First, the boats sped over to the “Meeting of the Waters” where the dark waters of the Rio Negro meet the muddy water of the Amazon. For over 3 miles, both rivers run side by side without mixing. This natural phenomenon is caused by the great difference in water temperature and current speeds (the Negro river flows approx 1.2 mph at 82F while the Solimoes / Amazon flows 4 mph at 71F).
Next we stopped at a place where we “fished for/ fed” massive fish in a pen, using a small fish, that was tied to a piece of string on a rod.
A ride down the river past all of the floating river homes (rather them, than us!!) and through the jungle spotting wild life.
A nice stop for lunch,
by the obligatory souvenir market and also a walk in the jungle where we saw monkeys and Cayman (small alligators) on the lily pads.
by the obligatory souvenir market and also a walk in the jungle where we saw monkeys and Cayman (small alligators) on the lily pads.
The excitement continued in the afternoon with a stop at a local home, to see an anaconda snake
and a sluth.
and a sluth.
Then through the jungle, where all the trees are partly submerged, as the skies opened to torrential rain (to add to the atmosphere).
A further stop, for parana fishing.
The day ended, as it got dark, with cayman (alligator) catching! – as we motored slowly in the dark, the guide held out the flashlight looking for the alligator eyes! And then pounced. We got to hold the alligator…..
(adults the larger, children just the smaller one). Charlotte tried
and then dropped it as it started to move – I had visions of this alligator running around the boat with us all standing on the seats – however her friend Michael was holding the tail, and so instead, this alligator was being held upside down, snapping away with us all yelling at Michael to drop it back in the water!!! – are we mad? I guess our children will have some unforgettable experiences….
(adults the larger, children just the smaller one). Charlotte tried
and then dropped it as it started to move – I had visions of this alligator running around the boat with us all standing on the seats – however her friend Michael was holding the tail, and so instead, this alligator was being held upside down, snapping away with us all yelling at Michael to drop it back in the water!!! – are we mad? I guess our children will have some unforgettable experiences….
Back to the boat in the evening, exhausted (even Charlotte decided to miss kids club!) but what a great experience we had!