Santarem, Brazil

 Sea Date January 16, 2024

Well, it was quite the start of our tour today.  I had signed us up for a boat tour with Gil Serife, the Amazon expert. We were to get on his boat at the tender port right as we exited the tender.  The first 8 of our tour group were able to do that but the HAL safety officers decided that it was unsafe and the tour boat would need to move.  Gil then had to scramble to find us a new dock and buses to get us there.  We got to the new dock and oh what a surprise. The boat couldn't find space at the dock so they had to jerry-rig an embarking system.  The idea was to walk across a rowboat, step onto a steep ramp, and then climb onto the boat.  Then they thought a better idea was to walk across the water onto the ramp and up.  Must admit I was worried about wet, slippery feet on that ramp.  I was going to get my feet wet in order to maintain some traction.  Jim decided on the barefoot approach. I was the next person to attempt this when suddenly a dock spot opened. The boat moved to the opening and we had a less treacherous ramp climb to join our friends already aboard.  About 10 of the tour group saw all this, canceled, and headed back to the Zuiderdam.

Once on board, Gil informed us we would be visiting the flood-plain of the Amazon.  It is only visible for 6 months of the year during the less wet season.  It is not what you think of when you hear Amazon rain forest but it was quite lovely. Nomadic people bring their cattle and horses to this area, build temporary homes and then head inland during the wet season.  The scenery was delightful as well as the gentle breeze.  We spotted a wide variety of birds.

Jane, Sharon and Arlene - glad to be on board!

    

                                                            Meeting of the Waters

    

                                                 Santarem where many Confederates moved in the

                                              

                                          1860s and where Gil's daughter was conceived - yellow house.

    

                                                                    Peaceful time on the river 

Temporary homes.

                                   
                                                    

                                                     Fish ball snack along with fruit and nuts.

                                                                         

                                                                   Cattle swimming

I think it is the most beautiful bird I have ever seen.

Amazon Kingfisher

            

                                                        Notice the high water mark on trees.

    

                                                     The book was dedicated to Gil, our guide.

    

                                         The author, Alan Dean Foster, also wrote Star Wars and Star Trek.

    

                                                                            Gil

We landed, hiked around the rainforest, and were served ants and pirarucu and caipirinha.  Quite, quite refreshing on a warm day but I had a few too many and went to bed very early this evening.  On the boat ride home Gil brought a sloth on board for us to meet.

High water mark on tree.

            

                                                                    Termite nests in trees.

    

                                                                    Mushroom

 

                                                                    Everything was prickly.

                                                            

                                                       The fish, pirarucu, they cooked for us.

                            

    

                                                            Our chef and her stove.    

    

                                                                            The ants.

    

                                                        Jim says they taste like pork rinds.

    

                                                    I bit into it but couldn't put it in my mouth.

    

                                           Our friendly sloth.  I petted him, his hair was like silk.

    

                                                                Serious gripping power.

    

                                                            Olivaceous Cormorant. I think.