Santarem, Brazil - January 16, 2024 - World Voyage Day 14 - 4743 Steps

 Today we went on an excursion that included piranha fishing, which was exactly what it turned out to be. The 3 hour long boat ride had several interesting moments as we cruised several small waterways of the Amazon. At least this captain knew his stuff and we never got stuck.

Ships from all over the world sail up the Amazon. We have the distinction of being aboard the first cruise ship to sail up the Amazon this year.

The boat we are on is similar to this one.

My guess is that a few of the most highly perceptive readers might possibly be able to discern which tour group we are in. The lady laughing in the background has been on a number excursions with us. She was holding rabbit ear fingers up behind me to photo-bomb our selfie. Sadly the camera angle cut them off, literally not figurative, but still it is what making friends on the voyage is all about.

Rough water doesn't seem to bother the fishermen. We also notice that often the like to fish near the boundary between the water of the Amazon and where it consumes the water of a tributary'

Net fishing.

The Amazon and the debris it carries in contrast to dark water of a tributary.

When the waters met the Amazon always wins.

A large bush in the Amazon. Watch as I did, I never saw a full tree floating in the water.

Interesting shape to this building when the wind blows.

Life along the river. High rise being constructed on land with a floating fuel station on the river.

Who needs roads when you have the river.

Cattle along the river bank.

A pensive fisherman perhaps?

The home of a fisherman's family.

Always on the lookout.

These long necked white birds are everywhere.

Art photo by Bob titled: Lone Horse by Lone Tree on Riverbank.

Adaptation and evolution at its peak. Confined to a very narrow range along the river, the flat banana tree is truly unique in nature. Normally the fruit of the banana, the common banana we eat, falls to the ground and the seed can germinate. The normal banana plant that grew along the river would have its fruit fall mostly into the river, to be carried downstream by the current and broaden its range. Unfortunately for the plant, some of the species of fish in the river developed a ravenous taste for bananas, thus eating all that fell into the water prevent its spread and causing overpopulation and die-off.

That led to a significant evolution of the plant adapting by radically altering its form and method of propagation. The result is the unique Riverbank Flat Banana. By doing away with but a thin film of fruit and significantly hardening its skin, it prevented the fish from eating its potential offspring. The lightweight flat banana matures during the rainy season when the river overflows its banks. Is carried downstream to be deposited in new areas, hence ensuring the continued health of the species. 

Paddle in one hand, net in the other. It's a fisherman's life.

Kids are the same the world around.

Reported monkey sighting, though in this case no monkey's were to be seen, though earlier several were actually seen. Unfortunately as many hands were pointing where they were in the treetops, I never saw them.

Linda fishing for piranha.

Bob fishing for piranha.

Shari fishing for piranha.

Not a piranha

Obviously not a piranha. These were the only two fish caught and neither person catching them was a passenger. Two passengers did hook fish but in both cases the fish flopped of the hook just after being lifted from the water. At least I can brag that I was one of the two people, but what what the fish was, only the fish knows and it isn't talking.

Piranha fishing is hard work.

Yah for Linda, she saw chickens, she photographed chickens.

Cargo barge

I saw at least 5 distinctly different colors of the water when i took this photo.

Home, Sweet Home

Except when it came time to disembark from the barge to to dock it was some serious boat rock and roll.

View from the dock to show how badly the boat was bouncing up and down, side to side when we were leaving.

Bug on the outside of the verandah door.

Fried shrimp at the Sail-Away party on the Lido aft deck.

Wild Sail-Away party goers.

Brazilian entertainment on the World Stage. That's the ship's Cruise Director on the far right. She would make the energizer bunny have the energy of a three toed sloth in comparison to her. But then again, part of her background was as a host on the Home Shopping Network.