Amazon Swim (Martin Strel)
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DURING FEB 1 - APR 08, 2007 MARTIN STREL SWAM 5,268 KMS (3274 MILES) OF THE AMAZON RIVER! HE DEDICATED THE SWIM TO THE PROTECTION OF THE RAINFOREST.
Mon, February 19 2007

The Yagua Tribe

Martin attended a sunrise ceremonial dance with indigenous natives from the Yagua tribe. This peaceful group wears shredded palms leaves over their privates and red paint on their face.

The tribe, originally in the thousands, has seen their population diminish into the hundreds. Not coincidentally, they are one of few indigenous Amazonian tribes to use birth control. The Yagua tribe, native to the Iquitos area, has a custom in which the women are the primary breadwinners while the men spend their life pursuing leisure.

More about the Yagua tribe

Late last night, Martin paid a visit to La Casa Del Arte, the home and gallery of famous Peruvian artist Francisco Grippa near Pevas. The two carried on like long lost brothers, sharing beers and cheese, exchanging gifts and even swapping shirts.

A sunny afternoon was interrupted by a wall of dark clouds. Strong winds kicked up out of the Northwest, bringing fierce lightning and sheets of rain. We pulled Martin out of the water, just as the wind ripped the sun cover off the top of our small boat and knocked the antenna from the top of the Cielito Lindo. The team sought shelter at the small pueblo of Santa Rita. Martin stopped swimming early, after covering only 87 km on the day.

>>Matthew Mohlke