Sue's Travels: Side River, Gurupa and Ipuxina

On the Amazon – Side River, Gurupa and Ipuxina – 21 April 2010

As a member o the Toucans, I was in the zodiac and on the river at about 6:30 AM. It is difficult to any wild life because for the most part they either blend into the background, are small or move too quickly. I did see a white wing swallow, roadside hawks, some macaws and a toucan. I am concerned that my pictures will not be very good, because they were a distance away. We also saw some birds’ nests, termite nests and wasp nests. Apparently termite nests stand on branches and go up, while most other nests hang down from the tree branches. Every resident of the area owns and makes significant use of a machete. Traders bring in and sell stones that are used to sharpen the machetes since there are no rocks in the delta area.

We got back to the ship around 8:00 AM so that the other group could have their turn in the zodiacs. Breakfast was still being served. After breakfast, I took a short nap and am now ready for the trip into Gurupa, which is an Amazonian village that is not designed for tourists, but interesting as showing how the people live. One of the main industries is an accassia plant. The people who live along the river bring in the berries and they are processed in the plant from which they are shipped around the world. We were taken to the fort at the end of the street. Apparently the area was originally colonized by the Dutch, French, Irish and English, but not in significant numbers. The Portuguese attacked and removed these settlers. They went up the Amazon about two thousand miles and claimed it for Portugal. Brazil is the largest country in South America. Gurupa has a town hall, school, library and a church as well as the expected shops. It has about ten miles of paved roads and a significant number of cars and motor cycles.

Note vine growing on tree

Dead tree with vines and bromeliads

Somewhere in there are Orapendalia nests - bird related to black birds

Things hanging like socks are nests of Orapendalia which are in groups

Trying for Bird

In the Forest

Trying for a bird

Trying for Bird

Flat Leaves of Rhodendron growing on tree

Trying for Wasp Nest

Sloth in a tree

Sloth in Tree

Trying for Toucan in tree

Home in Gurupa - note satelite Disk

Sign on Fort Entrance

Signs in fort

Cannons with ship in background

The Fort

Church

Me with canon at Fort - Amazon in the background

Local Church

Tame Parrot (Ed Hudson - Historian on ship)

Local School

Town Hall

Town Hall Dedication

Street Scene

Gurupa Street Scene

Name of town

We returned in time for lunch which was served indoors as it was felt that it was too hot to eat outside. I took a nap and then got ready for the afternoon zodiac ride. It started to rain as we got into the zodiac. I had brought my pancho, but I got soaked anyway. As strange as it may sound, it was one of the best zodiac rides. Normally the guides point out different birds and by the time I figure out where they are, they are gone. With the heavy rain, the birds tended to stay by their nests so I really got a good look at them. I tried to get some pictures, but I don’t know how well they came out. I’m hoping that I didn’t ruin my camera. My sneakers are sopping wet and I was drenched to the skin. I took off everything and after washing, hung everything in the shower to dry. I’m also concerned about my hat which also got soaked. It was suggested that I bring things out on deck to dry.