The Amazon Star
Although the Amazon Star wasn´t due to leave port until 4pm, Finn had been advised that it was best to board early to secure a good spot for sleeping, away from the noisy engine. Packing up his belongings, he made the long walk down to the docks, only to discover the queue already spilling out onto the street.
After waiting patiently for a good two hours, he finally boarded the boat and was pointed downstairs. Struggling down the steep stairs with his heavy bag, he found himself in an insane mess of people and activity. There must have been around 200 brightly coloured hammocks strung up alongside each other with no room to spare. Screaming children ran around his feet as he bumped and apologised his way along the gangway searching for a spot. All ages of people were crammed in here, from mothers with tiny new-born babies to a blind old lady being led around by a heavily muscled Indian.
Finally, he spotted a space and began to climb over the piles of bags and boxes to set about tying his hammock up. Suddenly he was surrounded by friendly Brazilians offering him help, cakes, bananas, coke and in no time at all he was kicking back in his hammock watching the dock workers load the ship´s cargo. Hundreds of cases of tinned food, supplies and toiletries were slid from trucks into the hold, to be taken up river to Manaus and Santarém. The most amusing of which were the huge sacks of flour, which covered everyone and everything nearby in fine white dust.
Eventually, everything was fully loaded and the boat was ready to leave. The captain let loose with three loud blasts on the horn and the engines rumbled into motion. Finn jumped out of his hammock and made his way to the front of the boat. As the docks slipped away, the wind rushing through his hair, he felt a surge of excitement. He was free and yet at the same time, he felt a strong sense of purpose. Here he was, heading straight down the throat of the Mighty Amazon and into the belly of the unknown.
After waiting patiently for a good two hours, he finally boarded the boat and was pointed downstairs. Struggling down the steep stairs with his heavy bag, he found himself in an insane mess of people and activity. There must have been around 200 brightly coloured hammocks strung up alongside each other with no room to spare. Screaming children ran around his feet as he bumped and apologised his way along the gangway searching for a spot. All ages of people were crammed in here, from mothers with tiny new-born babies to a blind old lady being led around by a heavily muscled Indian.
Finally, he spotted a space and began to climb over the piles of bags and boxes to set about tying his hammock up. Suddenly he was surrounded by friendly Brazilians offering him help, cakes, bananas, coke and in no time at all he was kicking back in his hammock watching the dock workers load the ship´s cargo. Hundreds of cases of tinned food, supplies and toiletries were slid from trucks into the hold, to be taken up river to Manaus and Santarém. The most amusing of which were the huge sacks of flour, which covered everyone and everything nearby in fine white dust.
Eventually, everything was fully loaded and the boat was ready to leave. The captain let loose with three loud blasts on the horn and the engines rumbled into motion. Finn jumped out of his hammock and made his way to the front of the boat. As the docks slipped away, the wind rushing through his hair, he felt a surge of excitement. He was free and yet at the same time, he felt a strong sense of purpose. Here he was, heading straight down the throat of the Mighty Amazon and into the belly of the unknown.
posted by Dan Osborne | 13.1.06
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