Tamshiyacu
Tamshiyacu is a village located in the district of Loreto 30 km upstream the Amazon River from Iquitos. It is the place where Dr. Himmelbauer and his family live and well known for being the home of other curanderos like Don Augustine and Don Pedro. With about 8000 inhabitants, this village has more the appearance of a little town, having a town square, paved roads, schools, two colleges and many churches.
View from my room down to the street
In between the oneway roads there is always a strip of vegetation
The streets are always very clean
Every day garbage is picked up by this blue motorkar
A typical street in Tamshiyacu. They sell spices in the hanging bags.
Street down to the harbour. There seems to be as many dogs in Tamshiyacu as people. Every dog I met was peaceful, but some look very sick and abandoned.
A very sad looking dog, sick and obviously abandoned
Town Square with the view to the Amazon River
Town Square by night
One of many church services
Whenever I was in Tamshiyacu, I went to the market with Dr. Himmelbauer who bought fruit, vegetables, fish and meat for his huge family. His basket was always filled to the top.
Market hall
The fish seemed to be breathing, opening and closing their mouth.
Alligator for sale
Head of a crocodile
These packages are called heads of St. John
One time his charming employee asked me if I would like to go on a motorcycle ride with her. She wanted to show me the village. I was a bit concerned, as I did not know her driving skills and the streets were wet. I agreed and we had a lot of fun!
Traffic jam over a bridge crossing a side arm of the Amazon River
After traffic jam
A house on stilts beside the Amazon River. The people living here experienced material poverty, but lived in a most gorgeous place!
We passed a clearing in the jungle located beside the Amazon River used for raising cattle. Meat from cattle is rare in Peru.
I felt safe to discover the village on my own and went for long walks. I never met another foreigner on my walks, which made me feel sometimes like an intruder. The people, however, seemed not to mind my curiosity about their way of life.
Washing laundry at a public well
Children and adults enjoyed the activity of playing with a ball.
The whole family playing a game with tokens
Path beside the Amazon River
