at such reasonable prices. To them it is a lot of money and the money can be used for medical use, new seeds and tools. While we were hiking the men in the village had killed an animal they call a conéjo but it is much bigger than the rabbits we have here. It is more like a cross between a pig and a rabbit. Anyway Michael asked Merci if we could purchase the meat and he agreed. When we returned to Sambu Augustina prepared the meat.

Here in the Darien, live some of the most warm and genuine people I have met. It’s why I returned in 2009.