Tag 17 – Boca da Valeria: Insights into the Original Amazon Life 🌴🇧🇷

🌎 Boca da Valeria – a small village in the heart of the Amazon

Boca da Valeria is a small fishing village with about 100 residents located in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon. It is situated in the state of Amazonas, at the mouth of the Rio da Valeria into the Amazon. The Atlantic coast is approximately 1,370 kilometers away, and the nearest major city, Parintins, is about 30 kilometers to the west. Manaus is roughly 400 kilometers further.

The village exemplifies many small river communities in the rainforest. Particularly characteristic are the colorful stilt houses that protect their inhabitants from flooding during the rainy season.

Today, we should get to know this original way of life.

🧺 First, the duty, then the pleasure!

The day began at 5:30 AM. I went to bed early last night and therefore got enough sleep.

Last night, the smell of smoke was again noticeably present in my cabin. After pulling the room card from the card reader, the air conditioning was presumably turned down – it got better after that.

At 6:00 AM, we were supposed to have our usual early riser coffee.

STOP! There was something much more important on vacation: laundry! 😂

So first off to the laundromat, fill the machine, and then to coffee.

Anyone who has traveled around the world with AIDA may know that it can be quite an athletic endeavor to use the washing machines. On previous world trips, fists even flew over it! Therefore, I tried my luck by going at an unconventional time – and was actually successful right away. 💪

However, I couldn't really enjoy the early riser coffee. My gaze constantly shifted to the clock. After all, I wanted to be back on time and wouldn't risk someone giving me a black eye over an occupied washing machine. 😂

It still smelled of smoke everywhere. This issue will likely accompany us in the coming days through the Amazon.

Right on time, even three minutes before the washing time ended, I returned to the laundromat. The next guest was already waiting. No black eye avoided! 😁 The laundry went straight into the dryer.

After that, I sprinted to breakfast at the East Restaurant at 7:00 AM, where I was meeting Sabrina. After breakfast, of course, I immediately went back to the laundromat to pick up the dry laundry. Here, too, I preferred to avoid a discussion over the machine. 😉

Then it was time to fold laundry and – you guessed it – off for the third coffee! 😂

🥵 Welcome to the Tropics

By 8:30 AM, the thermometer showed over 30 degrees with humidity over 90 percent. This promised to be an exceptionally sweaty day.

At 9:15 AM, I met with Sabrina and Verena for joint tendering. This time, everything went pleasantly quickly and without long waiting times.

However, before disembarking, there was a less pleasant piece of information: Google showed a wildfire warning in the immediate vicinity of our location. Given the persistent smell of smoke, it wasn’t particularly reassuring news.

🏡 Boca da Valeria – a glimpse into another way of life

At 9:30 AM, we arrived at the village. Upon arrival, a faint smell of smoke filled the air again.

We were greeted by numerous waving children. Some held birds, sloths, or other animals in their arms to present them to the visitors and get photographed. I deliberately refrained from holding an animal for wildlife protection reasons. With a subsequent monetary donation, one only 'supports' the respective child (if you can call it that). I chose to make a donation to the local school’s donation box.

Afterwards, we strolled through the small village without a real destination. That was exactly what made it appealing: you could observe daily life, see the houses, and get an impression of how people live here in the middle of the Amazon.

In a village with merely around 100 residents, one quickly arrives back at the starting point. For me, this short stop was completely sufficient to get a sense of the original way of life.

It is a stop that is indeed thought-provoking. One sees how different living conditions can be and how privileged our situation in Europe often is.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find a refrigerator magnet. 😱 Therefore, one from the photo shop will have to serve as a reminder of Boca da Valeria.

After our little tour, we first treated ourselves to an AIDA lemonade at the bar.

📸 Jungle shooting instead of sweat-inducing sport

During the subsequent check of the day’s program, I noticed that an important program point would end in 30 minutes. And that was on the outdoor sports deck on Deck 14! 🏃🏋️⛹️‍♀️

If anyone thought I would actually partake in outdoor sports in over 30-degree heat and humidity beyond 90 percent, they clearly don't know me well enough. 😂😂

Of course, it was a photo shoot! Today's theme: