Manaus – Day 1: Cruising the Amazon Waterways and Rainforest

I took a ride on two different boats today.  The first was a larger boat that transported the group across the Rio Negro to Lake January.  Lake January is reached by using the flooded marsh-like lands.  After reaching Lake January, groups of six boarded small motorized boats to look closely at the wildlife.  Today it was mainly birds.  The final leg was to again see the “meeting of the waters” where the Rio Negro meets the Amazon River.

The first boat the group will take from the port is the "Amazon Explorer."

We say goodbye to the Prinsendam which is docked on the floating dock in Manaus.  The dock rises and falls with the Rio Negro.

This is a "bridge to nowhere."  They built it hoping the other side of the river would develop in the future.

To reach Lake January, the "Amazon Explorer" must cross the flooded grasslands.

Looking back you can see our ship and the city of Manaus.

The homes on Lake January are very humble.  They exist on stilts or on floatation foundations (houseboats).

Next stop are these restaurants/marinas to transfer to smaller boats to explore the jungle.

Six to eight people each got in one of these smaller boats to explore the area.

I got lots of photos of birdlife in the area.

I believe this is some kind of hawk.  His feathers were a variation of brown.

We reach an area of water lilies.

Our boat driver uses his flip flop to life up the plant.  It has sharp, needle-like spikes and the shoes protect his hands.

This bird went crazy with us looking at the water lilies. 

The guide pointed her nest with eggs in the water lilies narby.

The bird was happy when we left so she could return to tend and protect her eggs.

Another bird perched high in a tree.

Although we saw the "meeting of the waters" when we arrived this morning, the excursion included another look at the blending of the Amazon and Rio Negro.  There's a difference in temperature, water speed, and the ph level.

A glass of the Amazon water and a glass of the clearer Rio Negro water.  Neither should be used to quench your thirst!

The boat makes its way back to the marina.

Since the river serves as the highway, the refill stations are everywhere in the river for boat owners.

Well, my "home away from home" is still in the port.  I will only be able to call this "home" for two more weeks.