The hot and humid capital of evocative Amazonas, the gateway city of Puerto Ayacucho has a slow tempo born of isolation and the contemplation of colossal distances. Residents stroll through the dreamy heat, their daily rhythms decelerating as the mercury rises. Umbrellas do double-time as sun shades between hot-water rainstorms, and even a quick heavy rain turns the streets to rivers. Pedestrians must duck around the ubiquitous drizzle of window-box air-conditioners, and safe nighttime streets fade to black during frequent power outages.