3/5 Boca da Valeria

We had a nice dinner last night with social hostess, Nicola and dancer, Laura.  Jim and Judy from Honolulu also joined us.  We are now back in the southern hemisphere having crossed the equator again.  Bacoa Da Valeria (mouth of Valeria river) has a small fishing village of 75 people at the junction with the Amazon.  When a cruise ship arrives people from surrounding villages also come to this spot.

House on stilts surrounded by flood waters

Tom went ashore and Noel stayed on the ship.  There were dozens of small boats offering rides up the Valeria River  for $5 per person.  Getting off the tender was like running a gauntlet with children trying to grab your hands and  lead you.  Finally one little boy got Toms wrist with both his hands and would not let go.  He became Toms guide but her never said a word.  There were hundreds of children.

Boy with sloth next to tender

Tom handing candy to the kids

Some parents have their kids dressed up like Indians and charge for a picture.  Others have various native animals and again charge for a picture.  There were sloths, rats the size of a medium dog, caymans, iguanas and many different birds.  These people are not Indians, but "Caboclo" which means mixed race. 

One interesting thing is that the Amazon has two types of fresh water dolphins, one of which is a pink color and we saw these in this area.