A busy last day in Miami..sat down in the basement doing the washing, I could have got a job there but I didnt like the housekeeping dresses! I was sitting waiting and I must have given instructions on how to use the pay card for the machines 4 times..In the process of that I met a woman from Geelong her name was Rhonda and nooo she didnt have a sunburnt face...When Peter came down he being a former Geelong resident chatted to her and we ended up meeting her by the pool for dinner. During the day we went over to the Adventura Mall, It was really big but I think I shopped myself out in Orlando....Peter and Jo ended up with more than I for a change... We caught the bus back from the Mall and it dropped us off right ourside our Hotel...not bad for $2.
After dinner with Rhonda from Geelong we went back up to the room to sort our bags ..I stepped out on the Balcony and the women from the next room was out there and we started talking as us McCormicks do....and turned out she was from a little place between Bendigo and Keynton..Denise & Peter and they had been in New York and were in Miami for a few days before doing a Carribean Cruise out of Fort Lauderdale..So when Peter came in (He had to finish his $1.75 bucket of beer) He came out and it turned out Peter knew the other Peters Uncle etc as they were from Leeton so we sat out there chatting for ages, the men sharing a beer. It was good.back in the room I sorted all my stuff out and into my new suitcase..had to get a new one as the old one was splitting and it was also jammed packed and I was having difficulties finding stuff. Anyway the new bag is going to give me grief as its a tad bigger so I bet I will go over weight !
Up early this morning to drive out to the Airport to return the Hire car..Said our farewells to Jo as she was getting a shuttle bus out later. felt strange leaving her in her Jim Jams when its usually she who is up first leaving me in mine ... anyway we made it out to the hirecar place without a hitch. Dropped the car then took a Monorail across to the airport..we decided to get our bags wrapped at the airport because it was raining and I didnt want to start a tour with a wet suitcase. $15 later and 2 kg over weight I was ready..Lucky for me they just put the bag through and I didnt have to pay excess...but it does mean in South America I can buy nothing larger than a jelly bean !! Buggar.....
We flew out of Miami at 1206 hrs and it was a 2 1/2 hr flight to Panama City..We flew over the Panama Canal and we could see the ships lining up to go through..It was great to see and Peter took some photos...just for something different. We landed in Panama and had a 90 minute wait and then flying Copas Air we flew to Manaus which took 3hr 40min..there was only 15 passengers so we spread right out..When we arrived it took no time at all to go through customs & immigrations and when we got out side our guide was waiting for us which was wonderful..We didnt see a great deal as it was like 2100hrs when we got out . It is a holiday in town today so there were a lot of people down by the beach.
Our hotel is about 20 minutes from the downtown, apparently were are a Resort and located by the river and it has a zoo..I guess it will give us something to do tomorrow. Our room number is 2572 and I think thats how many rooms there are here..Its massive...We followed the Baggage dude and I swear we must have walked a mile down 3 passages to get here..I guess if I do that a few times a day I may lose some chunk !
Anyway we have a rest day tomorrow then we start the tour on Friday afternoon, there will be 8 of us doing this part and I guess we pick up the rest when we hit Rio.
Tucked up in bed now so Buenes Noches..thats Spanish I know ..as I have no clue at all about Portuguese which is what they speak here... no photos till tomorrow..

Hello Manaus...Hit the breakfast buffet early (for me that is) then went to check out the Hotel..decided to get some cash out as they have a ATM in the foyer. ..and Lucky me !! Once again the good old Travel Money card has let the team down...It should have had $500 on it but only had $100, so off I went back to my room to contact the Bank Again!!! Turns out that the same thing happened like last time..I used the card in a Machine which declined my card but they debited the account..thankfully the hotel staff were excellent and they sorted me out with printing the claim form out and faxing it off for me..lets see how this one goes..I will NEVER use a Travel card again. That was all fine but I was still left without money..My Efpos card wouldnt work either..so after a lot of phonecalls via Skype which the bank were totally useless..I have transferred money onto my credit card and thankfully that worked...but I started with 5 different cards and I am now down to One that works..fingers crossed that it stays good.
We went for a walk down to the Hotel next door and found they had a fantastic view of the river so we stopped for lunch and a few drinks. The pool there is an Infinity pool and is right above the Rio Negro ...looks spectacular. Our hotel is on the river as well but not quite like that.
The Rio Negra joins with another rio here in Manaus which then becomes the Amazon. So where it joins is massive..Just up from out hotel is what the locals call the beach and it looks just like a beach with the sand , but it really is a River bank.
Lazy afternoon by the pool, our "Tropical Hotel" is set up as a Resort, they have a small zoo, and the pool is a wave pool, just small waves they also have water volley ball set up on the otherside of the pool..I actually thought about getting my thong out and hanging by the pool, but after 6 weeks diner food in America I decided I didnt quite look like those Brazillian Volleyballers !
There is another pool somewhere in the hotel but we havent found it yet. Anyway The Tennis is on and its a Cracker of a game, the only thing I understand though is the grunting ...Tour starts tomorrow.