A Thousand Miles Down the Amazon River
A Thousand Miles Down the Amazon River Have you ever had a thought pop into your head that you just couldn’t shake? For me, it’s usually Krispy Kreme donuts. I see the “Hot Donuts Now” sign flashing red in my mind, and it won’t go away until I go get a dozen of those warm, delicious rings of heaven. This time it was different. I read somewhere about taking a trip down the Amazon River in a cargo boat. As much as I tried, I couldn’t get that thought out of my mind. I’d lie in bed with visions of going down the Amazon River with a Brazilian captain who was happy to have some company for the journey. I’m very impulsive when it comes to traveling. I once flew to Madrid, Spain, with only a travel guide and the thought of seeing a bullfight – but that’s another story. Driven by my newfound obsession, I booked a flight to Rio de Janeiro and secured a hotel room near the beach. Wandering Around Rio de Janeiro The flight from Miami put me at my hotel in the Copacabana section of Rio de Janeiro, around three o’clock in the afternoon. After checking into the hotel, I wandered down to the beach to check it out. Copacabana and Ipanema are two of the most famous beaches in the world. Copacabana is known for its black and white mosaic pavement and its lively atmosphere. Ipanema is a beautiful beach that attracts a more stylish crowd and is considered an upscale beach. The beach was full of people enjoying the sun and surf. I skipped the beach. I needed to find a travel agent who could help extinguish the burning obsession that had brought me to Brazil. Filled with determination, I checked my map and arrived at the first travel agency right before closing time. They were unable to help, but they recommended someone at another agency. His name was Gabriel. I would have to visit him in the morning. My Savior Gabriel First thing the next morning, I went over to see Gabriel. He was a young guy with a lot of enthusiasm for his job. When I told him I wanted to take a cargo boat down the Amazon River, a big smile began to form on his face. Gabriel was born and raised in Manaus, the capital and largest city of the state of Amazonas. It sits on the banks of the Rio Negro, and is the main departure point for excursions into the Amazon Rainforest. He was very familiar with that type of trip. He made a phone call and had a quick conversation in Portuguese. He told me that he had just spoken to his brother, Bento, who lives in Manaus with their mother, Celia. Bento would be glad to help me find a boat. Just give him a call when I arrive in Manaus, and he will take me down to the docks. We booked a hotel and a flight to Manaus. I thanked Gabriel and left the agency feeling pleased with my trip so far. Manaus After arriving in Manaus, I checked into my hotel and called Bento. He said he’d be over in about half an hour. I was waiting in the lobby when I saw a young man, about twenty-five years old, walk in with an attractive lady who looked like his mother. They were looking around the lobby, and I knew it was Bento and Celia. I walked up and greeted them in Portuguese. “Boa tarde, meu nome é Tom.” We shook hands and did our best to communicate in broken English and practically non-existent Portuguese. The visit was a warm gathering, and before we departed, Celia invited me to lunch at their home. I thanked her and told her I would love to join them. Bento and I walked down to the Port of Manaus to look for a boat. We went to see his friend Miguel, who transported bananas down the river. Miguel agreed to let me ride along if I was willing to help offload the bananas on the way downriver. I said I would. We were set to leave the next afternoon at 2:30 p.m. I returned to the hotel room and lay on the bed, feeling good about my efforts. When the excitement started to fade and I began thinking about what it would be like to ride on that boat down the river, I started having second thoughts. The smell of sweat and bananas replaced the romantic vision of the cargo boat down the Amazon. I was on vacation pursuing an adventure. I didn’t want to work. I didn’t want to spend three uncomfortable days on a small boat with a bunch of bananas. There had to be a better way. Remembering the ferries I had seen earlier, I called Bento, and we returned to the docks. I stopped by and thanked Miguel for his offer, then booked a ride on a slow ferry that would take four days to travel from Manaus to the port city of Belém on Brazil’s northern coast. There were five stops along the way to offload cargo and passengers. The ferry would depart in two days. Lunch and Shopping in Manaus I had some shopping to do to prepare for my trip, and I was excited to have lunch with my new friends. I was grateful to have an extra day in Manaus. Lunch was planned for the next day at noon. At 11:45 a.m. that morning, Bento came over to bring me to his home. When we arrived, I was greeted with a big, welcoming smile from Celia. A delicious aroma and a peaceful spirit gently touched my senses. Celia had beautifully decorated the house with native artifacts and comfortable furniture in the living room. The dining room and adjoining kitchen were small but proportional to the rest of the house, which consisted of two bedrooms and a bathroom. Our
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