Brasil - SP&Pantanal Day 7

Day 07 - Monday, August 3, 2009 – Posada Xaraés

The day begins and it gets light about 6:15 here on the flat expanse of the Pantanal. The Hyacinth Macaws were squawking as they flew in pairs over the tree tops.

We took cool showers – the soap in this Eco-Tourism lodge is very different – good for the environment, but not easy to use. Breakfast was at 7:30 and then we were ready for our adventure in the Pantanal.

The staff postponed our canoe trip this morning because it was too cold. Instead of leaving at 7:00, we had breakfast at 7:30 and then met our guide Silvana at the dock at 8:00.

There were three canoes, Tia and Sylvana were in the first one, then Thomas and Bob in the next, and Gennie and I followed up with Lucas, another guide in training.

There were many jacaré/caymen along the banks of the Abobral River. Because the air was cooler than the water, they were submerged except for their eyes and part of their snouts.

Lucas told us that because it was cool, (in the low 60s) that many birds were not out this morning. We thought we were in a birdwatchers paradise…

We saw many species including; Giant Kingfisher, Blue Fronted Parrot, Rufus Tailed Jacamar, Tiger Heron, Great Kiskadee, Snowy Egret, Lineated Woodpecker, Green Ibis, Jabiru Stork (the regional bird of the Pantanal), a huge Black Collared Hawk, Gray-necked Woodrail, and many others.

The canoe trip lasted about 2 and a half hours. The pousada’s Toyota 4x4 safari truck was waiting for us on the bank of the river and the guys loaded the canoes on their trailer rack.

As we found our way back to the farm on a very rutted path, we finally came to the lane leading to the compound. The sun was coming out from behind the clouds as we thanked our drivers and climbed down from the back of the truck.

The Hyacinth or Blue Macaws were still flying overhead and Gennie spotted a Chestnut-eared Araçari, a type of Toucan in a tree near the lodge.

While Gennie and Bob went through the nature guide and the bird book with Silvana, I found more birds right here at the compound and was able to take even more pictures.

Gennie had to post attendance for her students today so she logged on to the computer in the multi-purpose room, but it is so slow that she could not evaluate papers and will do that when we have a better connection.

I started to sort photos and found I had several good shots despite the dark light and the skitterish birds. Lunch was served at noon; more beans and rice, baked manioc, pork, a vegetable pie, and dessert.

The afternoon’s highlight for Thomas was a fishing expedition on the river to try to catch piranha. We all went although I did not fish but was the videographer and captured their success.

The bait was raw meat, on a big hook, with a short line on a bamboo cane pole. Bob was successful in catching the first piranha and then Gennie caught a small perch like fish. Thomas followed with another piranha and Tia Isa decided that fishing was not her favorite sport!

Tia, Gennie and I decided to go back to get out of the sun, as it was very intense. It was almost 86º but only 63% humidity. Tia took a little rest and Gennie typed the journal while I took more pictures and Bob & Thomas continued to fish and feed the ones they caught to the waiting jacaré.

At 3:00 we met Silvana again for a walk in the mato, or natural forest in the 4000 hectare farm area. A safari truck took us through a river into the deep vegetation where we hiked for three hours. We saw howler monkeys, a deer, coati-mundi, and thousands of birds.

We were hot and tired when we reached the original farm house and found our truck waiting for us. We arrived back at the pousada at 5:45, took showers, checked the photos, and got ready for an excellent nature lecture in the lodge at 7:00.

Dinner was served at 7:30 and then we came back to the room to finish selecting the photos for the day and to complete the journal. We had a great day in the Pantanal from sunrise to long after sunset.

Hi, just came back from my friends. enjoy the rest of your trip.

O Jacaré é muito bonito. Parece perigoso. Adorei a Arara Azul em grupo.

ainda bem que thomas ainda nao viriu comida de piranha, deve estar se comportando - aproveitem!!!

Day 10: Mediterranean Navigation

Antonio, Our Guide

Gardens at the Alcazaba

Roman Theater

Visiting with Picasso

Gennie & Vic, Malaga 2004

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