30 August 2001

First, what day is this? Strange, but a good sign that things are going well, breaking the chains of master time. Also a sign that the anxious waiting for the weekend looses its meaning here.

Interesting things happened during the last two days. Like driving the small boat 'voadeira' (it was built for speed!) and finding logs that was taken from the forest.

Agnaldo and Marcio getting pots and pans out of storage

More interesting, since it is related to my work, were the recommendations for prevention of infectious diseases and accidents with animals like snakes, scorpions and so on.

There was also a 'scientific' discussion between me, Samuel (el chileno loco), Agnaldo (the 'pierced' one from Amazon), Ribamar (the Amazon Rambo), Fávio and Pedro (from the Amazon, crew of the Com. Sávio) about what we elected as the major risk in this area: candirú. This is our greatest fear, since it is a tiny fish that can enter the urethra or the anus - God protect us! So, bring on the mosquitoes, onças, crocodiles, but not the candirús!

There are many beautiful things all the day. The sky was full of stars yesterday during my night watch, the forest along the river during the day, and the fireworks of lightning at night.

Of course there are more piuns (those damn mosquitos) each day, always itching! But that's life in the Amazon.

31 August 2001

"We're already at Juruá."

Those were the first words I heard today, said by Agnaldo, who sleeps in the
hammock next to mine.

Well, in fact Manuel had been talking for more than one hour, while I was half-sleeping/half-awaken, but since I didn't understand a word, it didn't count. A delicious night of sleeping (getting more and more used to the hammock), but cold. Here days are quite hot, and the nights are cold, especially for me because I live in Rio. The American and the Europeans don't seem to feel so cold.

Forest buring in the distance

The Juruá river has the same brown waters as the Solimões, but it is not as wide, and maybe even more beautiful. There are some beaches, which, by this hour, are partially illuminated by the full moon, whose reflection on the waters is also very beautiful. The smell is delicious.

Today we learned on how to use the compass, GPS, and what to do if we get lost. The teams were divided, I will stay with the Com. Sávio, as expected, where we have the small hospital with microscope and medications.

But I do really want to go into the jungle! According to Manuel there will be rotations, and I expect that our loved leader will send me with the teams to the forest as soon as possible (hope he reads this!). I can also come back to the ship if needed.

Talk to you tomorrow, amigos.
Mácio

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