Travelcat2 Posted December 2, 2017 Author #251 Share Posted December 2, 2017 The white things in the last post I think are grubs. Hungry? Hopefully bowl of ants is next Lily pads near restaurant where we had lunch Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelcat2 Posted December 2, 2017 Author #252 Share Posted December 2, 2017 Monkeys waiting to greet people Dolphins Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelcat2 Posted December 2, 2017 Author #253 Share Posted December 2, 2017 More dolphins Switching topics. Kittens in zoo - Manaus (Dennis went here on his own) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelcat2 Posted December 2, 2017 Author #254 Share Posted December 2, 2017 Hate seeing beautiful large cats in cages..... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelcat2 Posted December 2, 2017 Author #255 Share Posted December 2, 2017 Changing topics again. Someone made the Opera House out of LEGOs Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelcat2 Posted December 2, 2017 Author #256 Share Posted December 2, 2017 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelcat2 Posted December 2, 2017 Author #257 Share Posted December 2, 2017 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelcat2 Posted December 2, 2017 Author #258 Share Posted December 2, 2017 Above all Opera House photos. The last one reminds me of La Rambla in Barcelona Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelcat2 Posted December 2, 2017 Author #259 Share Posted December 2, 2017 Paul, I know that the sailing in the Spring is on the Navigator and that is a ship that I would prefer not taking. Not sure if the weather is better or worse but it is after the rainy season. Being on the equator, it is pretty much steaming hot all of the time but sometimes is dryer and sometimes is wetter (the season we are entering now). It is so difficult to predict how things will be. I've been reading about these cruises for well over a year and heard about how smokey it is (irritatingly so), the deck that is black with bugs in the morning, etc. We have not experienced bugs at all and the only time there was smoke that was disturbing was the first day that we entered the Amazon. Tomorrow will be 96 degrees. Today was 93 and it was the worst day since we've been here in terms of heat. Since tomorrow is the last day in Brazil and we want to use up our Reals, we will have to tender (30-40 minutes) into town - spend the money and return. While I have this before, I hope to not return to Brazil (still very happy that we visited the Amazon but it is difficult when you have heat intolerance issues. Even my ice pack wasn't helping today (sun umbrella was still a big help). More tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onkel_Ken Posted December 2, 2017 #260 Share Posted December 2, 2017 Travelcat2, Tell Dennis thanks for the beautiful opera house photos. Still hard to believe it is basically in the middle of the Amazon jungle. Jackie, thanks for sharing the picture of the bowl of toasty tasty ants and the folks swimming with the dolphins. I think I would prefer something more along the line of Friand de Volaille aux Truffes - Feuilleté of Label Rouge Chicken with Truffles and Sauce Suprême instead of the obviously tasty ants. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irishwitchy Posted December 2, 2017 #261 Share Posted December 2, 2017 Protein with a nice crunch - nice! Love the opera house and the dolphins. Do the locals eat the ants as is, as a snack or do they get added to another dish? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelcat2 Posted December 2, 2017 Author #262 Share Posted December 2, 2017 Protein with a nice crunch - nice! Love the opera house and the dolphins. Do the locals eat the ants as is, as a snack or do they get added to another dish? The one ant did have a nice crunch but people that ate more ended up removing legs that were stuck between their teeth. We didn't see them preparing anything else besides the grubs, fried ants and fish. They could have been veggies hiding out somewhere but it is difficult to grow anything in the Amazon. Ken - Dennis appreciated your comments about his photography. He is using my iPhone - something that is new to both of us. Will write more about Dennis' impressions of the Opera House later. I'm trying to decide if I can tolerate going out in 96 degree heat - with a long tender tide and only a beach and maybe some shopping near where we land. We haven't purchased anything in the Amazon because of the restrictions. You cannot bring anything with feathers (and they love to use feathers to make some lovely things) and wood (which I like) also has restrictions. So, if we go ashore it will be to pick up a trinket or two and spend what is left of our Brazilian money. Had I taken the advice and gone to the Opera House gift shop, I likely would have found something lovely:evilsmile: When we leave here at 2:00 p.m. We will be on our way out of the Amazon. Quite smokey in the middle of the night and this morning. Not a pleasant thing to smell or breathe in. One more thing to accomplish here and we'll be done. Still more photos from Manaus. It is easier to post photos after dinner so I'll wait until later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poss Posted December 2, 2017 #263 Share Posted December 2, 2017 Enjoying all the posts and photos, and here's another ant story for you: Some decades ago, when we spent a week up in the rain forest in Australia, we were on a guided hike through the forest. Among other delights, there were several varieties of poisonous ants around and our guide taught us how to bite them in a certain way so that we wouldn't be stung. There was this green glop that oozed out, which was quite tasty. Not sure if I could get myself to take the plunge now, but was interesting then. Continue to enjoy, Tc. And thanks to you and the other contributors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelcat2 Posted December 2, 2017 Author #264 Share Posted December 2, 2017 Posting this photo because you can see more of the pink skin on the dolphin. I'm sure it would have been great swimming with them but we did not want to risk it. Amazing bridge from Manaus to ??? Wish I could remember all of the facts in my head but obviously there is too much information to remember. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelcat2 Posted December 2, 2017 Author #265 Share Posted December 2, 2017 (edited) Some photos from the Boi Bumba show. The real show/competition is held in a large stadium in Parintins. We saw an abbreviated version. It is what I picture Carnivale to be - beautiful costumes, non-stop dancing and lovely floats. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro Edited December 2, 2017 by Travelcat2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelcat2 Posted December 2, 2017 Author #266 Share Posted December 2, 2017 Same photo but with eyes illuminated Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelcat2 Posted December 2, 2017 Author #267 Share Posted December 2, 2017 Computer slowing down. More Boi Bumba photos later. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelcat2 Posted December 2, 2017 Author #268 Share Posted December 2, 2017 Enjoying all the posts and photos, and here's another ant story for you: Some decades ago, when we spent a week up in the rain forest in Australia, we were on a guided hike through the forest. Among other delights, there were several varieties of poisonous ants around and our guide taught us how to bite them in a certain way so that we wouldn't be stung. There was this green glop that oozed out, which was quite tasty. Not sure if I could get myself to take the plunge now, but was interesting then. Continue to enjoy, Tc. And thanks to you and the other contributors. Thanks so much for sharing that story. I can not imagine eating the "green glop" - even if it were tasty. In my mind, the white things (grubs?) would be oozing some kind of liquid inside (yuck). Ken - yes - would rather have almost anything (except grubs) rather than ants. Getting back to Manaus. It is difficult to believe that 3,000,000 people live there. Lots of grafitti and crime - more or less like a mini Rio. Thrilled that we went there. I'm sure that looking up the Opera House would give you much more information than I can. Dennis talked about how it was closed for 20 years (starting sometime in the 90's). When it was first built, it had gold and other precious metals. After 20 years of termites and having everything stolen from the structure, it was redone and is beautiful. However, I would have loved to see it in the 80's. The zoo was very warm and the animals were caged (as seen in photos). Being an extreme animal lover, this would have been difficult for me to see. While Dennis and the group were out in Manaus, there was a downpour and thunder/lightning storm. This will be happening daily as we have entered the wet season. Going to the Boi Bumba show was interesting because we heard different stories of how to get there. We heard that you take a tender and then walk 15 minutes in the blazing sun to get to the indoor theater (slightly air conditioned). We also heard that there were taxis for 5 Reals. The reality was that you walk over a small bridge (1 block at the most), walk through a small building and into the one next store and you are there. I doubt if one could take if taxi if they wanted to. Today, our last stop in the Amazon was Alter Do Chao - the Riviera of the Amazon. Stunning beaches with miles of white sand. Really lovely (forgot to take a camera). The main reason for the visit was to do tourist shopping and return to the ship. The shopping was nice - a couple of items were wood and had to be taken into custody by the ship so they can quarantine it (allowing bugs to come out of the wood?). We'll get our items back before we disembark. The temperature outside was very hot but is likely more so now. We were back to the ship by 11:00 a.m. Tonight will be an Indonesian dinner for the five of us. We are leaving it up to Regent to decide the menu. Looking forward to it. Think that I'm up to date except for more photos that I want to post from the show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamela1 Posted December 2, 2017 #269 Share Posted December 2, 2017 Nice pictures Jackie. :D Good to hear you managed to endure the heat of the Amazon, i don't know if i could do it myself but pleased you are having a good time. I wondered if you managed to spend your $$ whilst you were there even after buying some trinkets and if there was a charity / fund that you could donate the rest of your unused currency? Oh also, could you give foreign currency to the crew fund? Just interested, thanks. Pam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ronrick1943 Posted December 2, 2017 #270 Share Posted December 2, 2017 Nice photos and great report, happy to hear your having a breat time. Enjoy your journey. Rick Sent from my SM-T580 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onkel_Ken Posted December 2, 2017 #271 Share Posted December 2, 2017 Amazing bridge from Manaus to ??? Wish I could remember all of the facts in my head but obviously there is too much information to remember. The Rio Negro Bridge ( Portuguese: Ponte Rio Negro) is a cable-stayed bridge over the Rio Negro with 3,595 metres (11,795 ft) of length that links the cities of Manaus and Iranduba in Brazil The Manaus-Iranduba bridge in numbers At 3,595m long, it is one of the longest bridges in BrazilIt has 74 supporting columns, with the central one standing 187m highThe height of the road rises to 55m in the middleThe cost is an estimated $400m and will be toll-freeCurrently 2,500 vehicles a week are ferried across the river, at fares up to R100 (£37).Its construction consumed 1m bags of cement - around 50,000 tonnes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelcat2 Posted December 2, 2017 Author #272 Share Posted December 2, 2017 Ken - loving the fact that you are adding so much to the thread with information about the bridge, etc. The support columns look extremely sturdy but also look rusty. Not sure how cement could be rusty. In any event -- it is quite a bridge. Currently sailing by Santarem (first port stop in the Amazon). Rick - thank. you for the good wishes - sending them back at you! Sounds as if you are enjoying Regent and the suite (in spite of the furniture size):D Time for dinner yet again. Looking forward to having Indonesian food. May have to take some photos! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelcat2 Posted December 3, 2017 Author #273 Share Posted December 3, 2017 Our Indonesian meal was over the top wonderful (have a couple of pictures that do not do it justice). The chefs onboard the Mariner are wonderful. Interestingly, there is apparently a need for Regent to post an article regarding "The Use of Cell Phones". It addresses usage of cell phone in dining venues. Bravo Regent for highlighting this issue!!!!! This afternoon we heard the Captain sound the "horn" (after a few glasses of wine I forget the proper name). It seems that people from Santeram (misspelled) were swimming too close to the ship -- obviously not a good thing to do. Will check my iPad for more photos. Tomorrow is a sea day and we will have an Indian buffet on the pool deck. This is after our champagne and caviar breakfast. Life is great on the Mariner. Looking forward to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelcat2 Posted December 3, 2017 Author #274 Share Posted December 3, 2017 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelcat2 Posted December 3, 2017 Author #275 Share Posted December 3, 2017 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now