Brazil
Manaus gateway to the Amazon
Teatro Amazonas in Manaus
From San Francisco, it will take you
eighteen hours flight-time and cost
around $1,500 to reach Manaus in Brazil.
Manaus is a sleepy little city left over
and almost forgotten from the days of
the Great Rubber Barons, yes rubber not
robber. We had the Robber Barons and
Brazil had the Rubber Barons. There was
a time when natural latex sap was like
gold. The vast sums these few Rubber
Barons made found its way into the city
of Manaus in the oddest ways. The Manaus
Opera House is one of the remnants of
these affluent times. It is a beautiful
19th century building and seems
completely out of place today. Take the
tour inside of the house and you will
see how opulent times where once in
Manaus.
Around the Opera House, you will find
streets filled with bazaars and
colourful shopping. The city is snuggly
nestled into the mighty Amazon River.
Its multi color shacks and shanties give
the place character and at the same time
reveal the poverty there today; how far
it has fallen from its heyday.
No matter how interesting Manaus
might be, it is nothing to the majestic
splendour of the mighty Amazon River and
jungle. Just a short 20-minute ride on a
small boat will have you at the Eco
Lodge. This is the place to experience
the Amazon and its wilderness. The lodge
is set deep into the Amazon rain forest
and is only approachable by boat.
Everyone stays in small huts surrounded
by the rainforest. Once settled into to
your cabin you will meet your personal
guide. These guides are local people and
they know their stuff. There are many
options for tours, but a must-do is to
board one of the larger riverboats and
sail up the river to visit a village of
local Indians. There you will experience
their dancing and playing of native
instruments; it is wonderful.
Join me again to continue exploring
the Amazon in my next article on this
wild and wondrous place.