El Sapo (monty)

we went on a boat trip and we went under a waterfall it was realy fun we got wet. then we did a strong person photo.

Then we went on top of the waterfall.

Eliza

25-6-09

We got up really early in the morning, at four o’clock and we went on two planes and they were both half an hour and when we were on the second plane I was sick and I did it in daddy’s lap top cover twice.

When we got to the place I was sick again in the bar and then I sat down for a little while and then I burst out to the loo and I was sick five times. Then I had a four hour big sleep and it made me feel better, Then I had lunch and it was chicken and rice. Then we went on a boat and it was really fun and I saw a tincy crocodile.

Then at an island we walked under a waterfall and we got very very wet and it was so fun that I was about to faint. Then we climbed up a hill through the rain forest and found a multicoloured frog that looked like it was made of plastic and daddy poked it. It bounced and it nearly hit me. We carried on and there were lots of big steps that we had to climb up. We were at the top of the waterfall and we found a really big hole and I nearly fell in it.

When we went back down we passed a house-cave were an old Peruvian man used to live. He made the path behind the waterfall and lived there for ten years in a hammock until he died there.

Sarah

If you study the photo above you will imagine my maternal horror when a second later Hugh decided to walk along the log towards Jemima.

Pavlo the guide and I froze in terror as the force of gravity initiated a fulcrum effect sending Jemima hurting at full speed towards the torrent below whilst the far end of the pivot rose sharply in a catapult ¬like manner threatening to send Monty over the cascades like something out of an Incredibles cartoon.

Luckily with her well honed skills of self preservation, Mima leapt off in to the shallows redressing the balance, bringing Monty safely back down to earth with a thwack.

I had no idea Venezualan guides could laugh so long and so heartily as Pavlo can.

Fun at the airport

Wednesday (Hugh)

If you have to catch a flight with my dear wife, there is one thing that you need to know. She likes to be last onto the plane.

If, against protocol, your taxi delivers you in good time at the airport, you must initially spend that time milling around aimlessly looking at shops. The indication “go to gate” is a signal to sit down at a café or bar, depending on the time of day, and order something that will take some time to cook. Once the family is safely ensconced in this position, you remember that something of great importance is required for the flight or the trip – perhaps a book, or on this occasion, a Nintendo DS game. Leave your husband helpless, with all the bags and at least one child. Ensure that your ‘phone is switched off so that you are completely uncontactable other than via tannoy. As the clock winds down, return eventually to the family, ambling slowly, perhaps texting a friend as you stroll, to find your husband in a state of helpless stress. You then join him in the headlong dash for the plane.

But this is my sabbatical, an opportunity for me to unwind from the pressures of work, business travel and the daily grind. I am determined to be unconcerned during this trip, no stress for me. All arrangements will lie in my wife’s hands – I will follow meekly and muted, “high” and chilled out on a permanent weekend.

But I couldn’t do it. I snapped early, I’m sorry. I was in (on) the loo when the tannoy announced that our flight was closing. Thank God for my limited German. For anyone watching, it would have been inspired comedy, my running headlong from the bog with the door swinging, pulling up my trousers on the run yelling instructions ahead to pick up our possessions and run for it. Sarah and Jemima led the way, then me with Whizz and Monty, two packs and a guitar.

We made it, of course, we always do, but I’m taking charge again. We have 16 more flights to take on this trip, and I don’t have enough adrenaline to cover all of them.

Thursday (Jemima)

We woke up at 4:30 in American time as it would be around 9:30 in the morning in England. We took lots of pictures for our first proper day, here is one of them. Had breakfast at 5:00 as we had an early plane to Puerto Ordaz, then Canaima on another plane to go and see Angel falls in a boat. As probably you know Angel falls is the highest water fall ever recorded in the whole world. Angel Falls is 979 metres high (almost 1 kilometre!) and was named after the America pilot, Jimmie Angel, who flew over it in 1937 only to crash onto the top of Auyantepuy. Unscathed, he, his wife and two fellow passengers decided to descend the Carrao river and 11 days later managed to regain contact with civilisation. We are hoping to re-enact his adventure.