Riverboats and Waterfalls

One of our weekend activities with the FOCUS and WVU groups was a riverboat trip to the town of Alenquer, which is six hours away by boat.  We left late Saturday and enjoyed an evening of music, caiman spotting, and relaxation on top of the boat.  The group had the opportunity to try sleeping in hammocks on the boat, which (I think) went better the second night.

When we woke up in the morning we hopped onto a bus and drove for two hours until we reached Vale do Paraiso (Paradise Valley).  The valley has a series of three waterfalls that can be reached by relatively short hikes.  When one imagines traipsing through the Amazon- this hike brings to life what you picture (minus the anacondas). 

        

So, how does a pleasure trip up the Amazon River factor into a service project?  Is it contradictory?  Some may say yes, and I used to be one of them.  Several years ago, the sentiment behind Ivan Illich’s speech: To Hell with Good Intentions, made me question my travel plans to Santarém for quite some time.  I now believe that this type of travel can enhance the international experience.  It is the exploration part of Amizade’s motto:  Explore, Serve, Understand.  It is our hope that reflection on our exploration and service can lead to understanding.  Exploring culture (you will soon see a post on the groups’ encounter with capoiera), exploring the beauty of the surrounding region, exploring local issues of deforestation and land invasion; all of this helps us see things outside of our typical experiences.  And if we are humble enough, in these spaces we can learn from our new friends.  When you meet people in Santarém one of their first questions is to ask whether or not you have visited their favorite beach yet.  They are proud of what their country and region have to offer and they are excited to share their culture with newcomers.

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