Monday April 28, 2008
Trying to Leave Obidos The Final Chapter
5:30 PM
We left on the Cezar Brelaz about 15 minutes ago.
After a nap from 1 - 3 PM, Paulo took Dean and I to a Museum that had a display on the early history of Obidos. There is a Native American tribe and the early settlers came here in 1697 when the military set up a fort to protect the interests of the Portuguese Government. (Brasil was a colony of Portugal since 1530).
6:07 PM
Filled with a coca cola, bacon flavored cheese puffs, 1/2 package of cookies, I am content.
Sitting on the top deck of the Cezar, listening to a concert on TV (very loud) and watching a lightening storm in the distance, chugging on a boat up the Amazon, this is the life. It is approximately 5 hours to Santarem. Hopefully tonight we won't break down. We should be in Santarem by 11, if I didn't just jinx us.
The breeze feels so great. I just may stay up here all night as long as the rain holds off. We haven't had rain since early this morning. We are in the Rain Forest during rainy season. It is always raining.
12 hours ago I never thought we would be at this point; returning by boat to Santarem. 24 hours ago I had no clue what the evening had in store for us. We were giving out clothes and soccer balls to children in the poorest barrio in Obidos. It was such a powerful experience. I was filming and children were literally coming from every direction. How they knew what we were doing was staggering. I want to do so many things here and every where we go, people let us know of the ways we Americans can help. The Rotarians here are like the gods to these people.
Paulo is awesome. He is living Rotary's motto every day of his life: Service above Self. He is it! We keep calling him the mayor, because everywhere we go he knows somebody.
Hopefully my work is not done here in Obidos and Santarem. I still have so many questions. I will need to continue my Portuguese lessons when I return to the states.
Last night while sitting in the boat terminal with a ton of other people who were waiting for a different boat, every time a ship came into port, I sooo wanted to see the word "Cezar" on the prow. When I finally saw it tonight I was ecstatic. I really can't believe we are heading back to Santarem. Heading back to warm showers, real coffee, clean clothes, a bed with a pillow.
12:35 AM
We got back to FE about 30 - 40 minutes ago. I unpacked my dirty stinking clothes so they can be laundered tomorrow. Yucko. They were my pillow for the past two nights. I got a shower, scrubbed my face, shaved my legs, got in clean pajamas, put some baby powder on my body, turned on the ceiling fan. AHHH civilization. Did I say a few days ago in an email that Santarem was a third world country? Nah…it is all relative.
What a great adventure the past few days have been. Obidos was wonderful. Even through all of the hassles of the past 24 hours, I would do it again in a heart beat. God Bless and Good Night.
7:00 AM
At first I couldn't figure out where I was. Then I head Ron's voice, which is very distinctive and I knew I was back in Santarem.
Tchau
Trying to Leave Obidos The Final Chapter
5:30 PM
We left on the Cezar Brelaz about 15 minutes ago.
After a nap from 1 - 3 PM, Paulo took Dean and I to a Museum that had a display on the early history of Obidos. There is a Native American tribe and the early settlers came here in 1697 when the military set up a fort to protect the interests of the Portuguese Government. (Brasil was a colony of Portugal since 1530).
6:07 PM
Filled with a coca cola, bacon flavored cheese puffs, 1/2 package of cookies, I am content.
Sitting on the top deck of the Cezar, listening to a concert on TV (very loud) and watching a lightening storm in the distance, chugging on a boat up the Amazon, this is the life. It is approximately 5 hours to Santarem. Hopefully tonight we won't break down. We should be in Santarem by 11, if I didn't just jinx us.
The breeze feels so great. I just may stay up here all night as long as the rain holds off. We haven't had rain since early this morning. We are in the Rain Forest during rainy season. It is always raining.
12 hours ago I never thought we would be at this point; returning by boat to Santarem. 24 hours ago I had no clue what the evening had in store for us. We were giving out clothes and soccer balls to children in the poorest barrio in Obidos. It was such a powerful experience. I was filming and children were literally coming from every direction. How they knew what we were doing was staggering. I want to do so many things here and every where we go, people let us know of the ways we Americans can help. The Rotarians here are like the gods to these people.
Paulo is awesome. He is living Rotary's motto every day of his life: Service above Self. He is it! We keep calling him the mayor, because everywhere we go he knows somebody.
Hopefully my work is not done here in Obidos and Santarem. I still have so many questions. I will need to continue my Portuguese lessons when I return to the states.
Last night while sitting in the boat terminal with a ton of other people who were waiting for a different boat, every time a ship came into port, I sooo wanted to see the word "Cezar" on the prow. When I finally saw it tonight I was ecstatic. I really can't believe we are heading back to Santarem. Heading back to warm showers, real coffee, clean clothes, a bed with a pillow.
12:35 AM
We got back to FE about 30 - 40 minutes ago. I unpacked my dirty stinking clothes so they can be laundered tomorrow. Yucko. They were my pillow for the past two nights. I got a shower, scrubbed my face, shaved my legs, got in clean pajamas, put some baby powder on my body, turned on the ceiling fan. AHHH civilization. Did I say a few days ago in an email that Santarem was a third world country? Nah…it is all relative.
What a great adventure the past few days have been. Obidos was wonderful. Even through all of the hassles of the past 24 hours, I would do it again in a heart beat. God Bless and Good Night.
7:00 AM
At first I couldn't figure out where I was. Then I head Ron's voice, which is very distinctive and I knew I was back in Santarem.
Tchau
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