Since I last bloged myself and john have made our way east via river boat down the amazon. We are currently in the capital of the amazons: Manaus. The time we spent in rio Branco was uneventful, we explored the city and markets, the docklands area and that was about it. We swiftly purchased our boat tickets from the boat down at the dock, this was good because it meant we were able to see the boat before we committed to the ticket but seeing as no other boat was selling tickets I don't think we had much choice.
So the time came to leave, we packed up and went in search of some where to eat breakfast as the boat was at 9. We found a nice breakfast buffet, filled up hen off down the docks to board the boat. By now it looked very different, the whole of the bottom deck had since been loaded with cargo and the hill filled with hundreds of water melons. The 2nd deck where we were meant to be sleeping was full with swinging hammocks, bags, and children running around! So we swiftly strung up out newly purchased hammocks (next to the kitchen, result) and settled into our relaxing 3 day ride. The trip included 3 meals a day, bread and coffee in the morning (at 6) beef, rice, noodles and lentils for lunch and the same for diner except with chicken and water melon for afters. Needles to say I had a good fill, I'm shore All the lauding about in hammocks, sunbathing and swimming was good for my weight, doubt any progress there tho! So as mentions all there was to do on the boat was sunbathe on the upper deck, sleep and read. Swing ad I finished my book o. The 1st day I did a lot of sleeping and sunbathing. The views from the boat were beautiful, throughout the trip lush amazon jungle lined both sides of the river. With the breakfast being so early I was luckily up and awake (thanks to the coffee) I. I'm to see the amazon sun rise, I'll attract a picture because I can't really describe t other than amazing, orange globe rising from behind he jungle casting colours across the ripples in the water caused by the boat. In the Night time equally as beautiful was the sun set changing the sky from blue to purple, pink and then pitch black with millions of stars.
Arrival in Manaus was smoth, offloaded, map out on a mission to track down the hostel. We got lost because do think we got off at the wrong port in the city but never the less after about 30 minets of walking we arrived. To early to check in we unloaded our baggage and went for abit of exploring, 1st things 1st where's the supermarket! Drinks and snacks purchased we killed some time chilling in a park eating and chatting about games, nerdy hour.
Our activities so far here in Manaus has been to explore the city, which it is, very big and developed nothing like the towns we have been passing through since Cuzco. The city had s many nice looking revamped old buildings including the cities opera house, a large pink mansion with a vividly colourfully dome at the top that is visible for miles around.
One of the highlights of Manaus has been the visit to the park of science. This is a 130km square area of preserved jungle with a range of amazon plants, trees and animals. We sore otters, manatees, alligators, snakes, frogs, piraña and turtles! It was great to see the animals, especially the turtles (a bit of an obsession). We spent the day walking through the dense jungle viewing the animals and taking pictures. A thoroughly enjoyable day. Now this all sounds great but he effort it took to get there is ridiculous! This was our 2nd day in a row attempting to get in. Day 1 we decided to walk to the distance goths park, by he map in our hostel his did t look very far. 3 hours later we arrived, heat exhausted and sore footed only to find out the place was closed! So we decided to get the bus back Into town. Day 2. We left the hostel early in search of the bus stop that wIll take us there, hour and a half later were still wandering from bus stop to bust stop searching for one that had our bus. Finally success. We arrive an the park is amazing. Now to get home, we get on a bus and little do we know it's taking us to the centre of the local university campus moths centre of town. Darn the bloody language difficulties. So standing there like muppets we try to will ourselves to get on another bus and hope t takes us into town, it did eventually but that was a shoving bus ride constantly trying to work out if we were heading in the right direction.
2nd boat ticket purchased, Belem here we come!
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