Belem

Belem in Para state in Brazil on the banks of the Amazon

After several days of driving and bush camping, we finally arrived in Belem. Please don't email me about the spelling, yes i know it has an accent but I can't reproduce it on my keyboard.

My hotel was a pleasant place with a cheap, well stocked bar, a good menu in the restaurant, a swimming pool ad views across the Amazon. One of the many pleasure craft offering river trips. I was not tempted as I was about to spend a day and a night on a ferry across the Amazon and a little later, a week on a ferry up the Amazon.

 One of the ferries docking near the hotel.

 But I had a few days to visit Belem and one of the top attractions is the markets on the waterfront where you can but just about anything. There is a section for pets and small live animals.

 And plenty of parrots.

 And ducks if you want to fatten up a duck or have one as a pet.

 There was an area for medicines with cures for absolutely anything, and if they don't have one in stock, they can make one up to order.

 And then at the end of the markets nearest the harbour was the fish market with some 200 species of the 2,300 that are edible and found in the Amazon, but variety increase at different times of the year. The most widely available fish at this time of year was dourada.

 The fish market attracts a lot of visitors.

 Next door is Forte Presepio, built at the start of the 16th century and developed into a low squat solid fort to give protection against modern cannons.

 A view back to the fish market from the walls of the fort.

Noodles looking down the barrel of one of the large guns that were installed at the end of the 19th century to protect the approaches up the Amazon. It is a British built 'Whitworth'.

 And a favourite of mine, a beetle or vocho parked outside the local cathedral complete with white walled tyres.

 And the Teatro de Paz, the local opera house, built 1869 - 74.

 Te side elevation.

 The main concourse and entrance.

 The stage.

 A view of the side with its private boxes and givinf=g an idea of the excellent decorations.

 Me, sitting in one of the boxes and ready for the show to begin.

 The front elevation of the Basilica of the Virgin of Nazareth, built on the spot in 1909 where an image of the Virgin Marty was found on the banks of the river.

 Th altar inside the church. I couldn't get a better picture as a service was in progress and although the security said I could take photos, I wasn't  happy getting up close and taking photos while observants were in the middle of a service.

 A view of the tops of columns, the upper row od windows and the ceiling.

 One of the side aisles complete with columns, marble floors and decorated roof.

 The Museo de Goeldi, more of a zoo than a museum.

 One of the many rays in the aquarium.

 Just one of the many fish species found in the waters of the Amazon.

 A jaguar.

 She of the giant lilies that can be found in the waters of the Amazon.

 A tapir, and there were many more excellent specimens but too many to show tham all.