Even from Brasil, getting to the Amazon isn’t always easy. From our home in João Pessoa, we had to go to Recife, two hours away by car, to get a flight. Then we had a “local” instead of an “express” flight and it stopped at every place with an airport so it was over six hours on one airplane. When we arrived at Manaus, Brasil we didn’t see anyone from the hotel holding up a sign with our name on it as expected. Very fortunately, “O esposo á muito inteligente” and I spotted a young woman with a Tropical Hotel sign. That was our hotel, so we did get on the right bus and were soon checked into a very comfortable room in this elegant establishment.
Tropical hotels are a chain in Brasil and there is even one in João Pessoa, the Hotel Tambau. The one in Manaus was built in 1957 and has wide corridors, beautiful wood trim with polished tile floors in many areas. With the several food locations, pools, displays of local flora and fauna, and a double row of small shops, one could stay there for some time without leaving the grounds. Breakfast (café da manhã) is included and other meals are very reasonably priced with excellent quality and variety.
The first day, we kicked back, relaxed, and enjoyed the ambiance. The next morning, we had a city tour of Manaus. (more…)
I originally applied for my full Brasilian driving licence in September 2004. The officials told me I would have to wait till May 2005. Fine, but in the meantime I was to get all the forms and photos together which of course, I dutifully did.
In June of 2005 the big day had arrived and off I went to the Police station and was told I could apply but (surprise, surprise) the form had changed so I would have to go back to the stationary office for a new type form. I had it filled in and went back to the police station. “Oh” said he ominously, it was the right form but the fee had changed, so I had to get another form and type the correct fee in. (more…)
