Today we are still in Manaus until approximately 4PM, all aboard is 3:30PM.
We hadn't planned anything for today except to just go ashore
on our own to see and get a feel of this huge City. Manaus is the traditional homeland for the Manaus (Manowth) tribe. In 1667 a small fort known as Sao Jose do Rio Negrinho was built. By 1850, the settelment had become a significant supply port and capital
of Amazonas State. Rubber was the main industry and brought vast profits and Manaus boomed. The rubber trees grew throughout the jungle and the latex was collected in the wild.
Manaus was nicknamed
"Paris of the Tropics". One wealthy Rubber Barron built a great Opera House. It took more than 15 years to complete and was inaugurated on Dec.31, 1896. It is still used today and the acustics are out of this world.
Bob, Priscilla & I, after a few wrong turns, made it up the hill to tour this magnificent building. While we were there an orchestra was just finishing their practice so we heard a bit of how great the sound was. We sat up
on the first Box level next to the presidential box and we were in awe at the opulance (I need a dictionry, i think) of it all. I took a lot of photobut they don't do it justice. I will post some of them here when I get home as they just wont download here.
After the long, hot treck up the hill from the Pier we took a Taxi back to our lovely Prinsendam.
Before we had gone to the Opera
House Eric was with us touring the streets and going to find the market and just generally window (but no window's) shopping at all, well not all as there were too many, little stands along the streets.. If you have ever been to the China Town Markets in New
York City then multiply the street venders by about 500% and then that probably still wouldn't be as many as there are in Manaus.
Anyhow, it had been terribly hot walking around all the streets
so Eric had reversed "Jumped Ship" so to speak and had gone back aboard while Bob looked after us.
It was nearly dinner time by the time we returned , showered and dressed so we headed to the
Dining Room for another great meal aboard our "Elegant Explorer", the Prinsendam.
At 7:30pm in the Showroom they had a game, "What's My Line" which was fun. Then after that was a very talented
performer, Peter Cutter. He played the role of Marius in Les Miserables in London's West End. By Royal command Peter has also recently performed for Her Majesty the Queen. Petre sang to us, played the piano and tapped danced. He has a great range and can sing
anything and his playing and tapping were great too.
From the Showroom we wandered down to the Explorers Lounge to listen to "Adigo" for a few minutes. They, a violinist and piano player, play
mostly classical music and it is very soothing and relaxing. So relaxing the guy's decided that it was time to turn in for the night. Now we are under sail once again so tonight we will be gently rocked to sleep.