Btimmer's Almost Live to the Amazon 2019 & Beyond

[ski ww]

Looks like you'll have lots to talk about after this cruise. That was the one thing that really surprised us on our cruise the complete lack of mosquitoes even in the jungle. Sounds like your having a great adventure.

[cat shepard]

10 hours ago, Btimmer said:

We learned we could have went to the MDR and quickly eaten. But the 10:30pm feeding was wonderful. Room service would have been an option, but we don't eat meals in our room.

 

This was a private excursion and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.  The boat operator was negligent IMHO for not carrying enough fuel.

 

Re: threes, we depart on this big ship tomorrow to begin our downward sail.  Every stop is a tender port until Belem I believe.  Maybe we can find another sandbar. 😉

 

We are having a terrific time and are always up for a good adventure.  Who else can say they were on a boat that ran out of gas in the Amazon in the dark surrounded by piranhas and pink dolphins!  (Slight exaggeration on the piranhas and dolphins!)
 

Here's a picture from the pink dolphin encounter today!

This trip is one for the books. Love your picture. 
 

I also love your attitude! Travel should be an adventure, and your trip is full of adventures!

[VennDiagram]

I'm really enjoying your reports.  Thanks so much!  You have a fantastic attitude about all your unplanned adventures.  You will have great memories from this trip!

[cat shepard]

Just caught up on your blog! What a terrific read. Thank you - you have a gift for making words come alive.

[seeriteR]

On 12/1/2019 at 10:27 PM, Btimmer said:

This was a private excursion and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again...

 

Tim,

We are on the 2020 sailing. Would you mind sharing your list of excursions and how they were? If you don't post it here, could you please send me an email when you get home? kratz dot travel at gmail dot com

Thanks!

Jim

 

PS

If you run into Towelman (Howard), please say HI from me. 

Edited December 3, 2019 by seeriteR
add PS

[Krazy Kruizers]

Enjoying your reports.  Boat breaking down -- ugh.  Love the picture of the pink dolphin. 

 

Dinner at 10:30 -- way too late for us. 

[Mary229]

Thanks for the reports.  I am following you here and on the blog.  John and I will be on the 2020 version.  

[Btimmer]

If you come to Parintins, DON'T miss the cultural show.  It's one of the best $100/pp we've spent on a Hal excursion.  And we did it adventure style: standby!

 

 

[cat shepard]

Wow! Those pics!

[Btimmer]

The pictures hardly do it justice.  I may post a short video clip.

[Floridiana]

I concur. This show is fantastic! Go early to sit in the first row if you plan to take videos and photos.

[Btimmer]

Yesterday at Alter do Chão, we were beach bums using an Amazon ferry for transportation.  Details are in my blog post.  We now have two days of 'scenic cruising' down the Amazon.

 

[Krazy Kruizers]

Great pictures.

 

Thank you for sharing them.

[cat shepard]

2 hours ago, Btimmer said:

Yesterday at Alter do Chão, we were beach bums using an Amazon ferry for transportation.  Details are in my blog post.  We now have two days of 'scenic cruising' down the Amazon.

 

Were these beaches along the Amazon, or a lake? The water does not look very muddy.

 

Love your sunset pic!

[Wehwalt]

Also on board and I second the comments about the lack of mosquitos. I've been carrying repellant ashore and have not had to use it.

[Btimmer]

55 minutes ago, cat shepard said:

Were these beaches along the Amazon, or a lake? The water does not look very muddy.

 

Love your sunset pic!

We were on the Rio Tapajos which flows into the Amazon. It's relatively clear and wonderful for swimming in. At Santarem which is just around the corner from where we were at Alter do Chão the two rivers converge which is a pretty sight and I've shown pictures of that earlier.

 

Thanks for the compliment on the sunset pic, they have been pretty here.

 

 

[cat shepard]

4 hours ago, Btimmer said:

We were on the Rio Tapajos which flows into the Amazon. It's relatively clear and wonderful for swimming in. At Santarem which is just around the corner from where we were at Alter do Chão the two rivers converge which is a pretty sight and I've shown pictures of that earlier.

 

Thanks for the compliment on the sunset pic, they have been pretty here.

 

 

Thank you. I tried to find Alter do Chao on the map, but failed. Maybe I spelled it incorrectly.

[Btimmer]

16 minutes ago, cat shepard said:

Thank you. I tried to find Alter do Chao on the map, but failed. Maybe I spelled it incorrectly.

It's on the map I posted.  Note the 'ã' in Chão.

 

[Btimmer]

Here's a sequence of the two pilots getting off the ship off Macapá.  The ship was doing around ten knots. I especially like the photo with the pilot standing and photographing the ship. These were all shot with my new P900 camera.

 

We have one more Brazilian port (Belem), the day after tomorrow.

 

Edited December 5, 2019 by Btimmer

[cat shepard]

46 minutes ago, Btimmer said:

It's on the map I posted.  Note the 'ã' in Chão.

 

I noticed it on your map. Thank you for circling back to share it.

[Btimmer]

Christmas decorations are popping up around the ship. This is the right side of the World Stage.

 

[bcummin]

Computer Travel Guy:  "BTW - we had two folks in cruise critic group that we heard contracted malaria. I will try and find out the details but will remind future cruisers to Brazil to take simple measures to avoid malaria like not being outdoors around dusk & dawn, wearing long pants & shirts and using insecticide spray or wipes with Deet. We were amazed by cruisers who didn’t bring insecticide with Deet on the cruise (A basic step).  As for malaria pills, talk with your doctor.  We opted not to take the malaria pills but definitely took the Yellow Fever shots and Typhoid pill series. But again, discuss this topic with your doctor."

 

Tim, this was just posted on the "Volendam Stuck in the Mud" thread.

Have you heard anything about this?

Barbara

   

[Wehwalt]

As I said above, there haven't been too many mosquitoes around. Can hardly blame people for not applying repellent as I haven't, though I've had it with me. Hope they're doing OK. I'll ask my trivia teammates if they've heard anything.

 

As for bringing repellant or not, I don't find it too astonishing if people expected to purchase it on the ship.

Edited December 6, 2019 by Wehwalt

[Btimmer]

Barbara,

 

There has been a conspicuous lack of mosquitoes despite all of the dire warnings issued in the Roll Call prior to the cruise. Several of our tour guides even commented about the lack of them.

 

As for us we brought bug spray and I applied it once but carried it.  We consulted with our doctors and were both advised by separate doctors to not get YF shots because of our ages. We also didn't obtain or take malaria pills.  We are cautious but not paranoid about our surroundings. 
 

If we were doing a multi day overland trek, I might have a different answer.

[ski ww]

Great pictures, we did take malaria pills on our cruise. We also had our yellow fever shots at the time we were in our late 60's