Day 47 - February 19, 2008 - Boca de Valeria, Brazil

Boca de Valeria photos
So, I defy you to find this spot on a map. We could barely locate it ourselves. Just a cluster of stilt huts, cows, people, and a school under construction. It was amazing that the place even has a name. We did not touch earth here. They took us on tender rides all morning long of about 20-30 minutes. We did catch some glimpses of botos, or pink Amazon River dolphins. No one has really explained this to us. Why are they pink? Why are they living in freshwater? Isn't that very unusual for dolphins to live in freshwater? Anyway, the people that live here are called Caboclas. They are a mixture of Portuguese, African, and Native people. They make their lives on the river. From 10:30am to 12:30pm they brought some locals onboard to set up some handicrafts shops on the Pool Deck. It was pouring rain off and on for most of the morning. It was pouring rain for this as well. They had the International BBQ already set up under the sheltered side on the port and this took up the starboard. The rest of the covered area was actually filled with lounge chairs covered with people in bathing suits, that appeared to have all fallen asleep. It was just very bizarre! We ate down in Compass Rose for lunch. We also went to the "Sounds of the Amazon" in Horizon Lounge for the Full Circle Guests. It was a nice event. They served Capirinhas again (really bad!) and some weird desserts. The music was good though. The band, Raizes Caboclas (according to our printed invitations, but that name is not correct, sorry!), will be onboard to Manaus as that is where they are from. Not sure when they boarded, or if they just came on here today! In the afternoon, Debbie and Margie went to the Big Screen Popcorn Movie in Constellation Theater. It was a German film titled "Fitzcarraldo" and it was subtitled in English.
Debbie still does not have a voice. The Doctor did not want to give her anymore steroid shots though. He was very surprised that the massive doses he gave her in the 2 shots yesterday did not recover her voice. Anyway, he told her again not to try to talk at all, to rest her vocal cords and he gave her 2 Prednisone tablets. He told her that they would call tomorrow to see how she is doing and that if she gets worse to come back. He thinks at this point it will just take time for her voice to return. Well, duh. Yesterday's Doctor's bills totaled $175. More later. By this afternoon, Clay had a fever. Tomorrow we will be in Manaus. Guess it is a good thing that we had made no plans at all here.
Captain Phillipe came on Channel 2 about 5pm and said that he expects to be an hour late arriving tomorrow in Manaus. So, we have Formal Night tonight, the Captain's Farewell Party and Krew Kapers and then our hosted dinner. Maybe it is just us, but the menus are just less and less appealing, so tonight could be a challenge. Clay says this is his last night in his tuxedo. It is too small now. How did that happen? Debbie has actually lost weight and now weighs what she did before leaving home.
So, we enjoyed the Krew Kapers as usual. Also, found the differences between the 2 Captains' Farewell substantial. We have to say that Capt. Phillipe is much more forthcoming and open with information. Other than our disappointment in not being able to ride atop the tenders, we have been very pleased with the new Captain. We see more of him about the ship too. We understand from dinner tonight that we really missed him being very funny in the Liars' Club. We will try to catch it on the next segment. Which is in only 2 days! We have to disembark in only 2 weeks time! Two weeks from tonight, we'll be having a very different dinner! We had a very nice evening with Deborah Bennet, the Human Resources Manager and Lester Woodfall, the Assistant F&B Manager as well as another couple on the Full Circle. They are from England and we have spent some time with them before on overnight excursions.
Boca de Valeria photos