Sunday, February 21, 2010

Night over Manaus


Exactly a year from now, is my mom's 60th birthday.  She's always wanted to travel, but my step dad isn't a fan of getting on a plane (something about not sitting still or smoking for more than an hour!) So, since my mom does me the favour of watching my dog while I'm at work each day as well as when I go on business trips or try to find myself in other parts of the world, I'm taking her away for her big celebration!

I asked her where she was interested in going.  Because I have airmiles, I gave her a rough idea of physical limitations of where we could fly.  I figure for her first big trip away (asides Europe) she'd pick somewhere "safe" like Mexico or Hawaii.  She surprised me when she told me her dream trip was to go to the Amazon!

So, planning begins! Air Canada handily flies into Sao Paulo.  Since she wants to experience a bit of everything, I've done some research and have come up with a very vague itinerary. Sao Paulo, Praio de Forte (a beach town) Igazu falls (in Argentina), Rio, and Manaus, a city that's the gateway to the Amazon.  In order for her to get the full experience, I've looked up some eco lodges that boat you in/out from Manaus.  They range between 3-5 nights and one of the ones I looked up, you even spent one night in a hammock (that you build) sleeping in the jungle.  I'm not sure if my mom's gonna be up for quite that much adventure! I do remember her massive paranoia of any bugs and creatures!  I'll never forget the time in florida when she ran into a preying mantis in the shower.  I've never heard screams that loud!  I only hope that my obsessive planning will live up to her expectations!

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