Today’s lecture was related to the 600 mile journey of the
Prisendam up the Amazon River to Manaus.
The guides are preparing us for the weather (hot and humid with strong
downpours of rain) and the critters (don’t open those balcony doors unless you
want a very hot/humid room with insect guests in your room).
The area is poor, and the indigenous people are friendly in
the small villages on the itinerary. The
kids, we’re told, are ready for the cruise ships, and they want to grab your
hand to show you things (they also expect a tip). You can buy about anything including
preserved piranha (small ones are made into earrings). They will take you for a boat ride to see the
sites for about $5. It ought to be
interesting.
Manaus is the largest city, and it developed its wealth in
the days of rubber plantations. There
are roughly 1.5 million who live here, and the only way to reach the city is by
boat ride or by airplane. The wealth is
exhibited in the original homes of the city and the opera house.
I’m looking forward to our river journey down the Amazon.Ports of Call:
- Santarem - Sunday, Feb. 25
- Boca Da Valeria - Monday, Feb. 26
- Manaus - Tuesday & Wednesday, Feb. 27-28
- Parintins, Thursday, March 1
- Alter do Chao, Friday, March 2
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| Cruising the Amazon River: February 24 - March 3 Click to enlarge the map |
