Manaus is one of the world’s largest cities that is not accessible by road. That fact only emphasizes the importance of this mighty superhighway that is the Amazon River and it is mind boggling to think that every single item in this bustling city arrived here by plane or more likely by boat. And like a superhighway you’ll find floating gas stations in the river as you approach this metropolis by ship.

                         On the "road" to Manaus, passengers brave a light rain to take in the sites

                                            The Manaus waterfront welcomes the MV Explorer

We’re especially prepared for our Field Programs today as Dan Everett’s Enrichment Session included the pre-port briefing. Dan, who is currently Professor of Linguistics, Anthropology, and Biological Sciences at Illinois State University, has lived and conducted field studies in the Amazon for over 30 years. He is most famous for his findings about the Piraha people and was able to master their language by understanding how their thoughts were shaped by circumstances. In linguistic terms his theorems are as revolutionary to his field as the discovery that the earth is round and not flat was to map makers. So you see our port briefing prepares us not only with typical tourist tips on safety, currency and sightseeing but an understanding of why everything is the way it is. Thanks to his Enrichment Sessions we have a deeper appreciation of this strange and exotic land and its inhabitants.

                            The pre-port Enrichment Session for Manaus was especially informative

With the variety of Field Programs to choose from it was hard to decide on what to do. The excursions run the gamut from simple city tours that give you the basic lay of the land to more adventurous ones that require a higher level of physical fortitude. As an Enrichment Voyage we are very proud of our Scientific Tour for those who crave a more advanced look at the biological aspects of our destination and our Community Service Tour for the unique opportunity to raise social awareness.  

                               The walkway at the Manaus Opera House features a mosaic design

                   that evokes the legendary Meeting of the Waters. Photo Courtesy Janey Smith

It’s satisfying to know that our guests are customizing their adventures at their own comfort levels. Imagine, at the same time, we have guests visiting one of the most spectacular opera houses in the world, a private concert illustrating for them what perfect acoustics means and on the opposite end of the spectrum there is a small but fearless band of explorers spending an overnight in the jungle in hammocks with mosquito netting! A professional survivalist who was trained by the military’s Center for Intensive Guerilla War in Rain Forest guides them so, you see, this is not your average collection of shore excursions.                                  
I’m on a tour called the Meeting of the Waters. We are picked up at the foot of our ship by one of the ubiquitous open air, double-decker riverboats that service the Amazon community. We have 50 guests on each, which affords us loads of space to move around in either a shaded area or in the sun. We’re taken up river to the Rio Negro where we disembark our boat and board smaller covered canoes, very stable by the way, in groups of just ten. We are so close to the water yet protected, and I feel like I’m part of this land, this flooded forest.

                                                 A covered canoe is perfect for sightseeing

I’ve been paying close attention to Dr Allan Schoenherr, our resident Biologist, Geologist and recognized author of two major books on the Natural History of California. His lectures on the indigenous tropical birds and plants has been fascinating and his colorful slides have prepared me to go forth and hopefully get to see some of the species for which I now know the names. I might even be able to contribute to the “Birder’s List”, an impromptu posting in the library that was started by some of our bird watchers. Every time they see a rare exotic species they list it and the location where it was seen! I love the sharing of knowledge here aboard the MV Explorer.

                                                A local "resident" stops by to visit our canoe

Our guides, river dwellers themselves, point out not only the flora and fauna but make a case for ecological awareness that they hope we will spread to others on our return home.

                                                 If I had to bring a pet home from the Amazon,

                                                      I think I'd choose the one on the right ;-)                              

The next stop is the confluence of the Rio Solimoes and the Rio Negro, the Meeting of the Waters as it is called. Here the natural phenomenon of two rivers join to help form the mighty Amazon but do not mix, a phenomenon that must be seen to be fully appreciated. Due to their differing temperatures, mineral content and speeds, their waters meet but do not mix. This would not be readily apparent or even intriguing to laymen like myself except for the fact that the waters are distinctly different colors, flowing side by side. The guides say one is like coffee with cream and the other is like chocolate!

                                      The Meeting of the Waters. Photo Courtesy Janey Smith

Our tour also took us on a short trek to see giant water lilies. The moderately strenuous hike took us over a rough hewn boardwalk, the type you would expect to see in a jungle rain forest, to a still and swampy area that we could inspect from the safety of our treetop viewing platform.

Soon it was time to return home with our snapshots and our stories. A golden sunset and a cool breeze were our rewards for a day well spent in this primordial land. How nice it is to be junior explorers for a day. To be able to simply take a taste of what some of our esteemed colleagues have endured in this harsh environment yet return to the comforts of our cruise ship, the MV Explorer.