Blogs from Belém, Pará, Brazil, South America - page 3

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South America » Brazil » Pará » Belém March 4th 2008

Manaus era stata in un certo senso una delusione. Succede sempre così: 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 fà, più o meno quando quelle nordamericane abbandonarono il Texas o l'Oregon, immagino. Ma a ogni rovescio segue un successo. In questo caso si chiamava "Santarem", un battello fluviale, acciaio galleggiante che da Manaus mi ha portato fino a Belem, sul delta del Rio de las Amazonas. Un viaggio fantastico: si dormiva sul ponte, su di un'amaca, tutti insieme (apparte quei "ricconi" snob che dormivano in cabina sottocoperta) e si mangiavano riso, pollo e fagioli inclusi nel prezzo (bassissimo) del biglietto. I Brasiliani continuano a rivelarsi eccezionali compagni occasionali di ... read more
Igresia Catolica
Belenenses FC
Ilha Marajo

South America » Brazil » Pará » Belém February 28th 2008

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 Brazil´s biggest city, signalling the end of the road for many of our crew. Upon arrival in the city, Jo and I hit the streets to get a feel for the place, stopping off at a comida por kilo vegetarian buffet along the way for a speedy lunch. The city had a palpable feel of excitement in the air, with everyone gearing up for the biggest party in the world, shops beginning to ... read more
The Backpackers return their keys - a sad day for all
Pao d'Azucar, Rio de Janiero
Rio from the Sugarloaf

South America » Brazil » Pará » Belém February 14th 2008

Sorry about the amount of photos. Please continue onto Page 2 to see the rest of them! We expected great things of Belem. It didn’t 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 that was as lively as it got on a Sunday. We had a bit of a wander around and saw the new docks area which has been regenerated. The restaurants in there are not cheap but a beer in the microbrewery wasn’t too bad. Cheap eats come in the form of street snacks and close to the theatre we had some ... read more
Restored Docks Area
City Clock
Trish by the docks!

South America » Brazil » Pará » Belém February 12th 2008

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 ‘up the Amazon’. 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 two stories that house the bunk bed cabins and on top of those the ‘suites’ which have one big matrimonial bed. On this trip there are an estimated 250 passengers. It has been raining everyday. The non existence of oppressive heat has eliminated the possibility of overpowering stench from communal toilets and collected garbage. There is enough odour to be experienced while waiting for one’s ... read more
Boarding the Santarem in Belem
 Cargo
The Hammock Crowd

South America » Brazil » Pará » Belém February 8th 2008

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 quite a few wrungs below the one I had left behind in Brasilia. It is clean and the people are friendly. The towels and sheets are reasonable new. The elevator works and there is air conditioning in the room. A restaurant attached to the hotel and next door serves breakfast, lunch (buffet/kilo) and dinner a la carte. The ... read more
Market Turrets at Low Tide
Boat to the Islands
Cathedral Under Restoration

South America » Brazil » Pará » Belém December 16th 2007

Sunday 16th December: It´s been a whistle stop flight journey over the last few days in my efforts to get back to Belem. As I couldn´t get a flight from Cuzco into Brazil, I went first to Lima (Peru´s international Airport). However the only flights into Brazil from there went to the south of the country. This Meant I had to fly down to Sao Paulo first before I could get a domestic flight north to Belem. I stayed in Lima overnight and had an evening tour of the city- very pretty. Plaza Mayor, the main square, was only a couple of blocks from the hostel. Lots of police and army around the square. The armoured tanks on either side of the Government building did not fit in with the larger than life Nativity Scene in ... read more
Plaza Mayor
Guarding the Government Building
Belem, some things don´t change!

South America » Brazil » Pará » Belém October 24th 2007

We are in Belem right now, a city in the north of Brazil where the Amazon meets the ocean (sort of, I think, not sure for sure though because geography has never been my strong point, but that is what it looks like on the map). We leave tonight at 6pm for our trip through the Amazon River up to Manaus. The trip is supposed to take 5 days and we are taking one of the boats the locals would take. It carries about 230 people and the mode of sleep is "a la hammock" on the deck with all the other people. It should be... interesting. This is one of Trevor's dreams come true, when we first talked about travelling, a ride down the Amazon was one of the first things on the table! The ... read more
Man of Canada
People of Brasil 2
People of Brasil 3

South America » Brazil » Pará » Belém October 16th 2007

Hello, We leave Belem today for a five day trip on the Amazone river, to reach Manaus. We will be in contact there. Hallo, We varen van Belem naar Manaus op de Amazone rivier, en zijn weg voor vijf dagen. Als we kunnen, zenden we nieuw bericht. Marijke en Luc... read more

South America » Brazil » Pará » Belém September 25th 2007

Fri 21st Sept: After another noisy night in hotel 'met up with Diego and Georgette and visited Indigenous Museum, the market and the Zoo - the latter was v. interesing; set out in typical tropical forest with wide range of animals, birds and plant life. However the humidity was almost unbearable; the sudden heavy downpours did not help - retreated to an AC Cafe where we had traditional tapioca wraps; mine was infilled with cheese and nuts - bland to taste. Now getting used to the heat but not the humidity; also more familiar with local buses (omnibus) - one fare takes you anywhere in the city. Crossing any road is life threatening - all drivers (cyclists and motorcyclists included) are crazy - no regard for pedestrians. ´Back to the hotel weary from lots of walking; ... read more
Indigenous Fishing Home
The Governor´s House - Belem
Bliss on a tropical island

South America » Brazil » Pará » Belém September 23rd 2007

Thurs 20th Sept Excessive noise from main road and faulty AC meant little sleep; turned off AC and with the help of ear plugs (essentail items here) got a few hours sleep. 'Asked for a room at the back of the hotel for the rest of my stay but hotel full and would have to put up with it for another night. After typical Brazilian breakfast (slice of melon, roll with ham and cheese and an expresso coffee) did some sightseeing and some inconspicuous photography - displaying a camera in the streets is tempting the local opportunists! 'Met with Georgette at 1:00 (Lucio and Diego working) who acted as my guide for the afternoon. ´Visited the Basilica Nazarene, one of the most famous of all the churches in N Brazil; annual holy festival held in October ... read more




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