March 12, 2016 - Today we traveled back in time - well sort of - to the tiny fishing village of Boca da Valaria which is nestled between Parintins and Santarem. The small little village gives you a glimpse of life on the Amazon year's ago. As we arrived on the tenders we were greeted by dozens of beautiful children, all wanting to take your hand and show you the village or escort you to their fathers or grandfathers skiff for a ride up the tributary.
Although we've been in the Amazon for days, this small village gave you the impression that you really were IN the Amazon. Rich vegetation, grass huts, log canoes, and a life of hunting and fishing that hasn't changed for centuries.
There were other children holding precious little, fuzzy three-toed sloths, that made me want to cry after hearing they will live only about two weeks once taken from their environment. Others had green parakeets on sticks, while others had larger Amazon green parrots. Michael, the shopping expert, had brought two soccer balls for the settlement and he was mobbed as soon as he stepped off the tender! He was able to hold onto the balls until he made his way to the school and wisely gave the soccer balls to the teacher.
There wasn't much to the village, but there was the school, the church and a few dozen houses all up on stilts. And, I saw my first, and probably only, Toucan; they are breathtakingly beautiful; sleek black body and brilliant orange beak, white tipped wings and throat.
We stayed a little less than an hour. Already we'd walked the village, checked out the handmade crafts, and visited with some of the children. The heat was oppressive, and we didn't mind heading back to the ship. In fact, there were many people that stayed on the ship, but they missed a memorable experience and the rich contrast between primitive and modern Amazon.
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