The plan was much more simple than it actually panned out. We were going to take a train from Governador Valadares to Belo Horizonte (This actually happened, and the train ride went quite smoothly). Then we were going to take a plane from BH to Manaus, Amazonas (This did not actually happen). We got to the airport and were told that we could not travel (even domestically) without our passports. We had left them in the apartment at Valadares because we were under the impression that we would not be needing them. We thought it would be safer to travel without them and were under this impression due information we had been told, had read, and even based on the TAM (the airline we were going to fly with) website itself. Anyway, we argued with TAM officials, the check-in desk, several federal police officers, and then more TAM people. All to discover that there was literally nothing we could do.
We had two options. Change the flight, take the train back to Valadares, get the passports, take the train back yet again to BH, and then fly to Manaus 5 days behind schedule. OR!! There´s the option that we actually chose. We took a most ridiculous and rather miserable bus trip from Belo to Porto Velho (please refer to the map). This trip took us 52 hours! That´s correct, you did not misread. 52 hours! In others words, 2 days and 4 hours. On a bus... living on a freakin´ bus. At several points we even felt incredibly sick from the bouncing back and forth. Yet another thing to accentuate the misery. This even included vomiting, from both of us. Ewww...
So now we´re in Porto Velho. This town has pretty much nothing going for it. There´s nothing to do here and everything that is around is closed. There was even a shop called "Open", and ironically that was even closed. So now we wait until Tuesday when we will be boating it up. We´re taking a 4 day long boat ride (I´m guessing it´ll be gross as well) up the Rio Madeira (again, refer to the map), which is of course a river, to Manaus. We´ll get back to you on how that went when we arrive... next freakin´week!
So basically, to wrap it all up, an approximately two hour plane flight turned into a very stinky week and a half.
snuggles and loves!!
Tiago and Lena
Found Porto Velho on the map. You in the Jungle now! Relax - try to enjoy wildlife, don't drink the water.... Mom
ReplyDeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteI am finally catching up on all of your adventures. This summer has been crazy busy for us as a family and between the kids' activities and my health and other obligations, I have hardly had any computer time.It really puts me to shame that my baby sis (who is the reason I'm blogging again) is doing a better job keeping up her blog in a South American jungle than I am in the good old us-of-a. Sorry the trip to Manaus was so grueling. Take care of each other, stay hydrated, enjoy as much of this opportunity as you can and remember that you are loved!