Spending time in the Amazon is one thing, but hunting caimans at night on the Amazon River is just spectacular.
Here is something I wrote while in the heart of one of the most ethereal adventures of my life:
Catching Alligators by the Light of an Amazon Moon!
January 31st, 2009Port of Manaus, Brazil – Why Would Anyone Want to Go There?
January 30th, 2009
Port of Manaus, Brazil: A Photographer’s Dream Shoot
Manaus, Brazil? Who has ever even heard of Manaus, Brazil except, of course, a few corporate giants like Honda and Sanyo? And those folks who have set the Amazon River as a destination.
Yet, Manus is one of those cities that simply must be visited at least once in a traveler’s lifetime.
Moonrise over the Amazon
January 28th, 2009
Moonrise over the Amazon
If you are looking for a truly memorable adventure, an awe-inspiring vacation, then set your sights on Brazil and the Amazon River.
At first glance, the dirty brown Amazon is confusing, but once you get into a small wooden boat or canoe, and head off down one of its tributaries, it will all come clear.
Florida Keys and the Everglades – See the Gators close up at Gator Park!
January 23rd, 2009
“Go ahead, make my day!”
We can’t bear heading straight home to our climate of snow and ice after spending weeks in the tropics. Having just finished off a 14-day adventure through the Caribbean islands and up the Amazon, we felt a short stay in the Florida Keys would help to ease the pain of transition. And so it did, in spite of the unusually cool temperatures.
Adventuring in the Amazon: A first-timer’s experience!
January 12th, 2009Ambling up the Amazon River – It’s not a Disneyland Experience!
Traveling up the great Amazon River, now touted to be the largest river on the planet, is a slow murky process. Large chunks of verdant vegetation float leisurely by on water that looks as brown and as opaque as chicken gravy. Land can be seen in the distance, but these landmasses are islands, not the South American mainland. (According to our onboard naturalist, Hutch, the Amazon is composed of thousands of islands and we cruise in and around them on our way to Manaus.)
How to Take Care of Your Digital Camera in Cold Weather!
November 21st, 2008
Frosted Leaf or Standing out from the Crowd
Special Care is Necessary When Using Your Digital Camera in the Cold!
It’s that time of the year for many of us around the world, when the dreamy warm days of autumn slip into the bone-chilling, teeth-chattering days of winter.
But wintertime can be the best time for getting fabulous shots like the frosted leaf showing here. While there are gray days, there will also be days of brilliant blue skies, bright golden sunshine, and sparkling snow blankets, dazzled in twinkling diamonds. How can anyone resist shooting photographs under those conditions? I certainly can’t.
But along with wintry conditions comes cold, and digital cameras (and their batteries) don’t like extreme temperatures of either variety, hot or cold. So, you must take precautions when using your digital camera outdoors in the winter.
Read on . . .
As the snow begins to fall, my heart begins to yearn for an apple, a BIG APPLE!
November 19th, 2008
Have you ever spent a Christmas season in New York City? No? Then my suggestion to you, if you love a good old-fashioned Christmas complete with all the fixins’, is to spend a few days in the Big Apple when the spirit of the Christmas season is at its apex. There is nothing else that compares. I promise.
Read on . . .
Planning a trip to Brazil? Here’s the lowdown on the drugs you’ll need
November 18th, 2008Yes, drugs. And the accompanying side effects.
It’s not possible to travel to many countries today without first getting topped up with a variety of inoculations and prescription drugs. Take Brazil, for instance. Getting the plane ticket or the cruise ship ticket is the easy part. Then it’s time to roll up your sleeve. The sleeve on your needle arm, that is.
Read on . . .
How to Choose the Right Cruise Ship for Your Family!
October 21st, 2008
Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia
Bored kids? Bored grandparents? Bored you? Is there a cruise line that is perfect for the entire family? Yes.
With the huge number of cuise lines to choose from, and the even bigger number of individual ships in the line, the task of choosing a ship that will be perfect for your family might seem impossible.
There is hope. And help. One of the Internet’s most popular social sites for cruisers has come up with it “Editors’ Picks” for 2008. Among the site’s conclusions includes the BEST family ships and the BEST ships for fitness buffs.
Read on . . .
How to Plan a Trip to the Amazon or to Brazil
October 19th, 2008
Long gone are the days of simply buying a ticket and hopping on a plane; travel today is a much more precise science, especially if you are planning a trip into the Amazon, or other parts of Brazil.
When budgeting for a trip into Brazil, be prepared for all the extra fees you will encounter, fees that have nothing to do with your flight or your accommodations. Like the cost of getting a Brazilian tourist visa.
You may be living in a country that is exempt from needing a Brazilian visa, but if you are Canadian, Australian, or American, you must apply. (Citizens from countries like Germany, France, and Italy do not require a Brazilian visa.)
In addition, no matter what country you hail from, Brazil (especially the Amazonian area) is disease-carrying mosquito territory, and you must prepare. That means getting vaccinated for Yellow Fever, as well as Hepatitis A and B.
Read on . . .
