Amazon to Parintins

Monday February 19, 2018

After leaving Grenada, we were to sail one day to French Guiana, a three island French colony used primarily to house French criminals on the famous “Devil’s Island.(remember the film “Papillon”).   Anyway, strong winds and high seas prevented this anchorage, only available by tender.  So, to our disappointment, another two days at sea to Brazil.

The Mighty Amazon

Arriving at 8:00 am, Macapa’, Brazil is the northern channel entrance to the Amazon River.  It is the official clearance to ships for custom clearance.  We must anchor at the entrance for clearance of all passengers’ passports and VISA’s.  We will be here two hours then get underway on the Amazon to our first port of call, docking at Santare’m, Brazil  8:00am, Tues February 20, 2018.  Our River adventure begins.  We just crossed the Equator, and are now official “Shellbacks”, and worthy of celebration ceremony.

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Well, in route to Santare’m  along the Amazon, you quickly realize how massive this river is, while second in the world to the Nile in length, it is by far the worlds largest volume of fresh water with over 350 tributaries feeding it.  The speed of the water flow is strong and carries a very brown chocolate color from soil erosion.

Piranha "sharp teeth"

Stilt House

Slouth tree habitat

Docking in Santarem at 8:00am, we begin a very busy tour day.  First, fishing for “Piranha” on lake Maica.  While fishing for these very “sharp toothed” fish, the highlight was the trip there and back.  Nearly four hours worth of sightseeing navigation.  No roads, everything must be arrived by boat.  Dweller’s live in stilted shacks.  This is the rainy season, so rain expected daily.  Summer is dry and very hot, 100 degr plus.  Many wildlife sightings, the most unusual being a “Slouth”.

Brazil Nut (18 per pod)

Afternoon tour was on bus thru the city and rural area.  Very poor area and probably makes Mexico living look good.   Stopped at a Brazil Nut processing establishment.  Taste and demo.  Then a Latex rubber tree harvest. 

Rubber Tree (Latex)

Also tree root harvest, ground, squeezed dry, powdered sold as a carbohydrate grain.  Lots of fruit processing as well.  All done very primitively.

Tree root Carbohydrate Grain (drying)
 

A very full and interesting day.  Not a place I would want to live!

 

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Overnight travel along the river to Parintins.  City sits on the convergence of four rivers, showing the power of the Amazon.   Tendered into town for a theatrical show known as “Boi Bumba”.  

Local "High Energy" show

An amazing colorful high energy performance of costumes, music, drums, dancing, a Carnival type atmosphere.  It was an awesome show telling the story of the “resurrected bull”.

After the show, we did a short self guided walking tour of the village.  Typical island shops and again shows a very poor standard of living.  Back to the ship for a 5 pm departure.