December 21 - AT SEA

Weather – woke up to rain and humidity,

equator...we can see it

29º, rain sprinkled on and off all day

Steps – 6,553

We are in the AMAZON!!!!!!! We entered the mouth last night at 3AM. We knew it’d be dark and there’d be little to see, so we didn’t bother staying up or getting up. This morning was thrilling enough just knowing we were sailing ON THE AMAZON!!!!! The river is wide, but not so wide that we can’t see the shore.

In the night we followed a cargo ship that had one less foot of draught than the river depth. Our ship figured, if that ship could make it, we'd be fine...we were!

at the equator!!

As expected, the river is brown – light brown, but brown, nonetheless. Gone are the clear, blue waters we’ve known for the last week. Tomorrow we’re visiting the Topojós River that is blue/green until it mixes with the muddy AMAZON.

good morning AMAZON!!

All morning we used our phones to track ourselves getting closer and closer to the equator. Just before noon, we crossed!! This is our third time sailing across the equator and each time is thrilling. 

We knew some new rules would be implemented during our time on the AMAZON. Sure enough, last night and again

new rules

this morning we learned how things will change. For us, the new rules are kind of our old rules - nothing much will change. Linens will be changed

AMAZON!!!

less frequently, today, and then again on the 25^th – this is fine with me. We always hang our towels (as instructed) but more often than not they are changed anyway. I suspect it’s easier for the room attendants – what ever is easier for them is just fine with me. The ship typically makes its own water from sea water. In the AMAZON there is too much sediment for the ship to handle. Fresh water is brought on from shore which we weren't to get again until Christmas Eve.

We are also asked to not have our balcony lights on at night and the ship’s outdoor lights will be off to not attract BUGS!

first AMAZON bug

We’ve heard that ship staff collect so many bugs from the decks each morning that they need garbage bags there are do many…we’ll see if this really is the case. I CANNOT WAIT! We found a few today, but nothing bigger than what we see at home.

The low level of the AMAZON is evident by the boats at the shore sitting in the mud. These boats would usually be floating, but the AMAZON’s drought means otherwise.

Around 12:30 we anchored and Brazilian

toasting the equator

immigration got on. Usually, cruise ship immigration is easy-peasy with everything happening behind the scenes and the passenger not being involved. This is how it worked today other than the anchoring bit. Officials usually board,
inspect what they need to inspect, the ship is cleared, and we don’t notice. That is unless you are in China, Russia, India, or the US (or maybe others we haven’t been to) – face-to-face inspections were required by these countries. We were on our way again by about 3.

We enjoyed the business of immigration from our balcony toasting the equator.

more shipping

AMAZON shipping

The rest of the afternoon was spent marveling at where we are. We ate lunch in our favourite spot again, but wow did it get hot. Every so often, the breeze would die, and it was sweltery. Thankfully, the ship’s AC seems to be keeping up.