A DAY ON THE ROAD

[amazondk]

Kitty,

I was sure you would like the horse scene.  The interesting thing about living here in Manaus is that I am not really sure what world it is in.  I used to think it might be in the 4th world, whatever that would be.  Brazil is a mix of what would be known as 1st world and 3rd world.  Although I tend to stay away from these categories.  The funny thing is that after being on this road for 6 hours or so and then driving into Manaus it is almost like you dropped into another planet.  Manaus today at 2 million people is a very busy city and the traffic is crazy.  There is a building boom and upscale apartment buildings, office buildings and housing sprouting up everywhere.  Actually Manaus has the third highest per capita income in Brazil.  The industrial pole, called PIM (Polo Industrial de Manaus) is booming due increased demand for electronics and motorcycles in the rest of Brazil.  In fact the job market is so tight that stores are having a hard time hiring temporary help for the christmas season.  I have been driving around the city a lot these days chasing after the logistics part of our business and at times would rather be dodging the holes on the road north.  It is a real big change from the Manaus I first got to know in 1989.              

But, then again in a short time I can be in a place where it seems time has stood still to a large degree.  And, nature is always close in spite of the city.  And, it does not take long to be somewhere in the city that you catch a glimpse the Negro River or the Amazon.  The landscape is always impressive.

Here is shot from this afternoon at Chibatão container port in the comfortable temperature of around 103 F with the afternoon sun blazing down.  That is a vessel that holds arond 1,600 containers and is ocean going.  The shot looks down the Negro River toward the Amazon.  After this brief stop it was back in the traffic with trucks here, buses the, and cars everwhere.  But, then I could look out at the horizon and know that the forest goes on forever.

dk

[amazondk]

Matty,

Here is a Big Mac and Euterpe Precatoria for you.

dk

[amazondk]

This is what it was like at 0830 AM on the main avenue into town, Torquato Tapajos.  This street pretty much looks like this most of the time except at night any more.  But, for the most part the traffic flows.  As you can see the Buriti is still surviving at street side.

dk

[DoomsDave]

(amazondk @ Nov. 07 2007,10:42)

QUOTE

This is what it was like at 0830 AM on the main avenue into town, Torquato Tapajos.  This street pretty much looks like this most of the time except at night any more.  But, for the most part the traffic flows.  As you can see the Buriti is still surviving at street side.

dk

And!

The Washie, too !

[amazondk]

Dave,

Where is the washie?  

dk