DAY 1 OF THE AMAZON BOAT TRIP (17/04/09)
Liz didn´t really want to go on a boat trip along the Amazon wheras Adam really wanted to take the 6 day slow boat. As a compromise we settled on the 1.5 day fast boat. However as it turned out the fast boats now only run once a fortnight and we had just missed one so, to Adam´s great pleasure, we ended up on the slow boat anyway- the Itapuranga III.
Our last view of Manaus before we set off, with the boat´s large Brazilian flag flying in the foreground.
The boat was not just for passengers, one whole deck was packed with cargo. We got there when the last few things were being loaded, it was not until later in the trip when we saw how much stuff they had managed to cram on.
Local people waving off their friends and family from the dock. There was no one there to wave us off!
An easy solution to the problem of turning a large boat in a small harbour. There were 2 small boats pushing our big river boat in the right direction.
On the 2nd deck was the communal bedroom, you bring your own hammock and string it from any pole you can find. Later on it got even more crowded than this with people so close they even touched each other.
We decided on the luxury option. We were lucky, since most of the cabins weren´t occupied we were upgraded to one with a bathroom.
Looking suprisingly happy at the prospect of six days on a boat.
Very happy at the prospect of spending six days on a boat.
The famous "Meeting of the waters" just outside Manaus. This is where the sandy coloured water of the Amazon river meets the dark water of the Rio Negro (black river). Due to differences in speed, density and temperature they don´t mix for some distance creating this strange line through the river.
The waters as they start to mix.
The first of many Amazon riverside villages.
While mostly the river was extremely wide we occasionally went up narrow channels such as this.
Due to high rainfall the river was exceptionally high. This meant that much of the land by the banks was flooded.
Happy to be cruising along.
Look near the top right of the tree and you will see one of the fearless local children leaping in to the river.
Nearly all the houses were built on stilts, something of an essential decision on the banks of the Amazon.
Chugging along. The flag is the flag of the Brazilian Amazon.
Spectacular sky at dusk.
Day one almost over.
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