Tuesday – Mar. 18/14, Parintins °C-90°F - Threat of rain – small shower while we were ashore. Today’s port-of-call was Parintins which is situated halfway between Santarem and Manaus. This quiet 200-year old town of 100,000 is located on Tupinambarana Island, which in colonial times served as a resting station for indigenous Brazilians who travelled upstream from the coast to avoid becoming slaves to the Portuguese. Today Parintins is the site of the Boi-Bumba, one of Brazil’s important festivals, which is celebrated annually in June. During its three day run there is a mixture of theater, drums, dancing, music, etc. The festival involves a parade of human and animal characters, and fanciful
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