The Liberty Star docked at some place way out of town and not where we expected to find our hotel a short walk away! It was humidly hot and after walking a few minutes realized we were not going to get to our hotel without desiccating, so hailed a taxi.
The hotel was popular with business people but comfortable for us even though it had no windows to the outside. After a shower and nap we sorted our emails and bags. We had so much washing we decided to send it to the laundry and it came back nicely ironed and hanging on hangers. Quite a treat for our clothes that smelt so lovely.
Not far from the hotel is the soy bean export facility. It was built by the Americans and was opposed by the locals because it has not given the jobs promised and it has led to the felling of more rain forest.
In the evening we walked for half an hour along a newly built concrete promenade along the docks where dozens of boats were moored. There were joggers and walkers up and down in the setting sun. Mobile carts had charcoal grillers and cooked up fish, meat and chicken on skewers. They provided cushions for their customers to sit on the path edges. Balloons sellers were attracting the children and ice cream sellers the teens. Brazilians of all ages are very affectionate in public so couples were snogging on benches or preening each other. Pimple picking in public is another preoccupation.
In the evening we made the half hour walk from the hotel to an area that had a few restaurants and we ate at a Japanese place. The chicken was dry but we were able to eat a whole lot of stir fried vegetables.
We spent time resting and sorting our gear on the first day and tried to find a place to have John's ocular pressures taken but did not find a clinic. He thought it might be good to get a check.
The second day of our stay we decided to go to Alter do Chao for the day after checking out and leaving our sweet smelling gear in the hotel. As soon as we arrived at the river beach it absolutely poured down. Luckily we were under a bus shelter so waited it out. The place is listed as one of the top ten freshwater beaches in the world and attracts tourists from all over Brazil as well as Europe. We passed a group of Germans being guided about.
It is well organised with the paddlers wearing a uniform and prices set on a board. The boats waited like taxis at a rank and there was a calm air to the place. Small stalls sold hats, bikinis, and sunglasses. Families sat in the shade selling handmade jewelry from seeds and feathers and dream catchers.
The water level was high so a lot of the beach and its buildings were underwater on the popular island across from the main street.
This photo from our hotel shows the area when the water level is low.
We spend the day walking about and resting in the shade before taking the bus back the one hour trip to Santarem and getting a taxi to the airport to fly to Manaus.
The hotel was popular with business people but comfortable for us even though it had no windows to the outside. After a shower and nap we sorted our emails and bags. We had so much washing we decided to send it to the laundry and it came back nicely ironed and hanging on hangers. Quite a treat for our clothes that smelt so lovely.
Not far from the hotel is the soy bean export facility. It was built by the Americans and was opposed by the locals because it has not given the jobs promised and it has led to the felling of more rain forest.
In the evening we walked for half an hour along a newly built concrete promenade along the docks where dozens of boats were moored. There were joggers and walkers up and down in the setting sun. Mobile carts had charcoal grillers and cooked up fish, meat and chicken on skewers. They provided cushions for their customers to sit on the path edges. Balloons sellers were attracting the children and ice cream sellers the teens. Brazilians of all ages are very affectionate in public so couples were snogging on benches or preening each other. Pimple picking in public is another preoccupation.
In the evening we made the half hour walk from the hotel to an area that had a few restaurants and we ate at a Japanese place. The chicken was dry but we were able to eat a whole lot of stir fried vegetables.
We spent time resting and sorting our gear on the first day and tried to find a place to have John's ocular pressures taken but did not find a clinic. He thought it might be good to get a check.
The second day of our stay we decided to go to Alter do Chao for the day after checking out and leaving our sweet smelling gear in the hotel. As soon as we arrived at the river beach it absolutely poured down. Luckily we were under a bus shelter so waited it out. The place is listed as one of the top ten freshwater beaches in the world and attracts tourists from all over Brazil as well as Europe. We passed a group of Germans being guided about.
It is well organised with the paddlers wearing a uniform and prices set on a board. The boats waited like taxis at a rank and there was a calm air to the place. Small stalls sold hats, bikinis, and sunglasses. Families sat in the shade selling handmade jewelry from seeds and feathers and dream catchers.
The water level was high so a lot of the beach and its buildings were underwater on the popular island across from the main street.
This photo from our hotel shows the area when the water level is low.
We spend the day walking about and resting in the shade before taking the bus back the one hour trip to Santarem and getting a taxi to the airport to fly to Manaus.
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