Our adventure began very early on Thursday morning. We were taking the ferry to the Island of Marajo and our ferry left at 6:30am at a dock about 30 minutes from school. Depending on the tide and current, the ferry ride could take up to 4 hours.
On the way over to the island the ferry was not very full, but on the way home, the car deck was completely full and the seating area upstairs was crowded too.
Here we are sitting upstairs.
Going to the island we had the tide and current working with us and it only took 3 hours (coming home took 4 hours). None of us got sea sick on our journeys, even though for much of the return trip the waves were very big. Several times I would look out the side rails and at first see only sky and then see only river. There were some pretty big swells out there.
~~~
After arriving on the island, we took a public bus through the city of Salvaterra and then on to our hotel. Marajo is a land mass that sits in the middle of the mouth of the Amazon River. This island is approximately 18,000 square miles of land.
On the way over to the island the ferry was not very full, but on the way home, the car deck was completely full and the seating area upstairs was crowded too.
Here we are sitting upstairs.
Going to the island we had the tide and current working with us and it only took 3 hours (coming home took 4 hours). None of us got sea sick on our journeys, even though for much of the return trip the waves were very big. Several times I would look out the side rails and at first see only sky and then see only river. There were some pretty big swells out there.~~~
After arriving on the island, we took a public bus through the city of Salvaterra and then on to our hotel. Marajo is a land mass that sits in the middle of the mouth of the Amazon River. This island is approximately 18,000 square miles of land.
Posada dos Guaras is the name of the place we stayed. There were several cabanas (cabins) situated around the grounds. Each cabana was 4 hotel rooms. They were large enough that we fit our whole family into one room. We took two of the single teachers, Heather Felder (K5 teacher) and Laura Polston (student teacher) from AVA out with us. They had the room next to ours in the same cabana.
There are no phones in the rooms, but if you need to make a phone call, you could come out to this macaw and make your call.
Posada dos Guaras is located right on the Amazon River. The beach is like the ocean with waves and tides. The view straight out was toward the ocean, so we couldn't even see land. We did see a number of ships pass by as they made their way toward Belem, or points beyond.
The kids and Dennis took turns each day between swimming in the river and swimming in the pool.
The pool was very nice and a great way to get refreshed during the heat of the day.
The restaurant was a large open-aired area. When the breeze was blowing, it was a great place to eat. When the breeze stopped, the moquitoes or flies (depending on the time of day) were terrible.
Laura shows us her very pretty Pinapple/Chicken salad.
The food was delicious. Breakfast came with the room and we ate at the restaurant for lunch and supper. The island of Marajo is known for raising cattle, hence, the beef was very tender and tasty.
The kids and Dennis walk through the puddles toward the restaurant.
The first day we arrived, it rained the whole day. This didn't stop us from enjoying ourselves. We pulled out the games and played Yatzee, Bananagrams, Dutch Blitz, and Phase 10. The kids even went swimming.~~~
There were several "extras" at the hotel that we took part in.
One was "Tree Climbing" -- better known to us as a Ropes Course.
Here is our first group to go "Tree Climbing." It was a fairly simple ropes course (when you just looked at it from the ground). HA! No, seriously, it was a lot of fun and we all enjoyed it so much the kids & Dennis went 2 times. I only went once. :o)
Caleb, Elisabeth, and Nathanael make their way across the swamp to the middle station.
Go, Caleb!
Walking in the trees.
Elisabeth & I wait in the middle for Hannah to join us.
Lizzy looking "scared."All of the kids would have kept doing the course over and over if given the chance.
Hannah and her "guardian angel" Iran, make their way across. Hannah needed a bit of encouragement her first time over, but was very eager her second time.
Dennis shows us where the "hole" is. The guides had just come up and undid the cable to this step. Something was apparently wrong with it and they didn't want anyone else to step on it. I had just crossed this area 20 minutes before. Hmmm....glad it held up then.
That must be why they have this sign by the initial ladder.Basically it says, "Don't go up without a guide. You risk your life."
Dennis enjoyed the zip line at the end of the course.
The kids look down from the jump off point for the zip line. That initial jump took a bit of courage for some of us.
What a face, Nathanael!~~~
There were many animals that wandered aimlessly around the grounds. This horse is right in front of our cabana. At one point there were 5 horses, 3 water buffaloes, dozens of vultures, 5+ dogs, and a couple of cats. It almost made a person feel like they had landed at a veterinarian's vacation getaway. HA!
This horse was around during our whole stay.Hannah named him Butterfinger and fed him a type of palm nut that he enjoyed.
~~~
Another extra activity that was available was horseback riding.
Riding horses was a highlight for the kids. We "rented" 4 horses for an hour and the kids rode for about 45 minutes. Heather, Laura, and & I finished out the hour with a short ride.
Elisabeth on her little "Island of Marajo" horse, who she named Vanilla.~~~
Marajo Culture
On Saturday night there was a cultural program with about 10 different songs & dances. The music was unique and the dancing very intricate. The costumes, about 4 different ones in all, were beautiful.
Here are the musicians for the group. Their flute player was phenomenal.~~~
"Everybody's got a Water Buffalo, Yours is fast, but mine is slow..."
~~~
Maybe you aren't familiar with this particular Silly Song with Larry the Cucumber, but if he lived on Marajo, I think he'd be about right in the part about everyone having a water buffalo. As to the fast part, I did see some kids riding their buffaloes at top speed by the water's edge. Those beasts can really move when they want to. The ones we rode, however, fell into the "mine is slow" category.
It was exciting taking a ride on a water buffalo along the edge of the Amazon River.
Hannah is getting some last words of instruction from the cowboy before she and Elisabeth take off on their ride.
We "rented" the buffaloes for one hour and took turns getting our pictures taken on them or riding them on the beach.
When all was said and done, the kids decided that riding the horses on the beach was better than the buffaloes. They ran faster and were a little easier to control. The buffaloes basically ignored the fact that someone was on them and just plodded along. They definitely seemed like a lumbering beast of burden. However, the experience of riding a water buffalo was great.
Our time at Posada dos Guaras was very relaxing and fun. It was great to see a small area of the Island of Marajo and experience some of the culture from there.
"Everybody's got a Water Buffalo, Yours is fast, but mine is slow..."
~~~
Maybe you aren't familiar with this particular Silly Song with Larry the Cucumber, but if he lived on Marajo, I think he'd be about right in the part about everyone having a water buffalo. As to the fast part, I did see some kids riding their buffaloes at top speed by the water's edge. Those beasts can really move when they want to. The ones we rode, however, fell into the "mine is slow" category.
It was exciting taking a ride on a water buffalo along the edge of the Amazon River.
Hannah is getting some last words of instruction from the cowboy before she and Elisabeth take off on their ride.
We "rented" the buffaloes for one hour and took turns getting our pictures taken on them or riding them on the beach.
When all was said and done, the kids decided that riding the horses on the beach was better than the buffaloes. They ran faster and were a little easier to control. The buffaloes basically ignored the fact that someone was on them and just plodded along. They definitely seemed like a lumbering beast of burden. However, the experience of riding a water buffalo was great.
Our time at Posada dos Guaras was very relaxing and fun. It was great to see a small area of the Island of Marajo and experience some of the culture from there.
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