Leaving Brazil...
We left Mamiraua early in the morning to be in time for the 12 hour fast boat to Manaus. We covered the almost 700km in 11 hours and stepped ashore in hot and chaotic Manaus. We found this to be an expensive place and left the next day after doing the usual computer admin and sending another CD with back-up photos home.
One again we found ourselves on an overnight bus, this time to Boa Vista in northern Brazil. Once again Johan feared for our lives as the bus driver was racing into the darkness...
In Boa Vista, we changed unto another bus for the last 2.5 hours to the Venezuelan border. Border formalities were a breeze. In retrospect I think we must have been an odd sight - 2 travellers walking from Brazil to Venezuela with just backpacks, all the other people were in cars and were searched - we just got our stamp and walked into Venezuela.
Just over the border we found a taxi to the town of Santa Elena, some 15kms away. What a pleasant change - we could understand everyone again (Spanish vs Portuguese in Brazil) and the people were much friendlier. General living costs seemed lower as well.
One again we found ourselves on an overnight bus, this time to Boa Vista in northern Brazil. Once again Johan feared for our lives as the bus driver was racing into the darkness...
In Boa Vista, we changed unto another bus for the last 2.5 hours to the Venezuelan border. Border formalities were a breeze. In retrospect I think we must have been an odd sight - 2 travellers walking from Brazil to Venezuela with just backpacks, all the other people were in cars and were searched - we just got our stamp and walked into Venezuela.
Just over the border we found a taxi to the town of Santa Elena, some 15kms away. What a pleasant change - we could understand everyone again (Spanish vs Portuguese in Brazil) and the people were much friendlier. General living costs seemed lower as well.
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