![\"2015-01-20](\"http:\/\/www.peterwoolley.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/2015-01-20-Mouth-of-Amazon_1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nToday, we arrived in Brazilian waters. When I came up for breakfast, the Pool Deck was wet from rain, but the air was hot and humid. Beyond, on both sides of the ship, you could just make out the thin, dark line of the the forest. Exactly two weeks after leaving Tilbury, we were finally anchored in the mouth of the great Amazon River, waiting for the arrival of the Brazilian Immigration officials.<\/p>\n
The Craft Room has been turned into an office for said officials, and blinds added to the glass doors to prevent passengers peering in at them. It wouldn’t be good for us to actually see just how little work they do, and wonder why they have to remain on board ship for the whole time we’re on the Amazon. Some might call it a jolly; they’ll be wined and dined, and basically ‘looked after’ while they’re on board, while they stamp passports and…. do whatever it is that they do in there… (their country… their rules…).<\/p>\n
Once we’d been granted clearance, and we finally set off on the next leg of our adventure, people gazed in awe at the trees as we sailed past. The birders were out with their massive lenses on tripods, and folks dusted off their binoculars to take a closer look. Folks wandered around the ship taking photos of the moths and bugs that had come aboard (although in nothing like the same numbers as Tracey and I have seen on previous trips… I suspect the rain has kept them away…), and some just lazed in the sun, turning into the colour of lobsters.<\/p>\n
For me; this was the first day I’ve had for a while when I don’t have any classes, so I’ve taken advantage of it to crack on with other work. This means I’ve spent most of the day couped up in my cabin, clacking away on the laptop, emerging only to upload stuff from the Captain’s Club wi-fi, and fight my way through the crowds of people in Marcos at lunchtime, to grab myself a hot dog and chips (well… french fries… I could murder an actual plate of real home-cooked chips!…).<\/p>\n
As the afternoon wore on though, and I made a dent on my other jobs, a walk around the deck in the early evening air seemed like an excellent idea…..<\/p>\n
…My timing couldn’t have been more perfect. As I approached the front of the ship, I joined the masses there who had congregated to witness the sunset – pretty stunning it was too. Here’s a taster of what it was like…<\/p>\n