The journey to and around Manaus

After a week around São Paulo, making new friends, learning about new businesses and enjoying the city, it was time to move on to the second part of our trip. The part that would bring out the adventure in us all: The Amazon Rainforest part.

To get to the Amazon Rainforest, we have to take a 4 hour plane ride from São Paulo to the City of Manaus, in the State of Amazonas in the northwest corner of the country.

The flight to Manaus will take us across the country!

Our journey began early in the morning. We had to check out from our hotel and load our bags on the bus to go to the Airport.

Getting off the Bus at Guarulhos International Airport

Bag Retrieval from Bus

Long Check In Line

By the time we all got through Airport Security, our flight was already in the final call stage of boarding!

Looking for Seat Assignments

Seat Assignment Selfie!

Takeoff! Until next time São Paulo!

Clear, Blue skies greet us as we fly over the "Brazillian Midwest"

During the flight, many of us watched movies on the seatback screen

Cloudy Skies greet us as we get closer to the Amazon Region

First view of the Amazon Rainforest!

First view of the Amazon River!

Greeting Sign welcoming us to the State of Amazonas

Upon arrival, we noticed that Manaus is a very different environment from São Paulo. Manaus is a much smaller town that seems more laid back and has many more interesting buildings. In addition, because Manaus is located near the equator, it is much more humid here!!!

Our new Hotel Room in Manaus

After we got settled in our rooms in Manaus, we went for a city tour.

On the Tourbus which showed us around town

One of the many historical buildings around Praça Dom Pedro II

More buildings around Praça Dom Pedro II. One of the most surprising things for us upon arrival in Manaus was how dead the town was on a Sunday.

Teatro Amazonas, one of the most well known Historical Sites in the City. It was built in the 19th Century to bring a piece of Europe to the heart of the Rainforest during the Rubber boom to cater to the expat European community!

Monument Abertura dos Portos, located in front of the Theater to commemorate the opening of the Amazon River ports to foreign trade in the late 19th century

The Church of São Sebastião, the premier church of Manaus

Local fruit Flavored Ice Cream at an Ice Cream Shop by the Theater. It was super awesome!

Municipal Market of Manaus. This Market was built with a French architecture style and features an array of handcrafted goods and local produce

The Shores of the Rio Negro, the bank of the Amazon Manaus is located on

A beach in the bustling Ponta Negra neighborhood of Manaus

After making a R$5 Donation ($1.34) to this Street Performer at Ponta Negra, he invited me for a picture and got his baby to wave its hand at me!

After a long tour, we went to a restaurant that served local cuisines specialties for Dinner. Many of the food options were new and unique to us, and we were eager to try them.

Ordering

Part of the Menu

Grilled Pacu Fish

Muqueca, Brazillian Seafood Stew

Pirarucu de Casaca: barbecued Pirarucu (an Amazonian Fish) mixed with couscous served between Fried Bananas with side of Shrimp Vatapá (curry)

Grilled Tambaqui, an Amazonian Fish

Student Agnes is happy to get her Moqueca of Pirarucu (Stew)

The day ended with a street performance of Despacito.

It was ultimately a long, but rewarding day for all of us. Tomorrow, the visit to Salcomp Production Facility and the Samsung Ocean Center await us!