Salinas

We visited Salinas and some smaller coastal towns nearby. The beach was fabulous and the ceviche was even better.

Guayaquil

In March 2005 we went to Guayquil, Ecuador. We saw the Cristo statue and the Simon Bolivar rotunda on the newly remodeled Malecon, which runs parallel to the River Guayas.

Belem

We had a great time in Belem, the "City of Mangoes". We visited friends, the Ver-O-Peso market, and the Docas. Things sure changed since the last time I was there. It's been cleaned up. They no longer sold animals or animal parts in the market, an illegal practice that has apparently been eradicated with stricter controls and regulations. I remember people selling Tucan bills and live baby boa constrictors in 2-liter Coke bottles. Ver-O-Peso is known for its market, where fish, Brazil nuts, avocados, beef, acai, mangoes, and oranges are sold. It smells like fish and shrimp, and the heat is overwhelming in this bustling city at the mouth of the Amazon.

Imperatriz

We ate and swam in the Tocantins River near Imperatriz, Brazil. The water is the perfect temperature and the fish we ate came straight from the river. The tables and chairs are set up in the river.

Caranguejo

Here we are eating crab at a friend's house in Castanhal, Para.

Macapa

Here we are in Macapa, the northern-most state in Brazil (and some would claim the hottest). We visited the zero-mark, which runs along the equator and we found a young man who took us on a quick Amazon river cruise in his boat. We got around on motortaxi. For about $5, you can go anywhere you want.