1920s: Anna in Selvadorada

While Alice moves forward in her career, Anna has finally arrived in Selvadorada and rented a small property to stay at between her jungle expeditions. She spends the first night settling in, getting a feel for the place she's rented.

Then heads into town (well the village center at least) and stocks up on food and supplies and meet the locals.

In the local bar, she tries to find a guide for her expedition, as well as learn all there is about the jungle. 

And when she gets back home, she takes the time to write to her sister, first at night, then after church the next morning.

Dear Alice, 

I've arrived safely (yes I'm sending a letter to our parents too), and have rented a small cottage on the outskirts of a small village. Oh, Alice it's so beautiful here, you would not believe it! The trees are greener and the flowers bloom more beautiful than anything you've seen back home. 

At first, I reacted to how quiet it was, but the longer I sit listening to the jungle the more sounds I hear. Birds calling to each other in voices I've never heard. Monkeys screeching. Cicadas playing and calling each other. Sometimes I can even hear a distant roar of a jaguar! It feels as if a weight has been lifted off my chest since arriving here. I breathe more easily in spite of the heat. Life is simpler, somehow, less complex, less moving parts. 

You'd hate my little house! It's small and cramped and has the most simple amenities. But I love it and for me, it's perfect. A bit cramped, perhaps, as I think I brought too many books in the fantastic little bookshop I found here. They fill up most of the bedroom, but I don't mind. I've never been one to mind books, after all. 

 At the moment I'm trying to find a guide. It's a bit difficult as I do not speak Portuguese. Some speak English, others French, which I learnt well during the war, but otherwise we make ourselves understood by pointing and gesturing. My guide does need to know English, however, which means it takes some time in finding one. I have a contender, who speaks English well enough. Perhaps I'll have him teach me Portuguese as well. After all, it can't be too different from French. 

It's Sunday today, and I woke up to the church bells ringing. It was the most beautiful sound you can imagine. The church is right next door, and as there is no other church here I joined their mass. I have to admit I liked it. I understood nothing of course, but the music had a magical quality too it that transcended language and words. It was nothing like the ceremonies back home, not at all, but it was beautiful. Restful for the soul. 

I do hope you are well, and that Cora and you are good to each other. For me, I feel at peace for the first time since Maurice died. I think I will like it here. I'll enclose a few of my photographs for you to see for yourself. 

Your loving sister, 

Anna 

In another day, and with another trip into the village, Anna thinks she's ready to start her adventure. She and her guide, George, heads out to the Belomisia Trailhead to start the journey. She starts with telling George what she wants to do, and asks him about what she needs to know. His answers disappoint her, however, as he more or less just tells her to read the sign at the entrance to the jungle. As she does, and as she starts chopping away at the vines covering the entrance, he lazily lays down on the ground and watches the clouds.

Anna is undeterred, however, and rushes on into the jungle, being rewarded with the most spectacular view from a bridge that should not be able to exist after so long. She stops and takes photos, and excavates some dirtpiles to bring artefacts with her home. George doesn't help, he mostly just hangs around. It's nice to be paid for doing nothing.

As the day starts veining, George takes his leave and simply heads off, and Anna is stranded in the jungle with no food. She had been told there would be fishing spots, but there are none, and even if there was, she has nothing to make up a fire. She thought George, as her guide, would take care of such things. Reluctantly, she has to admit that she's simply not prepared enough. She returns home to her little house, tries to authenicate her findings (one is a fake) and writes another letter to her sister. 

Dear Alice, 

I had my first foray out into the jungle today. I brought the services of a man named George that I met in town with me. He speaks excellent English, seemed to be very trustworthy and offered to go with me as a guide. It turns out he was much better at teaching me Portuguese than teaching me about the jungle. As nice as he is, he was also rather useless at dealing with both the animals and dangers of the jungle. The jungle was a far better teacher, however, and what it taught me was that I, in spite of all my efforts, was woefully unprepared. 

I had hoped to be able to stay in the jungle for several days, but the task was too daunting, there were too many things that I had not thought about. Luckily, all is not lost. I got some really good photographs taken already, and in town you can restock on almost any supplies, so I will be heading out again as soon as I can. 

Tonight, my sore limbs get to relax in a hot bath and I get to authenticate the few things I have already found. Unfortunately one of them is a fake, but I still have one more to authenticate. I have high hopes that I will have more luck with that one. Tomorrow, I shall restock, try to find another - better - guide, and head back out there. Perhaps I'll even find someone to mail these letters I'm writing. 

Your loving sister, 

Anna