Having just returned from the three week cruising journey on the Amazon, we watched a re-play of this remarkable program the night we got back to Florida. Once you have visited and know just how demanding conditions are... it is just totally incomprehensible how these two men were able to survive this absolutely unbelievable feat... (the film gives an accurate portrait of how harsh conditions can be in the Amazon jungle).
How they were able to accomplish their 2.5 year magnificent journey is truly beyond comprehension.
As for our trip, we began with a flight from Miami to Barbados, where after a few days on the island we met up with the SeaDream II cruise yacht for a trip that first went to Tobago, and the on to French Guiana, where we were to have made a stop on Devils Island.. (it was cancelled, so we were told, due to hazardous sea conditions). Most all passengers were very disappointed we missed out on this early stop... for some it was not the first time passing by they did not get an opportunity to visit.
It was after that we sailed to the very wide entrance of the Amazon and began our two week, 2000 mile voyage up the river all the way up to our last port of call in Iquitos, Peru.
There were stops along the way at several villages and larger town and cities.. Manaus, the capital of Amazonia (2.5 million people), and Iquitos in Peru, the largest city in the world (550,000 population) with no roads connecting it to the outside world... the on;y way to get there is by river or by air.
When they cruise ended in Iquitos we stayed on in the Peruvian Amazon city for a couple of days, then flew south 630 miles to Lima for the return trip to Miami. Iquitos is a kinda weird and exotic place, and will get its own blog post describing in greater detail the time we spent there in a few days.
As for the cruise on SeaDream II... that too will be followed up with a post on how life on-board went. It was our first venture with the 'Sea Dream Yacht Club' organization.. and no question, it did have its share of ups and downs.
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| SeaDream II |
Overall though, we would have to agree it was a most interesting and very worthwhile trip.
It has been said, you cannot truly appreciate or comprehend Amazonia until you actually experience it... having now been there, we can honestly say this is probably a more true statement than almost anywhere else on the planet we have visited.
Couple the river systems and jungle forests, and you have one of the most overwhelming ecosystems on earth. The sheer breath and scope of each never leave your thoughts... and you feel as if they now someway will always be a part of you.
Note:
This pic is posted on SeaDream's Facebook page... with a comment that guests on the next cruise after ours had an opportunity to 'swim with pink dolphins'... really?... think it's legit??
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Note:
This pic is posted on SeaDream's Facebook page... with a comment that guests on the next cruise after ours had an opportunity to 'swim with pink dolphins'... really?... think it's legit??
