Welcome to the Jungle

by FERENC IVANICS
Jungle, guns and blood? We’re definitely going to cite some lyrics of the LA band, Guns'n'Roses here: Welcome to the Jungle

Welcome to the jungle
It gets worse here everyday
Ya learn ta live like an animal
In the jungle where we play

Sometimes we recall our previous camping spots, for example in France, where we camped in freezing temperatures, or Germany’s green meadows, the Sahara desert...




Well, these days it is something completely different. Somewhere after Tavares we found a camping spot. By the side of a creek there were some deserted old houses. We looked around to see if there was anyone there, found a fisherman, who said that no, no one had been here for a while. The place was beautiful, if someone had kidnapped me and dropped me here, saying that this was Costa Rica, I would have believed him. A small river, crocodiles, large fish and real mossy jungle on the shores. We’ve seen some huge wading birds, larger than a crane, and some eagles. And we’ve seen ants. So small they march through the mosquito screen of the tents. Fortunately they were after the dead matter of the blisters, stuck in our socks.

Welcome to the jungle
We got fun 'n' games
We got everything you want
Honey we know the names

The local color is not about the plants and animals only. We haven’t seen so many gun stores in our life. Even the smallest place has at least one of them. And it’s curious that they often sell guns and jewelry at the same place. “I’d like to have a gun and some ammo. Thank you. And now I’d like to take that necklace, too.” :) I guess, it’s too cliché.

Welcome to the jungle
We take it day by day
If you want it you're gonna bleed
But it's the price you pay

They’re not as dangerous as guns, but they’re of larger caliber than we’re used to: damn mosquitoes. Sometimes we think that a mad fly attacked us. If you’re not quick enough smashing it blood splutters everywhere.