Category: Amazon, Caribbean and Azores

Today, we visited Parintins.   The big attraction of the place is its annual ‘Boi Bumba’ festival, which takes place every June. Groups of dancers and musicians compete with each other to tell local folk stories, and each year the festival gets bigger, and the costumes and dances more extravagant. Visiting cruise ships are given a taste of the festival...

We were up bright and early today. Both Tracey and myself had been given escort duty on an eight-hour tour, entitled ‘The Amazonian Adventure’.   Two boats, both with approximately eighty guests would head out for the the meeting of the waters, and beyond. Each boat is required to have two escorts, so we were consigned to one boat, while...

At lunchtime, today, we arrived in the capital city of Amazonas; Manaus.   I’d spent the morning painting, and completed two pieces from Santarem and Boca Do Valeria, and was ready for a break. Both Tracey and I had been assigned escort duties on the ‘Manaus city tour’; not an excursion that either of us would have chosen to do,...

Today we dropped anchor in the river, just off Boca Do Valeria, billed as an unspoilt, native indian village, and a chance to hob-nob with local tribespeople.   Boca Do Valeria divides people rather spectacularly; there are some who relish the experience, and there are those who don’t believe we should visit there at all. Between the two, there are...

Today, we arrived at our first Amazonian port; Santarem.   Both Tracey and I had been given escort duties; we were going fishing for piranha, on Lake Maica!   This is a great excursion for several reasons. Firstly; it takes in some of the most beautiful river sights around Santarem, and, secondly, it usually features lots of wildlife.   There...