Feliz Ano Novo!

To everyone reading the blog.

It is still a bit early, not even 11 am, but as I don´t know how I will feel tomorrow after a night out I won´t take any risks and pass on my wishes today.

The last two weeks I have traveled from Belem to Ilha de Marajo (as big as Belgium and in the middle of where the Amazon reaches the Atlantic) - a relaxed place with buffaloes, small villages, beaches, red (really red - as red as can be)Ibisses (birds) and a great place to discover all that by (crappy old) bike (with a chain that fell off at least 20 times on my way back from the beach one day).

Then back to Belem for a night and on to another island - a small one this time - known as Algodoal. I was there for 5 days hanging out with the Spanish/Italian/Dutch from before. Sleeping in hammocks as there were some on a very tight budget - ending up with a face and arms covered with insect bites.

The others are still there but as I am starting to run out of time I continued to São Luiz where I am now. The bus that got me here deserves to get the price of most crappy night bus of Brasil! Most long distance busses in Brasil are very good but this one....??? Was it because they needed more busses because of the busy holiday season? Or because some days before they lost a bus (driver falling asleep - 7 people killed) - I don´t know.
I got a seat all the way in the back as that was all there was left - next to the toilet that smelled (even with the door closed) as it hadn´t been cleaned for a very long time. The seat I got was humid from water (from rain? or the airco?) dripping in but luckily the seat next to it was still free and dry.
Arriving in São Luis - very tired - it has been great to sleep in a bed again! After 6 nights of not sleeping good.

Tonight the plan is to head to the beach for New Years parties, together with a Walloon couple that I met here. Aftet that I plan on going to the national parl of Lençois Maranhesis and then on to Fortaleza and Canoa Quebrada. That´s all for the rest of the trip before I´ll head back to Lima for some days and then back home.

So again, everyone have a great party tonight and a great start of the new year and I´ll see, read, hear you soon!

Getting the cast off


Amazon sunset


making artasanalia on boat 2


Amazon beach in Alter do Chão


Me in my hammock on boat 3


House along the Rio Amazonica


Approaching Belem


Acerola on the Belem market

Reached the end

Did it, made it all the way to the end of the Amazon river. That is to say, in the bay where Belem is as the real place, when there is such a defined place, where it really becomes the ocean is about 120 km from here, which is very close for Brasilian distances.

The last boat I was on was extremely crowded as there are many Brasilians traveling nowadays as the holiday season has started and many travel to their families for Christmas. So, being cramped on the bottom floor of the boat for 2 days can get quite rough. Still, the views were often amazing and as always, it is a very pleasant way to travel.

I have been hanging out with some Spanish, an Italian and a Dutch. I have learned how to make necklaces and other stuff and have bought tons of açai seeds to make loads of things.
The next few days I will be going to Ilha de Marajo to chill, read, bike and beach and then might head to another island nearby Belem for Christmas with the gang.

As so often before I will try to upload a few pics. The connection is very fast here so it might even work!!!

One picture

Only one picture as it takes a long time. Sunset on the Amazon...

Riding on the Sacred heart of Jesus

Nono, I have not been converted to any religion, the title is just the name of the boat that took me to Manaus.
The trip took eventually only 3 full days and nights and was actually very pleasant. A very nice boat, nice people (except for the obese annoying 10 year old neighbour who kept hasseling me)and decent food. Most of the time I spent in my hammock reading or just on the top deck watching the forest and river. A very relaxing 3 days. Hopefully I will be ableto post some pics soon.

Arriving in Manaus I went on the next expedition, trying to get my cast off. After trying at 4 hospitals (1 being too expensive, 3 could´t do it and sent me off)I bought a brace and had two Spanish girls cutting it off for me at the hostel using some old rusty plyers and nail scissors. But, after a half hour I was FREE!!!! It still hurts quite a bit without the cast but with the brace it feels pretty much the same as with the cast, only lighter and I can take it off to take a shower etc.

Tomorrow I should be continuing my travels on the Amazon. Going from Manaus to Santarem where there is a small place nearby caller Alter do Chão which should be very nice. The trip should take about 2 days. We´ll see....

Starting the big trip in a few hours

Yesterday I took the speedboat from Iquitos to Tabatinga, at the tripple border of Peru, Colombia and Brasil. Checking out of Peru, crossing the Amazon, checking back in on the other side, changing money in Colombia, a multi-country day it was!
Then, going to the boat to buy my ticket and getting stuck in a tropical downpoor. Just like a waterfall and just when I was on a motorcycle taxi. Luckily I had a plastic bag to cover my cast!
This morning I went to buy a hammock and installed in on the boat. Now I just have some basic shopping to do, pack my bag and go to the boat which should depart in a few hours and arrive 4 to 5 days later in Manaus.