Amid the tangle of tropical plants and colorful birds, there were also jaguars, poisonous spiders, termite mounds and caimans lunging into waters infested with piranha. With those lessons in mind, visiting the Amazon is an experience that dispels myths but also brings respect and awe for the largest rainforest on the planet. In addition to being a gateway for Amazon tourism in Brazil, Manaus is also one of the country's 12 host cities for the World Cup soccer games taking place June 12-July 13, and it's likely to attract crowds of soccer fans for some of the tournament's top matches, including England-Italy and Portugal-U.S. Travelers are also warned not to urinate in the water as they cross the river — local myth claims tiny fish can swim up the urine stream and lodge in the body. Landing on the other side 15 minutes later, we traversed a ramshackle dock and dodged food hawkers under the watchful eyes of dozens of vultures sunning themselves on the beach. Here in an afternoon downpour, we deposited our bags into motorized canoes and set off for the lodge through a maze of waterways used as roads by the region's residents who live, work, go to school and attend church at the jungle's edge. At the lodge, Gero Mesquita's Ararinha Jungle Hotel, guests are given the choice of private huts or accommodation upstairs in the main lodge in hammocks or beds — mosquito netting provided. Once settled in, it's off piranha fishing with beef used to bait hooks under the guidance of Zammette, a Guyanese transplant to Brazil. Do not accept offers for tours from Manaus airport touts; best to research tour companies beforehand. Avoid tap water, including in ice cubes and for brushing teeth. Don't expect mobile phone coverage or Internet connections if you're traveling to the Amazon — or hot water or air-conditioning.
Reported by SeattlePI.com 9 hours ago.
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