Amazon River

Amazon river

On the 23rd of february, hilary and i got On a plane heading to the north coast of brasil. We landed in a city called belem. This was the starting Point for our Amazon adventure. We had just entered into raining season and the humid jungle. Here we bought our tickets for a 5 night boat trip along the Amazon river, ending in manaus. We needed to buy hammocks and rope, so we could hang them up On the boat. Little did we know that these hammocks would become our Worst enemy and our Best Friend. 
The night before we left we went out for some street food. We got these amazing sandwiches that were filled with so much flavour. Every bit was different becase it was jammed packed with meat, fried onions, cheese, special sause, and little mini chips.
The next day we were told to be at the boat at 8am. The boat was suppose to leave at 10, but you needed to get there early to get a good place for your hammock. Turns out the boat didn't actually leave until 5:36pm. Good old brasil time.
Our naighbour hammock friends were two canadians named adam and hilary. They were the only other people On the boat who spoke english. 
The Amazon river is a muddy light Brown colour and is surrounded by the greenest trees. We went through thin channels beside stilt houses that always had clothes drying outside. Kids would paddle close to the boat in hopes of someone throwing them a  package of cookies. The people who live in these houses are dependent On fishing. They sell fish to passing boats. They don't need a lot of money however because they have the abundence of the Amazon Behind them. 
We woke up the next morning to   Water buffalo and cattle ranches, where the cows were struggling to stay On the small amount of Land available because of the high water. The cattle ranches are actually a bit of a problem in the Amazon because they are cutting down huge amounts of the forest for them.
On the forth day we stopped in a place called santarem, final we could get off the boat for an hour. Here we were met by a huge cruise ship that goes through the bigger channels. Hilary and i were looking over the railings and one woman took a photo of us thinking we were brazilian. Guess we are starting to fit in. At least she asked our permission unlike a lot of people who take pictures of local people.
The boat trip was very long and most of the time very Boring. It was an easy task to read a few books. Adam timed how much time he spent in his hammock and it was 89 hours in 5 days. The food in the boat was so good and cheap. Beans and rice and chicken for two dollars. We saw the most incredible sunsets nightly and had the best view because the boat was totally open. Watching the sun go down over the Amazon is a pretty spectacular thing. I had to keep reminding myself where I was.