Weightlifting in the Amazons

In Leticia, Colombia right now, and managed to make it to the weightroom while I was here.

Most. Unsafe. Weightroom. Ever.

• I jumped up to do some pull-ups, did my first rep and was face to face with some kind of Amazonian jungle spider. After the owner chased it away with a broom he said it was poisonous.
• There was not a standard barbell in the place. Most of the "bars" were just thick rebar of random weights and length. All were rusting. Fortunately I´ve had my tetanus shot.
• The bench press was the kind with the narrow uprights that are right where your hands ought to go. And it was so unstable that they used dumbbells to weigh it down and keep it stable during lifts.
• I was the only one in the gym today, and the owner tossed me a bottle of pills and asked me to read the label (it was all in english) and tell him what was in it. Definitely was a bottle of steroids. He claimed a friend gave it to him.

On the plus side the music included such classics as Numa-numa and Like a Virgin. So yea, aside from the minor hiccups, great gym!