Up the Amazon Without a Paddle.

[drron]

The main feature in Manaus is the Opera house-

 

[drron]

There were some fine buildings around the Opera House-

Not all buildings showed signs of maintenance however.

This was in fact a shoe shop.Mrsdrron went into a few but unfortunately it seems no woman in Brazil wears larger than a size 8 shoe.We also called into the Carrefours supermarket.They had a nice display of truck tyres near the checkouts.So we continued back detouring via the cathedral-

The bananas at the fruit stalls looked decidedly past their best-

But the beer service seemed appropriate for the climate-

 

[drron]

Back to the ship and we were totally exhausted.Now I sweat-just lets say today I was doing an impression of Niagara Falls.A lot of locals commented.So it was a cold shower and relax for a while.
Another happening today was that we got soft toilet paper back.Up until now we had really rough paper ?cost cutting.For the last 2 days they had been working in our corridor on the sanitation equipment.I suspect the new paper was clogging the system.So perhaps another great cost saving idea.
Tonight was the Thanksgiving dinner and again we were with our friends from Vermont.I started with beef tartare and then of course the traditional turkey dinner.The galley had prepared a special Thanksgiving cake which everyone shared later-

I even went the whole hog and had pumpkin pie.I still dont get why people like it.Mrsdrron was wiser and had the chocolate dessert.

Unfortunately today we found out that instead of spending 2 nights in Manaus and then steaming up the Rio Negro to Anavilhanas,where there are multiple islands and smaller channels, we will be spending 3 nights in Manaus due to a lack of fresh water.The waters of the Amazon are much too turbid to be treated by the ships equipment.
So next-the rest of our time in Manaus.

 

[tgh]

seadream is running an upper amazon program..
I wonder how they provide a 6 star service ??
Perhaps they all shower in rose petals ....

 

[drron]

Well back on the Sunny Coast so time to get this TR going.
So tgh the problem apparently was that there was to be a delivery of fresh water when we were going back down the Amazon but the barge was delayed.
I have looked at the Seadream voyages and my guess is that they would be better than what we did for 2 reasons.
First you are cruising waters that are much less developed and getting smaller meaning more chance of seeing more.
second at either the Manaus or Iquitos ends of the cruise you could add a jungle lodge-that is the way to see the animals and birds of the Amazon up close.1-200 people walking down a jungle track as you get with cruise tours is quaranteed to scare off the wildlife.
I still reccommend an amazon experience.

Now back to the TR.We are now spending 3 nights in Manaus rather than 2.Had i known this I would have tried to spend 2 nights at a jungle camp.The tours offered were not that inspiring and costly.The only one I had considered was one to a place where they fed pink dolphins.However from Manaus it was now a 75 minute ride in an uncomfortable boat each way.I decided against it.
We therefore considered getting a free shuttle to a jewellers at one of Manaus's leading resorts or using the tour company at the passenger terminal to arrange a cheaper tour.

Nature however decided for us.I woke on the Friday with my left foot swollen,red and painful.gout had once again struck.Funny how cruises do that-and I reject the accusation of too much alcohol and rich food.
This day I had ordered the Prime rib for lunch whilst mrsdrron ordered the Asian seafood stir fry.however it was spicy so we swapped-the wine waiters from the second day knew Mrsdrron's preference fo a dry white so she was always offered a sauvignon blanc or pinot gris no matter what the complimentary wine selection was for that day.

Dinner was with our friends from Vermont and our new Scottish friends.Every night the women are escorted to the table arm in arm by the Maitre'd or a waiter.this night my favourite waiter,Cherry,spied us walking in,rushed over and so I was escorted to the table as well.Have i told you i fell in love with Cherry?
tonight i started with the beef tartare and then had the prime rib-

Mrsdrron started with a trilogy of salmon and then had the scallops-

We both finished with the cheesecake-

After dinner we went to the show-the marriage game.really was quite flat.my new Scottish lady Pat and I had volunteered ourselves for the show.after all we were both married but it was felt as it was not to each other we were not eligible.I have no doubt we would have livened things up.
Next-more excitement in Manaus.

 

[drron]

Saturday and another day in Manaus.breakfast turned out to be the high point of excitement.I usually had granola with extra berries first for breakfast.The Granola came in those single serve packets-today there were weevils in it.Cherry was horrified,everyone came to look.now this was not the fault of the kitchen,the weevils almost certainly came with the packet.Every morning after that you could see Cherry emptying my granola into a bowl and carefully examining it for extra moving protein-did not happen again.
Of course this sounds like a healthy breakfast.Unfortunately this usually followed-

Of course after breakfast it was a nap until time for lunch.I had the tuna tartare,lasagne and laksa-relly wasn't but tasted great anyway-

Mrsdrron had the eggplant wraps and honey glazed pork-

And still had room for a nice,decadent version of strudel-

Now what did we do in the afternoon-why a galley tour.That next.

 

[drron]

The galley is always interesting.The cold dishes were being prepared-

the place is large with naturally a lot of storage space.So first looking towards the restaurant then the other way-

The place is immaculate-

and the staff always seem to have a smile-

Everything is done from scratch-here is the evening's bread-

and this turned out to be for us after the tour,along with a glass of champagne naturally-

That night was another formal night and we were on the Ship's doctor's table.Also on that table were duct tape and Joe.first i asked about the ship's malaria policy.The crew are supplied with doxycycline.Again a very enjoyable night-the duck for main course was very good.after dinner it was off to the show with pianist Judy Carmichael.I forgot we were still in Manaus.

 

[drron]

That saturday afternoon we had finally left Manaus.The cormorants arrived to send us off-

and a last look at the bridge we unfortunately would not go under-

Sunday we were at Paritins.The highlight of this town was to be the Boi bumba show.We saw it on You tube and decided it wasn't worth $140 each.However we got the tender to town.alongside was a local ferry,very basic for overnight voyages-

As usual a variety of vessels at the wharf-

I am sure they are awaiting Tony hancocks arrival having built this new facility-

As you leave the Port area there are stalls set up with crafts.I don't know how they expected us to get these back home-

More of Paritins next.

 

[drron]

Street scenes from Paritins-

and yes that meat is out in the open on a day when the temperature was already 37C before lunch.

And the bird in the picture is my nomination for the state bird of Amazonas-the vulture.

More of paritins to come.

 

[drron]

Not all of Paritins was messy.Murals and ads for the Boi Bumba show brightened the place-

And there were signs of modern technology and service-

I didn't think McDave sounded very Brazilian-

And loved their phone booths-

There were signs of construction but seeing it was Sunday nothing much was happening-

but some businesses were open.loved the miniature appliances-

Next-the Cathedral.

 

[drron]

Amidst all the signs of a lack of wealth the cathedral stood out-

However the cathedral was nice and cold.after reviving from the heat we once again needed to start walking,we did not use the rickshaws.

next-the last of Paritins.

 

[drron]

We then found the local market.The watermelon looked tempting.then some interesting structures on the walk back to the port-

Midday and time for a couple of ferries to head downriver.plenty left though-

and still an interesting array of craft on the river bank-

As we cruised towards our final Amazon stop,Alta De Chao,the sun set and the moon rose-

 

[drron]

After we reboarded at Paritins and had a cold shower it was time for lunch.Mrsdrron started with the carpaccio and i with the fusilli with eggplant-

I then had the paella,again not really a paella but very nice,Mrsdrron had the ribs.not as good as you get in the USA.

we both had the austrian donuts which were delicious-

That afternoon we resuscitated our reputation coming equal first in the Trivia-it had not been a good cruise for that.Once again at night we ate in the main restaurant.mrsdrron had the special "Ryan's chicken" as done by a Phillipino chef as a variation of his mother's recipe.she declared it nice.I had the equally nice veal tenderloin-

Monday and we arrived at Alta De Chance again the ship anchored off shore and we were taken in by tender.You come here for this-

White sand beaches and water that is not turbid.We were not alone however-

more to come.

 

[drron]

Alta De Chao is actually on the Rio Tapajos but not far from the Amazon and Santarem.whilst there we met several germans that came on a ferry as a tour from the Aida line ship which was docked in Santarem.We however didn't have to get our feet wet-

There were a few"resorts".A small channel led to a large lagoon where all the Brazilians hang out-

However I liked the view out over the river-

It was again very hot but at most times a good breeze.Mango trees were common but if you got off the main drag it got a little rough-

There were however some up market houses-

More to come.

 

[turtlemichael]

Drron, continuing to enjoy your report.

 

[drron]

We walked down to the little village.Pretty well deseted though the kids were at school,most barefoot.so some street scenes and naturally the best maintained building was the church-

A reasonable looking small hotel and restaurant-

Many places had high fences even razor wire even though we were told there is very little crime.though those using this pool already had an intruder-

more still to come.

 

[drron]

So the last of Alta De Chao.There was a new block of units facing the lagoon-

But some seemed to lack a view and the surrounds not impressive-

And there were the ever present vultures-

when we got back to the tender loading place there were now several stalls set up.The cheap jewellery looked identical to that you see around the world that is made in China though they insisted it was made by local artisans.Then there were pearls that the fellow insisted were caught in the sea of Brazil by his family,hmmm.Then again there were the dried fish-

We then set off in the late afternoon.The colours of the setting sun were great and I spent an hour or so watching-

 

[drron]

Again I just kept snapping until the sun set-

 

[drron]

There was a pre-dinner show by the Cruise Director David.His experience shows and we enjoyed it.Dinner was in Le Champagne again.Once again mrsdrron had the lobster thermidor and once again there was too much taste of brandy.The same dish on the wind was much better.I had a very nice red-a syrah + petite verdot.very nicely balanced.
After this it was to the show-Liar,Liar.Duct Tape proved a formidable contestant.Then a well earned sleep.
Thursday and we were cruising down the amazon,recrossing the Equator.We invited our friends from Vermont to have lunch with us in our suite.It was very casual food-spring rolls,pizzas and creme brulee.however we started with a bottle of Heisdeck champagne and then nice Chilean Sav blanc and a red.Our butler Bo went above and beyond.Serving us the individual courses,topping up our wine and working well past the hour he was to start his break.We did feel it was very decadent but very enjoyable.
So now to some photos.As we were cruising we saw yet another meeting of the waters-

The river got wider-

Until we could no longer see land.At this point we were still 2 hours from officially entering the Atlantic-

We once again were able to come equal first at trivia.then it was up to the pool deck for the Crossing of the Equator ceremony.Every one was waiting-

There was King Neptune with his lovely partner-

As always someone ended up in the water-

whilst there were those of us who kept their eyes on Neptune's attendants-

And just to prove I am not the only fellow who likes Loudmouth shorts-

and no they were not mine on loan.

 

[drron]

After that i remained on the top deck.Some passing vessels-

and then one of the last sunsets-

on the sea days back to Barbados we saw dolphins but they were much too quick for me.Also lots of flying fish.Out of the many photos of the Atlantic there were a couple where I could make out the flying fish,I hope you can-