From: Sherman Rootberg
Date: Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 7:33 PM
Subject: Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Boca Da Valeria
By the time we woke this morning, the ship was about stopped. Soon after it dropped the anchor. We were at a very tiny village of about 100 people or less.
We were going to take a ride around this village and up the small tributary on which it is located. We had been given tickets for the time we chose. Our time was 10:40 AM. There were to be only 30 people per 150 person tender. That way every one would have at least one window and we would be able to move around to get
pictures and views.
The first thing we noticed was there must have been a lot of rain at this part of the river that had not yet made its way down stream. The current was very fast and trees, branches and all kinds of junk were moving quickly and in great quantities.
As we looked down from our balcony we could see many small canoe like boats, full of locals, all over the place. Many were
clinging to the ships landing dock. They were being given all kinds of no longer needed items. One woman had been holding an old battered Radisson umbrella. We could see they were giving them empty containers and boxes of old uniforms, towels and linen that could no longer be used.
As the current was very swift, it was almost impossible to paddle against it. Many had strange outboard motors. I am guessing, the silt in the water would clog ordinary engines. These small engines
were air cooled and had a very long shaft sticking out the rear. They would turn the engine from side to side to turn and lift up and down to adjust the depth of the propeller. These engines had one direction and two speeds. No gears. Just forward. The speeds were off and running. Often the ones with the motors, would have others without, hanging on.
We got to the lounge where we were to sign in ten minutes before our appointed time as requested. Everything was running ten to fifteen minutes late due to the fast current. The person directing when we were to go to the tenders was a French guy from the tour
desk who knew us well. He had asked what time our tickets were for and even though many had been there before us, he whispered go ahead. Some people have not shown and there is room now. He understands how important I am. He took our tickets so no one would know and said to tell them to radio him should they ask for them at the ramp.
It had been raining lightly off and on and the sky was covered with low hanging clouds. Some of the cloud banks looked very mean but
they held their water long enough for us to get aboard the tender. Earlier it had rained hard from time to time and then we could not even see the river banks. Now it was just foreboding looking. I guess that’s what a rain forest is supposed to look like and this is world’s largest.
As we rode out of the main river and into the small tributary where the village was, we started to have locals in their little boats hang on. There were whole families at times. They were all trying
to sell us something. One had a monkey. Bobbi had some of the wrapped chocolates they leave in our rooms nightly. She was going to give it to the kids. Just don’t tell Lillian. She wants it.
Bobbi was handing some out to the kids. The monkey got very upset. He wanted one too. Bobbi gave him one. You should have seen the little sucker tear open the packaging to get at the candy. Sounds right to me. Isn’t that what the cruise line means to do with it? Feed the monkeys?
After riding by the village we made a startling discovery. This is the same place we visited the first time we were here. We think it was about eight years ago. There is quite a story that goes with this.
Originally there were just two huts at this location. A ship, from a now defunct Greek cruise line, broke down here. It took three days to get parts and repairs. During that time they started giving things to the locals who spoke no modern language at the time. After that they started making regular stops here. Quite often a retired, award winning National Geographic photographer, would be aboard as a guide and narrator. His name was McIntyre.
We were on a brand new ship from that line when we were here last. McIntyre was aboard. He was selling signed copies of his award winning photos to raise money for the people of this town. I am sure I have some somewhere. He bothered them until he got the Brazilian government to build a concrete school building.
We had no idea that this was that town. It looked completely different. There were no boats to be seen back then and now there were cattle. That was new. The house and buildings, all on stilts, looked completely different and there were lots more of them. The only way we figured it out was when we saw the school. It was now some kind of community building, but we knew it was the same building.
Later this afternoon we had a group playing local music with local instruments. It was in the Horizon Lounge and only for those doing the round trip. It was interesting as they made sounds of local birds. I don’t think they will make the pop charts though. It put me to sleep.
We had another very good and very interesting day. The boat ride around the village and along some nearby cliffs was great.
Date: Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 7:33 PM
Subject: Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Boca Da Valeria
By the time we woke this morning, the ship was about stopped. Soon after it dropped the anchor. We were at a very tiny village of about 100 people or less.We were going to take a ride around this village and up the small tributary on which it is located. We had been given tickets for the time we chose. Our time was 10:40 AM. There were to be only 30 people per 150 person tender. That way every one would have at least one window and we would be able to move around to get
pictures and views.The first thing we noticed was there must have been a lot of rain at this part of the river that had not yet made its way down stream. The current was very fast and trees, branches and all kinds of junk were moving quickly and in great quantities.
As we looked down from our balcony we could see many small canoe like boats, full of locals, all over the place. Many were
clinging to the ships landing dock. They were being given all kinds of no longer needed items. One woman had been holding an old battered Radisson umbrella. We could see they were giving them empty containers and boxes of old uniforms, towels and linen that could no longer be used.As the current was very swift, it was almost impossible to paddle against it. Many had strange outboard motors. I am guessing, the silt in the water would clog ordinary engines. These small engines
were air cooled and had a very long shaft sticking out the rear. They would turn the engine from side to side to turn and lift up and down to adjust the depth of the propeller. These engines had one direction and two speeds. No gears. Just forward. The speeds were off and running. Often the ones with the motors, would have others without, hanging on.We got to the lounge where we were to sign in ten minutes before our appointed time as requested. Everything was running ten to fifteen minutes late due to the fast current. The person directing when we were to go to the tenders was a French guy from the tour
desk who knew us well. He had asked what time our tickets were for and even though many had been there before us, he whispered go ahead. Some people have not shown and there is room now. He understands how important I am. He took our tickets so no one would know and said to tell them to radio him should they ask for them at the ramp.It had been raining lightly off and on and the sky was covered with low hanging clouds. Some of the cloud banks looked very mean but
they held their water long enough for us to get aboard the tender. Earlier it had rained hard from time to time and then we could not even see the river banks. Now it was just foreboding looking. I guess that’s what a rain forest is supposed to look like and this is world’s largest.As we rode out of the main river and into the small tributary where the village was, we started to have locals in their little boats hang on. There were whole families at times. They were all trying
to sell us something. One had a monkey. Bobbi had some of the wrapped chocolates they leave in our rooms nightly. She was going to give it to the kids. Just don’t tell Lillian. She wants it.Bobbi was handing some out to the kids. The monkey got very upset. He wanted one too. Bobbi gave him one. You should have seen the little sucker tear open the packaging to get at the candy. Sounds right to me. Isn’t that what the cruise line means to do with it? Feed the monkeys?
After riding by the village we made a startling discovery. This is the same place we visited the first time we were here. We think it was about eight years ago. There is quite a story that goes with this.Originally there were just two huts at this location. A ship, from a now defunct Greek cruise line, broke down here. It took three days to get parts and repairs. During that time they started giving things to the locals who spoke no modern language at the time. After that they started making regular stops here. Quite often a retired, award winning National Geographic photographer, would be aboard as a guide and narrator. His name was McIntyre.
We were on a brand new ship from that line when we were here last. McIntyre was aboard. He was selling signed copies of his award winning photos to raise money for the people of this town. I am sure I have some somewhere. He bothered them until he got the Brazilian government to build a concrete school building.
We had no idea that this was that town. It looked completely different. There were no boats to be seen back then and now there were cattle. That was new. The house and buildings, all on stilts, looked completely different and there were lots more of them. The only way we figured it out was when we saw the school. It was now some kind of community building, but we knew it was the same building.
Later this afternoon we had a group playing local music with local instruments. It was in the Horizon Lounge and only for those doing the round trip. It was interesting as they made sounds of local birds. I don’t think they will make the pop charts though. It put me to sleep.
We had another very good and very interesting day. The boat ride around the village and along some nearby cliffs was great.
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