http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Par-/Bel-m/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from South America , Brazil , Pará , Belém en-us Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:11:33 +0000 Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:11:33 +0000 The last couple of days have been busy between buying hammocks and looking at boats for our trip as well as trying to fit in the cultural stuff in Belem.On the first night we went around the markets to find some dinner we found a lovely little stand kind of thing where we had steak rice noodles all four around 3euro not bad eh We tried to find a bar afterwards to have a few drinks but everyt http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Par-/Bel-m/blog-441061.html After spending another night in Sau Luis we made our way back to the bus station for an over night bus and moved further north.OUrlast day in Sau Luis was nice if rather a little boring I think we were the only Gringos in the city but that wasnt a problem. The weather was so hot and humid that we could barely walk for longer than an hour before having to head back for the room in our Pousada. T http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Par-/Bel-m/blog-440499.html We had a choice of 2 boats from Santarem to Belem one that looked like a converted car ferry the other that looked like a real Amazon cruiser built in the 40s or 50s. We chose the real Amazon cruiser. Getting onboard was more of a challenge than we expected the guide books say that ALL boats leave from the Docas do Para which are near the middle of town but that's not right the NM Santarem http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Par-/Bel-m/blog-434438.html First thing I did when I arrived at the bus station in Belem is to look for internet cafe to figure out how to get to my hostel i called them on skype then tried to get a bus according to instructions it's just outside the station so took one from the list i wrote down I got on and showed the driver a piece of paper where I need to go. He looked at it and pointed me to the street perpendicular http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Par-/Bel-m/blog-423155.html So today we went to a butterfly and bird garden and to an old fort. Pretty sweet action. We also cooked for about 20 people black bean burgers and Macoroni and Cheese again because it was easy and cheap. Belem is a beautiful city and in the future I would like to maybe come back here and spend some more time. We were checking boat prices and found out that the only two boats to Santarem this wee http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Par-/Bel-m/blog-416377.html The title means voyage without assaultWell whether or not the shifty eyed creepy people had anything to do with it listening to this bad feeling was absolutely the right decision. On the bus today we spoke to a woman who has been robbed 4 times on the buses between Maraba and Belem. She said that out of every 5 buses traveling the roads at night only 1 will make it safely and that these robb http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Par-/Bel-m/blog-415995.html Tim Version Stayed with an incredibly good couchsurfing host and got to meet a few other CSers around. Bought my first hammock my future bed for the boat ride checked out Belem and enjoyed some seriously good Amazonia brand on tap beer and foodThe version that still hasn039t learn that when you039re at a buffet you don039t have to try and eat the whole damn thing... however rem http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Par-/Bel-m/blog-388003.html After a night in a bed at long last in Manaus we headed for the docks early to find ourselves a boat to Santarem. We found one that was already quite packed but slung our hammocks on the upper decks and waited to set off. little did we know that about a million other hammocks were yet to be slung It was a very cosy journey to say the least but quite an experience . Fortunately just before we s http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Par-/Bel-m/blog-363122.html Day 1 Wednesday I am dripping with sweat as I enter and am feeling late as there are already hundreds of hammocks about. I entered on the second class deck so my only hope is that the first class deck not much of a difference primarily proximity to the engines as the first class level is above the second class is not as full or that Dong Hwan has secured me a place. I try to make my way up http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Par-/Bel-m/blog-358570.html BelemBelem is a very nice city and there is a lot less poverty here than in many parts of Brazil. On the original flight over from London Stefano got talking to a woman from Belem named Alane and we meet up with her on our first night so she could show us around and took us for dinner. We ate steak as you do in Brazil Stefano had the Sadam Hussain which was bloody and I had the Catherine Ze http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Par-/Bel-m/blog-344458.html A week later...The last 7 days have been mainly occupied by different persons we met and spent time with until today in So Luis.English speakers dont hesitate to give your comments For the moment mainly french have reacted. End of Jerricoacoara CearaThe first night was crazy cf. previous article as you remember. The followings were very interesting as well. It all started in a restauran http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Par-/Bel-m/blog-330837.html This place is like a bloody oven The temperature floats around 37 degrees but it's the humidity that is unrelenting From sunrise to sunrise the intensity is unreal. We have found the retreat of the shopping centre a huge relief and I have made 3 visits to the place and I'm due for a follow up dose tomorrow. It reminds me of the Fishergate Centre in Preston. I know it's so tragic to nest near to http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Par-/Bel-m/blog-318759.html Hey everyoneSurvived the 6 day boat trip up the Amazon and finally have internet again so will get up to date on my blogs first of all.... BelemFinally got to Belem after a 36hour coach trip was quite boring but OK Michi suggested eating the whole way there so the journey would be more comfortable on my extra padded bottom which i gladly did Although my first pit stop to get sweets didnt http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Par-/Bel-m/blog-301580.html hola amigos e familia.Now we are gonna travel to belem in two hours its off to the amazones.. the bus ride is gonna take 35 hours but its cool cos i can read draw and listen to music.. im gonna put some more pictures on the blog now so you can see my new tattoo and other stuff.. I start feeling more and more relaxed over here.. and im looking forward too see some nature and im also looking fo http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Par-/Bel-m/blog-301467.html Our one and only night we stayed in the city of Belem we got mugged at knifepoint. Belem is the big ugly city at the end of the Amazon River on the far north east coast of Brazil. I would like to gloss it up and say Belem isnt actually that bad but I cant.. I really hate the place. I wouldnt recommend it to anyone as a must see but it is a place you often go through to get from the Amazon R http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Par-/Bel-m/blog-254363.html Manaus era stata in un certo senso una delusione. Succede sempre cos uno va in un luogo sul quale ha fantasticato tanto grazie all'aiuto di un eroe d'infanzia e finisce inevitabilmente per trarne una delusione. Le atmosfere da far west sudamericano sembrano aver abbandonato Manaus secoli f pi o meno quando quelle nordamericane abbandonarono il Texas o l'Oregon immagino.Ma a ogni rovescio s http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Par-/Bel-m/blog-253495.html Our last morning in Paraty was an early start after which we were divided into 3 separate groups to head into Rio our trusty truck Jack was in need of some TLC so was sadly unable to transport us split between another Tucan truck and 2 Budget Trucks. Enjoying a pub quiz along the way several hours later we hit the outskirts of Brazils biggest city signalling the end of the road for many of http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Par-/Bel-m/blog-251105.html The Santarem as the boat is called leaves Port at Belem and proceeds up waterways that are not always called the Amazon. A myriad of channels and tributaries are encountered as the Captain and his crew steer the ship lsquoup the Amazonrsquo. The two story metal ferry boat can carry up to 400 passengers. The majority of these people would be sleeping in hammocks in the two decks below the tw http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Par-/Bel-m/blog-247744.html Sorry about the amount of photos. Please continue onto Page 2 to see the rest of themWe expected great things of Belem. It didnrsquot disappoint but neither did it really live up to expectations. Arriving on a Sunday morning it is like a ghost town. The taxi drivers as always asked far too high a price and we ended up walking 20 minutes to our hostel. There was a wonderful market in town but http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Par-/Bel-m/blog-246305.html Arriving late at night I saw very little of the Belem and definitely saw no mango trees. The mangoes in the market are huge but there are few trees to be seen even in daylight.The taxi woman who went thru all the red lights drove at break neck speed. I thought she was in a hurry to get back to the airport to meet another flight. Have since discovered everyone drives fast.The Hotel Itoaca is a quit http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Par-/Bel-m/blog-245353.html