Brazil Week One

For those that don't already know, Tom lived in Brazil for two years while serving a mission for our church.  We met in December of 1998, we fell in love, and knew by June 1999 that we were going to be married.  That meant that the two years he was gone from September 1999-September 2001 were VERY LONG for me.  I knew that what he was doing was right, and it was important, but it was still so hard.  One of the hardest things was the fact that I couldn't even begin to imagine what his life looked like.  I dreamed for years that I would one day get to go back to the place he had been, and see the sights, meet the people, and experience the country.  I never could have imagined the incredible adventure I would have.  Tom's parents too us to Brazil for two weeks from the middle to the end of July.

THE TRIP

After lots of fretting and tears we went to the airport, found that our flight was VERY late and if we were lucky we would BARELY make our connection out of Miami and into Manaus.  Luckily we made it to Miami with a few minutes to spare.  Do you know how big the Miami airport is?  It's HUGE!  We ran the ENTIRE length of it to catch our flight, which they were holding just for us.  We were so relieved to have made it.  (Our first glimpse of the rainforest from the window of the airplane.)

Unfortunately our luggage didn't make it, and since there is only one flight into the city from Miami a day, we were told that it would arrive sometime in the afternoon of the following day.  That's not good if you are leaving for the Amazon jungle bright and early the next morning and will have no way to receive it.  Well, better hope Tom's Portuguese is good enough that the airline and the hotel both understand what they are supposed to do with the luggage...we would find out when we got back from the jungle in five days...

We started in the north in the city of Manaus.  I had my first meal in Brazil in the fabulous plaza just as things were starting to come alive.  Families were coming out to see the musicians, performers, and vendors.  The plaza itself was beautiful too!

We got to visit a cute little museum in the plaza too.  The exhibit was a little known local artist that I fell in love with.  The pictures don't do it justice, but it was textured and layered and fantastic!

The next morning we left for Juma Lodge.  Have you ever been to the jungle for five days?  I hadn't, and I was a little scared and excited and naive.  

(Leaving civilization)

I wish I could give details of every day, and every adventure, but there are too many (don't worry, if you want any more information I have a book, and I am always happy to talk about it).  For now you will have to settle for snippets and pictures.

The meeting of the waters...the place where two rivers come together but do not merge into one for several miles because of the difference in temperature, pH and density.  CRAZY!  Not to mention amazing and beautiful!

 Ever been on the "Jungle Cruise" at one of the Disney parks?  Well, I've been on it live.  It was truly impressive.  No mechanical hippos though.

Thirty minute boat ride, followed by a long stretch on a bus, then take another boat the the flooded road for a couple hours.  No big deal, but you might want to grab a fresh coconut on your way.

 The lodge itself is fantastic and sort of indescribable.  

(Tom and I were in the middle hut, and Mom and Dad were in the one on the right.)

A look inside

The dining area.

Day one--arrival at the lodge and a couple of hours to explore/canoe/swim/etc.

Then our guide Joao took out out exploring, and we met our new friends Pretinha and Munsun (howler monkeys that came to be our little buddies).

Day Two- Our first jungle hike.  Where we learned about many traditions of the natives as well as secrets of nature.  (Tree sap/wax used to fix boats, ants that smelled like formic acid, the "woman tree" with abortive qualities, and our first encounter with a coconut grub--which Tom ate RAW!)

 Then we had a break for lunch and time to relax.  Then Joao took us piranha fishing.  We had quite a bit of success!  I actually ate it, and kind of enjoyed it!

Day Three- Another jungle hike, but not at all repetitive or boring.  This time we learned about a tree used as a temporary tattoo, a tree that was used as a bandage, then found more coconut grubs.  Everyone in our group had been joking ever since Tom ate the raw one that they would find one for me to eat.  I, of course, assured them MANY time that there was NO chance I would be eating one!  After hiking in the heat with Joao, we ended at a fantastic barbecue prepared by our boat driver, Victor.  We took a swim while we waited for the delicious meet to finish cooking, then had a great meal.  After lunch we went to visit a local family that lives on the river and grows manioc then they mill it and prepare it for the lodge (and others) to buy.

(Notice the tattoos on our wrists.)

 They found more grubs...

 then cooked them...

 and she ate one...

 and so did I...

Me, Tom, Patti, Clay, Helen and Angel getting ready to swim.

 The home of the local family.

After a busy day we had a short trip looking for caiman.  We were pretty unsuccessful at first, but finally found one that we could get to from the boat and Joao caught him and we got to hold him.

Day Four-  Early morning and a sunrise out on the water.  It was amazing.  Everything was silent and still until the sun came up.  The moment it was touched by the sun every inch of the jungle came alive.  The trees shook with animal movement.  The watered rippled with fish.  Such a cool experience.  Then we had a relaxing day.  A quick boat trip to a little lagoon, a swim, another barbecue lunch, and a nap in a hammock.  Tom and Dad were able to relax while Mom was eaten alive by the horseflies.  Then more piranha fishing where Mom and Dad were more successful, and we followed a pink dolphin back to the lodge.   Yes, that's what I said, a PINK dolphin.  So cool!  I wish I had gotten a picture, but he was too fast.

Day Five- Lovely breakfast and then a slow morning as we prepared to head back to Manaus.  There were several caiman swimming around outside the "restaurant" (dining area).  We had a lot of fun watching them and tracking them through the stilts of the different lodge buildings.  Then we left Juma and headed back to Manaus where we met Eni, who would be our tour guide in the city for the day.
That night we went to a concert in the Manaus Teatro.

Next stop, Sao Paulo!  My birthday was spent traveling.  Normally it wouldn't be exciting, but let's face it...we were in Brazil...