July 20,

We were awakened “umpteen” times through the night, due to the festivities all night long. Finally, I was up for real at 0730. We packed up and readied, having our Javas and breakfast of toast (the bread we have has figs in the center) with Nutella and an apple. We had texted our host without response. So tried to call him twice. At 0930, he just showed up. We gave him the keys and procured a tuk-tuk by 0940. We arrived at 0950, at the ferry. The Englishman was there already. Jeff went over to talk to him. I started talking with a lady from Spain. She was excited about Spain winning the World Cup. A boat personnel told us to line up our luggage, even though we are going to a cabin.

At 1126 everyone boarded minivans to go to boat;1133 on boat and checked in, receiving our key and a wrist ID bracelet. Then by 1140, we were in our cabin and unloaded. Our cabin is named Suite Joao de Barrio with a picture of a bird. By 1200, we went to explore. Jeff noticed that we were 236 feet above sea level (on one of the upper decks). So that means that the Amazon River is relatively flat, because we are in the far west of Brazil and it empties on the far east side. 

The ferry started out around 1315. Cruising the Amazon! It meanders quite a bit, so the shore line is ever changing. Our boat is named Embaixador, which is Portuguese for Ambassador. We found Saidara (the Englishman, don’t know if I spelled that right – I’ll just call him “S.”) up on the third level. He has put up his hammock already. We chatted a bit, then explored some more. There four total levels: first level is cargo; three levels for hammocks (and the suites). There is also access to half of the rooftop. Jeff signed up for internet, which is 30 BRL for 24 hrs, but it is intermittent and snail paced. 

At 1420 the ferry boat (FB) made turn up Javary River to town of Benjamin Constant. Once at the dock, people loaded and stuff unloaded with empty 19 L water bottles loaded up – plus other stuff was exchanged. Another FB pulled up alongside of us and people loaded up onto it though our FB. At 1535, the boat started to leave but had some issues and had to readjust. Finally, on our way by 1544.

1630 supper was served – even though the door hours showed it starting at 1700. We had bought some plastic dishes just for this boat. They served soup and bread. They kept filling our dish until we stopped them. It was very hot and we carefully took it back to room. The soup was very good – beef & pasta with tomato, carrot, pumpkin, pepper (red and green bell), cabbage and onion in a broth. My hunk of beef was very grisly though. When we finished we cleaned them out at the communal sinks. There was soap and a sponge ‘scritcher’. Viola.

The rest of the evening we sat on our balcony and watched the river. Sunset was pretty good. We then did a rinse in our shower…it’s river water so, yeah. Bed by 2130.