Day 1 - Monday, May 18, 2009: Amazonas, Rio Negro

By Natalie Thomas

Ah, Brazil. The fear instilled in me by my parents, friends, and doctors that I would simultaneously be robbed, acquire malaria, and be eaten by alligators was quickly allayed upon our arrival. After our flight, we were kindly greeted by the owner of Swallows and Amazons- the river tour guide company- who then guided our bus through Manaus to our riverboat home, the "alves lima" (pictured, right). Before embarking on our Amazon journey, our guides led us through a quick trip to the markets across from the port. The guides were so friendly, knowledgeable, and protective that I immediately knew I was in good hands and that my prior expectations of disaster would not occur.

Just after our boat left dock, we passed over the Meeting of the Waters. At this point (pictured below) where the Rio Negro and Amazon Rivers meet, we viewed dolphins jumping out of the water. The next few hours were spent in awe. The brilliant blue then orange and red sky, fresh air, lightning storms and lightning bugs, and trees of our riverboat trip seemed surreal in comparison to my usual surroundings.

Our evening came toward an end with an unexpectedly extraordinary meal of pasta, roasted chicken over rice, fruit, and salad. With full bellies and jetlag, we claimed hammocks and fell asleep to the sounds of frogs and insects and the smell of bug repellant.