Day 239 - To the Amazon

Sao Paulo to Manaus - Go Inn

Our flight for Manaus was due to leave at 4.30am, so after some discussion with the hotel receptionist (who first said we should leave for the airport at 11pm), we eventually decided on a 1.30am pick up. The taxi took us down many dark, deserted streets of Sao Paulo - K was quite relieved to get to the airport. Of course we were way  too early as it only took 40 minutes at that time of the night so we settled in for a long wait at the airport.

The plane was almost empty, and we arrived at Manaus in very foggy conditions. As we met the driver from our Amazon tour company we heard an announcement that the airport was closed for all takeoff and landing - we had just made it in time! We arrived at our hotel at 7.15am, to be told we couldn't check in until 2pm, not fun after being up all night, but luckily they found us a room by 9.45.

After a few hours rest we met with a tour guide from the company we were going into the Amazon with. Quite a strange meeting as it lasted for 40 minutes but we didn't really discuss much - pickup times, brief outline of the itinerary - it could have been over much quicker.

The rest of the day was spent wandering the streets of humid Manaus, for some reason parts of it reminded both of us of India with its many street stalls, loads of people and very poor footpaths. The rain came down very heavily at one stage, but only for a short time, something we may experience when we head to the Amazon.

Some of the old buildings in Manaus were quite grand, reminders of the days of the rubber plantations and the large amount of money it brought Manaus, especially the old opera house which was located in a very nice square just near our hotel.