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The AMAZON TRAILBLAZER
  • Bruce Winters
  • Karen Winters
  • Bruce Winters
  • Karen Winters

The AMAZON TRAILBLAZER

Oceania trip to the Amazon Leggi altro
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  • The AMAZON TRAILBLAZER

    MANAUS, Brazil- Day 1 To "The Line"

    11 gennaio 2025, Brasile ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F

    Manaus is a city of 2.6 million people, with 55 large international companies and over 450 factories. Yes! Manaus has an opera house, the Amazonas Theater was built in 1882 at the time of the Rubber Boom. Developed by artists from all over Europe, with Italian marble, mirrors, Murano chandeliers, and glazed tiles from Alsace … it is a one of a kind building … in particular in the middle of the Amazon (restored in the past 4 years after 90 years of disrepair). We are here for two days where we did a Meeting of the Waters and a trek through the jungle along the rainforest trail.

    Day 1 we took a riverboat to the “Meeting of the Waters”, where there is the confluence between the dark, black but clear Rio Negro and the muddy, yellow Amazon River without mixing. The river then flows another 37 miles before mixing fully. At the meeting of the rivers, there is a clear line that forms between the two waters and it is fascinating.

    First we took a small boat made from itauba trees down the Rio Negro to the place where the Waters meet to observe this phenomenon. We were very lucky because TODAY is the first day there was enough water in the rainy season (which is over a month later than normal) after a very hot 2024 to canoe the January Lake. After that we went to a floating pier where we jumped in a canoe and took it through the January Lake and eventually back to the pier.

    Why don’t they mix? Temperature, Speed, Amount of dissolved sediment, Density and Ph.
    -Rio Negro flows at 1.2 mph at 82 degrees, has a 7.2 ph and is alkaline, has iron and magnesium, and is sediment free flowing from Columbia. No fish or bugs in these waters.
    -Amazon flows at 3.5mph at 72 degrees has a 4.5 ph and is very acidic, is rich with sediment from the Andes Mountains. This environment is also conducive to many fish.    Leggi altro

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  • The AMAZON TRAILBLAZER
    Bridge to Nowhere
    HIKE BEGINS!ANTS LIVE IN THIS PLANTMade from the bark of Carnauba Trees (left) and Clove VineA BIG BUG that joined us for lunchBranco Palm ResinCoffeeMake me a hat from the palmResin for bug repellent and helps start fires

    MANAUS, Brazil - Day 2 HIKING 1 of 3

    12 gennaio 2025, Brasile ⋅ ☁️ 77 °F

    The only major bridge across the Amazon is the Ponte Rio Negro and its11,795 ft long, linking Manaus with Iranduba in the state of Amazones in Brazil. Its quite a site but unfortunately it’s a “bridge to nowhere” since there is very little in the small town and area on the other side and does not connect to the rest of Brazil.

    We arrived at “Gads Area”, an area 45 minutes by fast boat from where we docked in Manaus and of course we were still in the jungle. Our guide immediately pointed out the water line on the trees …50’ over our heads. The water shifts 55’ from dry to rainy season.

    We proceeded to climb the makeshift steps up to the hill where we were to enter the jungle. Our first encounter (see photos) was the clove vine and we tried its tea for relaxing. Then we tried tea made from the carnauba tree which is used to treat malaria and liver issues. Then we found the café arabica plant with its berries … which is the source of its coffee. The resin of the next tree we found on our hike was the branco palm which produces a resin that is used for treating headaches.

    Our tour guide told us about his 3-7 day treks through the jungle https://www.amazonasnature.com/. Our one-day version was great. The Inacia plam was great for making hats, belts, baskets and was strong enough to tie together to climb a tree, which was quite a site to see. The water vine was a “life-saver” as we got drinking water from the vine. The Amira tree produced sap that is used as an expectorant and also is used to prevent tuberculosis. The tukum palm is used for cosmetics, soap, wine and ice cream as well as in many foods. In addition to demonstrations of building a trap, making fire without a match, making a bow and arrow that was quite deadly as demoed there were many other tips for exploring the jungle. Not to mention poisonous ants and tarantulas. The guide told us about the coming of age for 12 year old boys and the military orientation where you are taught survival training and must prove it at the end of the training. It was quite a day.

    See photos and 2 videos here.    Leggi altro

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    BRAZILIAN FOOD

    13 gennaio 2025, Brasile ⋅ 🌧 82 °F

    We have "avoided" posting photos of FOOD this trip because often once I get started, I cant stop posting the incredible meals on Oceania. That being said, tonight is Brazilian night and I had to post some of the more interesting dishes from here.

    Brazilian food has a mix of European, Amerindian, African, and Asian influences with many regional differences. Ingredients include: cashews, cassava, guarana, aqai, cumaru, and tucupi. We had feijoada and so manyother interesting dishes and of course, cachaca (made from fermented sugar cane) making it into caipirinha.    Leggi altro

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    Parintins, Brazil - 1 of 4

    13 gennaio 2025, Brasile ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F

    Parintins known for its once-a-year folkloric festival that seems to spread an attitude of fun throughout the year. With a population of 101,956 people on 4,392 square miles, it’s a totally contained island on the Amazon River on the Island of Tupinambarana. The people originally were the indigenous Satere Mawe, later in 1669 settled by a religious mission here but now are mostly mixed race and culture from the Portuguese, European and Japanese influence beginning in1749. The Bio Bumba (or bumba-meu-boi in Brazilian folklore) festival here in the biggest annual festival in the Amazones. The toada is a musical style originating from this city, which features folk dances with indigenous, caboclo and riverside themes. A combination of theater, drums, music, dancing and circus represents the agricultural cycles with an 18th century story of an ox, which somehow translates into two ox teams competing during the festival. Tens of thousands come for the 3 day annual festival. (SEE THE TWO VIDEOS). Everything is RED and/or BLUE (even the coke cans)!

    The primary economics is from agriculture and livestock (cattle and pig). Some of the crops produced over the years include: pineapple, jute, rice, sweet potato, sugar cane, beans, tobacco, cassava, manioc, passion fruit, wild passion fruit, watermelon, soybeans (organic), melon and corn. Permanent crops include: avocado, banana, cocoa, coffee, cashew, coconut, orange, lemon, guarana and tangerine.    Leggi altro

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    Alter do Chao, Brazil - 1 of 2

    14 gennaio 2025, Brasile ⋅ ☁️ 79 °F

    We tendered into Alter do Chão, a popular tourist destination among both locals and foreigners, primarily due to its white beaches and at the same time its proximity to the Amazon jungle. The main beach in front of the town is the IIha do Amor (Island of Love).

    Alter do Chao is an administrative district of the city of Santarem. Until the 18th Century the village was inhabited by indigenous Boraris. In the early 20th century this was a major transportation route of latex from the rubber trees (until the 1950s when latex production ended).

    During the low river season, from August to January, the region reveals long stretches of fine sand beaches along the Tapajós River. In contrast, the flood season, from February to July, transforms the area with flooded forests. Our visit was considered the transition between these seasons with a mix of both.    Leggi altro

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    We MUST Save the Amazon!

    14 gennaio 2025, Brasile ⋅ ☁️ 86 °F

    On this trip we spent time in the Amazon, in Brazil. This is only one Country in the Amazon of the total of 9 Countries. The entire Amazon covers an area the size of our 48 States (2.7 million square miles) and most of it is endangered. With its 390 billion trees, 2.5 million species of insects, 1400 species of butterflies, 430 species of animals and 1300 species of bird, each day more become extinct. What’s endangered? 8000 species of plants (of 40,000), 2300 species of animals, and 10% of the entire world's biodiversity. Currently, 4000 - 6000 species are lost for every 1% of deforestation and 35% of the forest has been destroyed or degraded. The worst piece of data is that Brazil has had 17% deforestation and is looking like it will by up 25% in the not too distant future. 25% translates into a non-recoverable disaster.

    As the temperature of the water rises, there is less water, less water flow and animals, dolphins, other fish and plants are dying. In many places there is a drought, and the dry season is getting longer. It is estimated that if we reach a point where the increase in temperature change hits 5 degrees Fahrenheit, we will be at the point of no return to “fix the World” and there will be an ecological disaster. In addition, we will run out of oxygen as the Amazon is producing 20% of the entire Worlds supply. As for deforestation, all the trees being taken down are destroying wildlife, the ecosystem, the ground is eroding quickly and eliminating much of the critical rain in the forest. As for the indigenous people that live here, over a million people that live in unison with nature and their environment are losing their way of living. Lastly, medical science depends on the fact that 25% of all medications are plant based that are disappearing, not to mention scientists have only studied about 5% of the plants in the forest.

    We must help slow this down. Look where the products and minerals you purchase come from and don’t buy them from Brazil. Also, don't buy Mahogany and Ebon which is often sourced from Brazilian trees. Support the companies that actively pursue Amazon management and climate change.    Leggi altro

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    Day at Sea

    15 gennaio 2025, Brasile ⋅ ☁️ 81 °F

    We had a relaxing day today highlighted by a Special Lunch for the Around the World 2023/2024 Passengers. Approximately 40 of us were invited to a lunch with the GM Yves, Executive Concierge Andrea, Cruise Director Dottie (Tom), F& B Manager and Entertainment staff (Robbie, Casey, Keenan) to eat, drink and recount the Wonderful times we had Circumnavigating the Globe together. See video.

    We watched the new release of Colleyville the documentary (it was 3 years ago today that there was an antisemitic hostage attack on the Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas) and Papillon (a story of living on the penal colony of Devil's Island). These are two important movies, albeit not very happy movies.    Leggi altro

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