Days 36-37 Sand, Sun, River & Ocean by ES

Trip Start Nov 28, 2007

Trip End Feb 15, 2008

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Flag of Brazil Barreirinhas, Brazil
Friday, January 4, 2008

We arrived by bus to Barreirinhas around 11 am and were immediately bombarded by a group of men each trying to sell us a room at pousada, dune ride or some tourist package. (Picture Paparazzi minus the cameras.) Barreirnhas is a small town near Lencois Maranheses National Park which consists of sand dunes that during the rainy season (not now) form lakes in between each of the dunes. There is also a river that runs through the area and for a ½ mile or so only a sand bar is keeps the ocean from touching the river.

Carolyn started talking with one of the men from a tourist agency who then walked us to the pousada we already had reservations for (thanks Hicham) and we then set up a couple excursions with the company.

After a relaxing lunch at a local bar (note: it is always cheaper to find a side street bar to eat at then to get ripped off at the main street tourist restaurants.) We were picked up in a giant dune buggy at our pousada for our first excursion.

Carolyn Posing with the 4x4

The buggy took us on a 45 minute bumpy ride on an all sand road to the base of the dune that still has a lake (Lagoa de Peixes, which means lake of fish) from the rainy season. (All the others have dried up.) We sat next to an older Italian couple and I giggled the whole way there as the man grunted and moaned each time we hit a bump. Not sure if he had hemorrhoids or what but it was rather funny.

Once we arrived at the dune we hiked for about 10-15 and then reached the lake. It was very green in certain spots and very clear in others. The maximum depth was 4 ft. since it was slowly drying up.

Lagoa dos Peixes

Erin and Carolyn at Lagoa dos Peixes

Erin at Lagoa dos Peixes

We swam for a bit and then relaxed since Carolyn was not feeling very well and had a bad cold. We were supposed to see the sunset from the top of the main dune as we were leaving but the group made us leave a bit earlier then planned.

Carolyn and Erin hiking to Lagoa dos Peixes

Carolyn at big Lencois

Sunset at big Lencois

Carolyn hiking in "big" Lencois

You could see the ocean from the top of the large dune but it was still quite far away.

After the bumpy ride back we had a delicious pizza dinner and then called it an early night.

The next morning we were picked up at 8:30 am and taken to the boat dock for our next excursion. I was one of the first people on the boat and was going to get a spot under the canopy but then decided to let the older people sit there because we had brought our rain gear. It turned out to be the best thing!

Erin wearing raingear on boat or NFL player?

The rain cleared up right away and we had front row seats with plenty of leg room and photo opportunities!

Boat to Cabure

Erin and Carolyn on Boat to Cabure

Erin on boat ride to Cabure

We were on the boat for 30 minutes and then came to our first stop at an area of dunes.

Erin with a turtle head poking out

We only had 40 minutes so we picked the farthest, tallest dune we could see and started speed hiking there.

Carolyn at little Lencois

Erin on Sand Dune

View of "Little" Lencois from boat

It was beautiful and we could see the ocean in the distance. We also could see where the sand was wet where lakes had form that had recently dried up. We keep a good pace and made it back with time to spare while all the regular tourists stayed on the first hill and took lame pictures.

Our next stop took us to a light house that overlooked the river and ocean.

Lighthouse

Staircase up lighthouse

Staircase down lighthouse

We climbed 160 steps which was actually not bad at all and we enjoyed the view from the top.

View from lighthouse

Erin at top of lighthouse

View of Cabure from light house

Carolyn at top of lighthouse

On our way back the boat we saw a few caju (cashew) trees which are good for climbing and Carolyn's favorite so we got a few artsy photos there....along with about 20 mosquito bites!

Senior picture?

There was a little stand next to the trees selling caju products and Carolyn saw they had caju wine which she had never had before so she decided to buy some. When the woman handed over he bottle I was a bit nervous considering it was in a reused pop bottle and still warm from being brewed in the back corner. Not a nice little wine bottle with a label, etc. We tried some but were told by the guide that it is better cold.

Our last stop was the sand bar that divides the ocean and river. We had lunch at the only restaurant there, where every person from our boat was eating too. A perfect example of a Brazilian man was walking around in his speedo and a t-shirt. Great photo opportunity.

Erin stalked this man

It took while to get our food but I had fish and it was actually very good. We tried another sip of the wine but I could not really bring myself to enjoy it considering I had no idea what it was made of and if I was going to get sick. (Mama didn't raise no fool.) Carolyn drank a bit more and ended up not feeling that great later which probably did not help that she was already had a cold. We ended up throwing it away shortly after. Luckily she only paid R$6 for it.

After lunch we walked farther up the sandbar and swam briefly in the river. I was not a big fan however because you had to walk in about 20 feet of deep muck to get to the normal sandy bottom. I actually made Carolyn carry me piggyback to get in and out. After that I decided we should swim in the ocean side. The river had salt in it anyway so it was not that big of deal.

We crossed the dune to the ocean side and the waves were insane. They were so frequent with a strong current. We did not go out very far. We relaxed there a while and then walked all the way back to the boat dock just in time. On our way we ran into Sponge Bob.