Amozon-esque boat trip

Our last leg of travel took us from Breves back to Belém. I made the trip with our missionary host by boat, so that our pilot would only have to make one flight back. A trip that took our comrades one hour by plane took us 14 hours overnight by boat.

The boat was carrying lumber and other cargo in the front, while the back carried passengers on its three decks. Because we were carrying the bulk of the media equipment, we rented one of two passenger cabins on the boat. It had bunk beds and minimal standing room, but its own bathroom. We were on the top story with the snack bar and lounge area. The other two stories are where the other passengers hung their hammocks for the night.

We left the Breves port in view of a gorgeous sunset. But as the sun disappeared over the horizon, a lightening storm rolled in to take its place. As we floated slowly along the curving river through dark jungle, flashes of light filled the sky and a warm breeze blew our hair back.

For the second time on our trip, I felt like I was in a surreal other-world.