Amazon River area of Brazil |
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The Amazon is a gigantic system of rivers and forests, covering almost half of Brazil and extending into neighboring countries. The wide stretch of river, known as Rio Amazonas, runs between the cities of Manaus and Belem. Many of its tributaries are unexplored. We see it is very brown and muddy looking. See photo below. There is an estimated 15,000 species of Amazon creatures. Thousands of birds and fish and hundreds of mannals have not been classified. . In addition there are over 1800 species of butterflies and more than 200 types of mosquito. They flitter around among the 5000 species of trees. Many important medicines have been developed from plants found only in the Amazon. While on the Amazon we crossed the equator several times. This area has 2 temperatures - hot and hotter, with very high humidity. Their 2 seasons are wet and dry. We arrived the first part of December, which was the end of the dry season. There were daily showers and thunderstorms at night. |
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Santarem, BrazilAs we aee anchored here, there are several row boats hanging around the ship, hoping we will drop something overboard to them. These were very old and rickety boats which leaked and the natives had to keep bailing out the water. In the boats were mothers holding babies, little kids, etc.; whole families it seemed. Obviously a very poor area. See photo at right. At the port, little stalls have been set up to sell crude wood carvings, cheap jewelry of nuts & shells and boxes with a butterfly on top. Also dried mounted pyrahnas were plentiful. We took a tour around the city and into the country. We saw rubber trees and how tapioca is made from them. 90% of the travel for the natives is by boat. Locals spend about $100 to travel for 8 days from Manaus. They each take their hammock and hang it on the travel boat. This is where they sleep. The hammocks are hung very close together. The ultimate "cattle car". |
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Manaus - around townThere are almost 2 million people here, so it is a good sized city. It is a very old port in the middle of Brazil. We were in Manaus for 2 days.The first day was a walk around town. Their most promoted attraction seems to be the Opera House. It is a lovely building with the interior ceiling of beautiful paintings. The unique thing about this building is that every piece of it was brought in from Europe and put together. We walked through 2 markets, the first one was herbs, spices, straw, fruits, vegetables etc. The second was the fish and meat market. Next to these markets was an open area with piles and piles of fruit - mostly bananas and plantains. Plantains are usually larger and coarser and not as sweet, so they need to be cooked. They grow wild in this area. An Indian housing area was the final stop on this tour, where they performed a dance for us. |
Manaus - down the riverThis tour was on a funny looking old blue boat, which went down the river to where the rivers meet. Then we take a side route down a smaller river. This river was almost covered with grass, so we followed little trails in the water to get through it. When we reached a lake, we transferred to motorized canoes. We saw some giant water lilies, about 2 feet across. When this plant flowers, the flower turns into a pad. This tour was supposed to be a jungle cruise, but it wasn't really so we were dissappointed in that respect. In the lake, little kids came up to our boat holding monkeys, snakes or other smallish animals. This was the only wildlife we saw. Of course they pose for us to take pictures and then hold out their hand for money. What a life! People here are living on the rivers edge in small homes on stilts. Along the river there is also a fair number of 'houseboats' that are right on the water and can be moved. No land taxes if you live on the water. Many of the children take a boat to school. |
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Parintins, Brazil & Boi BumbaThe Boi Bumba Festival is the main attraction here. In fact most of us thought it was the highlight of the trip.The Festival usually lasts for 3 days in June. A shorter version is of course reinacted frequently for the cruise visitors. The Festival started in the early 1900's when 2 wealthy families were fighting because one man killed the bull of the other family.(He killed it because his wife was pregnant and wanted the tongue). The wife finally went to the priest who restored the life of the bull. So this festival is in celebration of the bull living again. The huge animals in this show are made of cloth with a man inside. There are also a lot a feather head-dresses and fancy costumes. Lots of drums, dancing, music, etc. It reminds me of a primitive Las Vegas Show. |
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