Thursday, April 26, 2007
24 April, 07
Today was the day I was looking forward to the most – a hike in the jungle. We didn’t have a guide because he disappeared on us yesterday and so we went with the local guy who can only speak Portuguese. He showed us some interesting trees and medicines in the forest but I am sure it would have been much more informative with a proper guide. I also swung on a real tarzan branch which was quite fun. It was boiling hot and we were drenched with sweat in our long-sleeve clothes. After the walk we stopped at Acajatuba village which was quite interesting. At the entrance to the village is a church and then a few muddy football fields. There was a hospital and a brand new school too. We found the touristy curio shop and walked around the houses. It is sad to see in a way because the original traditions and ways of living and culture have been wiped out. I guess now they have to try and keep up with the modern world. We relaxed for a couple of hours in the hammocks on the deck and it was very hot as the afternoon sun sneaked in. We have been so lucky with the weather since it is the rainy season and it should be raining every day. We waited as the new recruits arrived and there were six people. It was disappointing to see that no guide arrived with them – again! So, we had to fit in with their schedule/program and we went piranha fishing again which was fun and very beautiful and we waited out on the river until after sunset to go Caiman hunting. This was very disappointing and we didn’t really look for the caimans (alligators). We found a baby caiman and held him, saw some eyes near the waters edge and that was it. They didn’t bother looking properly and so once again we had no guide and it was probably cut short.
We got back after dark and it was fun cruising through the river in the dark. We had dinner and we were in bed by 20h30.
Today was the day I was looking forward to the most – a hike in the jungle. We didn’t have a guide because he disappeared on us yesterday and so we went with the local guy who can only speak Portuguese. He showed us some interesting trees and medicines in the forest but I am sure it would have been much more informative with a proper guide. I also swung on a real tarzan branch which was quite fun. It was boiling hot and we were drenched with sweat in our long-sleeve clothes. After the walk we stopped at Acajatuba village which was quite interesting. At the entrance to the village is a church and then a few muddy football fields. There was a hospital and a brand new school too. We found the touristy curio shop and walked around the houses. It is sad to see in a way because the original traditions and ways of living and culture have been wiped out. I guess now they have to try and keep up with the modern world. We relaxed for a couple of hours in the hammocks on the deck and it was very hot as the afternoon sun sneaked in. We have been so lucky with the weather since it is the rainy season and it should be raining every day. We waited as the new recruits arrived and there were six people. It was disappointing to see that no guide arrived with them – again! So, we had to fit in with their schedule/program and we went piranha fishing again which was fun and very beautiful and we waited out on the river until after sunset to go Caiman hunting. This was very disappointing and we didn’t really look for the caimans (alligators). We found a baby caiman and held him, saw some eyes near the waters edge and that was it. They didn’t bother looking properly and so once again we had no guide and it was probably cut short.
We got back after dark and it was fun cruising through the river in the dark. We had dinner and we were in bed by 20h30.
# posted by Heidi & Richard's travels @ 8:14 PM 
