The Amazon

After Natal, we have 3 days at sea and then into the Amazon.

The days are spent relaxing in the sunshine (we have been very lucky with the weather, calm seas and sunshine). There are a few activities to help pass the day - eating, drinking, lying around to name a few.😎

Our trivia team ended up holding up the rest of the competition - but we did have 1 win and scored a Seabourn cap for the victory.😏

There has been an outbreak of the 'flu' onboard. Mainly within the crew so they are back wearing masks. But it really has not had any significant impact on our daily activities.

On our 3rd day at sea we crossed the Equator and of course was the mandatory Crossing of the Line ceremony. For the non-sailors amongst us it is a ceremony where King Neptune and his entourage comes onboard and initiates all those who have yet to cross the line. ross equator. 

The pool was drained after the event and won't be filled for the remainder of the voyage. Apparently it attracts the bugs and makes life a bit uncomfortable.

So 1 more dip before it goes

Julie took it all in with a glass of bubbles.

Brings back memories of life onboard Navy ships on special occasions

The sea colour has changed as we get closer to the Amazon. The sea is calm, no breeze but the bugs are starting to appear

So quiet onboard.  Julie has joined me in the gym.😊

Running out of ideas for cocktails so may start all over again 

Tomorrow we enter the Amazon.

Its very wide at this stage with dense jungle up to the shoreline

Water onboard is being watched. The ship has difficulties in producing water from the Amazon (too muddy/dirty) so it is conserving what is used. So I am doing my bit by passing on a glass of water and having gin and tonic in lieu. The sacrifices I make 😢

We had a game of tossing small sand bags with the aim of getting onto a small platform, or better still, getting it into a hole. Played against the officers. Clearly they need more practice as the guest's team won (very exciting?)

Santarem is our first stop along the Amazon. It sits midway between Belem and Manaus in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon. Founded in1661 and played a major part during the Brazilian rubber boom. These days it is still a busy port and one of the region's export hubs. It is a tourist jumping off point.

We headed to the zodiacs for our first venture into the tributaries. For a couple of hours we were able to get up close with the wildlife along the Amazon. Primarily birdlife. And there were a large variety to see.

But manoeuvring through the reeds did have it's problems.

A good time was had by all. Back on board for more food and drinks. After dinner we went up to one of the lounges for some sushi,  a couple of cocktails and some music before heading down to dinner. It has become our normal routine now. It has become a real struggle to keep the weight off (Julie is losing the fight. I need to get her to the gym).

We sailed away from Santerim, heading for our next stop of  Parintins. In Parintins we went ashore and were presented with a fabulous show by the locals called Boi Bumba. It is difficult to describe. It was a show, a dance, a play all rolled up in one that went for over an hour. The custms and dancers were spectacular.
 

The next day we arrived in Manaus which was the end of the first leg of the cruise. About 100 passengers left the ship and the next lot boarded. We took an opportunity to walk around the city.

Manaus is the largest city on the Amazon and the main port for export and import on the river. Its actually located on the Rio Negro were it famous for the Meeting of the Waters (where the 'muddy Amazon meets the cleaner Rio Negro which has a distinctive line between the 2).

It is a typical city and Julie found the department stores.

Back onboard and the start of the next 9 day segment which will give us greater opportunities in the zodiacs to explore.

Next stop Ajura and exploring then Amazon.