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Monday, March 2
Manaus, Day 1
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| Dock area at Manaus. We spent 2 days seeing as much as we could of one of Brazil's largest cities. Tis so remote in the rainforest that it accessible primarily by boat or plane. "Gateway to the Amazon River" was founded by Portuguese in 1616. |
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| The Manaus Opera House !! |
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| ~ a Fabulous Dome ~ |
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| The Opera House was opened in 1897 and considered one of Brazil's most important cultural institutions. |
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| This surrounding plaza is a community gathering place for concerts, dances, celebrations....and strolling. |
Saturday, February 29
Parintins, Brazil
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| This city along the Amazon is known for their fabulous Boi Bumba ! What a high energy performance ! |
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| Costumes and staging was truly fabulous! |
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| What a production by the folks of this small city. |
Friday, February 28
Santarem, Brazil
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| Arrival at this city... |
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| City's Cathedral ~1711 |
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| The Amazon River is the main "commute" for these residents, their roads are in poor condition....so many folks depend on river for travel. |
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| Big boats and small use the river to move people from town to town = long distance, so the residents can buy a boat ticket which entitles them to a hammock for their travel days. |
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| Our bus tour included a visit to this rural family farm. |
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| Above is milky sap = LATEX gathered from rubber tree. |
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| Peeling of Manioc tubers, which is then ground, drained 'n cooked. We observed this activity at the family property. Manioc = Cassava or yucca is a staple in Brazilian cooking. |
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| Brazil Nuts ...as they fill a dense, heavy pod. |
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| Ahhhh, these are the memory from my childhood. |
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| Nice'n informative time with a local family... |
Thursday, February 27
Up The Amazon
Here we go........
It is ....truly a jungle out there !
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| Small low boats... |
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| AND.....BIG Boats ! |
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| A residence |
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| A Village |
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| As the muddy rivers flow into the Amazon they keep their color. The two colors then just travel side by side = "Meeting of the Waters" |
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Tuesday, February 25
French Guiana
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| A part of French Guiana, three "Islands of Salvation" = a penal colony. Opened in 1852. It was a much feared penal colony and was only for the most notorious French criminals. Henri Charrierre did escape, that story was in the film "Papillon". |
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| This was our view/arrival = at the largest of the 3 islands ~ occupied in late 1800's. |
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| above.... a view back at our ship. |
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| There are many bldgs still standing. Above is the church.... and below the hospital. |
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| There is also a hotel (business) ....and these friendly folks above are all over. |
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| View of one of the other 2 islands. |
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| Farewell to a day on a tropical 'n most remote place. |