Santarem was our first significant stop in our journey up the Amazon - a fairly small city with a population of about 130,000. Although the Amazon’s third largest city (after Manaus and Belem) it’s tiny in comparison.The muddy water of the Amazon meets the blue water of the Rio Tapajos, and they run for some distance, side by side, in two distinct stripes, without mixing. You can see the “Meeting of the Waters” very clearly (especially from the 12th deck in on the boat.)
Since boats are the chief mode of transport, there are cargo, produce and passenger vessels in various shapes and conditions all along the bustling waterfront. There were numerous passenger boats going to many different places up the Amazon - we saw what our alternative form of transport would have been, had we not opted for the luxury of the cruise ship! Then we understood why there were so many hammocks for sale at the local market (your bed for the next 5 nights!).We took a nice walk along the waterfront - Charlotte enjoyed playing on the animal statues.
Some friends were fortunate enough to see pink dolphins.
Some friends were fortunate enough to see pink dolphins.
In the town, there were shops after shops selling the same cheap stuff from China – it was as though there must be one “Mr China” that distributes to al the shops to sell for him. Lots of market stalls also selling the same stuff. While there we bought some school supplies to give to the village school the next day.
We got caught in another torrential rain storm on our way back to the ship – just to remind us again that we are in the rain forest in rainy season!