Monday, 29 February 2016
Thursday, 18 February 2016
M/S MAASDAM in Santarem (Private shore excursion)
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| Maasdam resting at Santarem port |
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| My little book on Amazon Wildlife |
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| Lecturing on a Tambaqui |
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| ...about piranhas... |
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| ...and sloths |
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| Signing Joe Jackson's book |
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| The meeting of the waters in Santarem |
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| end of the trip |
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| enjoying nature |
Tuesday, 16 February 2016
Amazon Wildlife Guide-Book for cruisers
On the top of it It is available on M/S Maasdam shop.
I am so happy about it.
Saturday, 13 February 2016
Thursday, 4 February 2016
New Review on Trip Advisor
“Amazon River Cruise and Walk”
We did a half day group tour off of our cruise ship with Gil for a short
distance out of Santarem. There are two things that you should know.
First, though we did not visit an unspoiled national park area (you need
to go a much longer distance for that), Gil nevertheless did a great
job exposing us to native flora and fauna, as well explaining the
sociopolitical ups and downs of local Amazon society. Second, Gil is
tremendously entertaining. He goes a mile a minute with his thoughts,
and you may have some trouble following his weaving of threads, but I
guarantee that you will learn more in an hour with him than you would in
a day with somebody else. Gil's depth of knowledge is bottomless, and
his good nature relentless. Get him to tell you about the travails of
his family attempting to adjust to the region's new economic reality -
fascinating and sad. If you are in the Santarem locale, Gil is your man!
Thursday, 21 January 2016
Tuesday, 19 January 2016
New review this is an amazing one 2
Avventura ed immersione nella natura...”
Abbiamo trascorso da Gil diversi giorni
nell'agosto 2014. L'Amazzonia era una delle tappe del giro per il
Brasile, ma Gil l'ha trasformata nella più avventurosa e incredibile. Ci
è venuto a recuperare in aeroporto, ci ha fatto accomodare da lui (è
una dimora per backpacker, gente zaino in spalla, spartana e semplice,
per cui, nel caso, chiedete per un albergo), ci ha accolto in casa,
lasciandoci liberi di muoverci dove volevamo, ci ha portato in una
indimenticabile crociera sul fiume Tapajos e sul Rio delle Amazzoni
(imperdibile vedere dove i due fiumi si incontrano, ma non mescolano mai
le acque, per km e km), la visita al mercato del pesce di Santarem
(delfini rosa!!!) e soprattutto, l'indimenticabile notte all'addiaccio
dentro la foresta amazzonica primaria, a dormire sulle amache e a
mangiare pesce cucinato sulla brace e a scarpinare in giro per avvistare
animali, traccie e per visitare il luogo dove è nato e cresciuto, che
ora è parte del parco protetto . Gil è una persona fuori dal comune,
incredibile,è un tuttologo dell'Amazzonia, è un vulcano di idee, parla
un ottimo inglese ed è anche una persona di compagnia! Si circonda di
persone speciali, come la nostra dolcissima cuoca Nelly, o come Celso,
il cugino tuttofare. Se passate da quelle parti dovete, e ve lo ripeto,
dovete andare da lui, anche solo per salutarlo, scambiare due parole e
bervi una Caipirina delle sue. Non ve ne pentirete.
Respond
Report
Ask Claudia C about Amazon River Cruise Gil Serique
Ooopss a new review
“Fascinating and interesting and a great guy. Do not miss a trip with Gil.”
Gil answered all emails promptly, and told us where to find him and how
to identify him. When our ship docked he was right where he said he
would be, and we immediately made our way to where the boat he was using
was docked. He is such an interesting person and has had such a
wonderful life, and really loves the Amazon. It comes over in everything
he says. He showed us the meeting of the waters, then we went up a
small tributary and left the boat for a jungle walk - a real jungle
walk, not the stuff the cruise ships take you on. We saw various plants,
trees and wildlife, and all the time Gil and his local guide kept us
fully informed. We got up close and personal with three-toed sloths, and
when we got back to the boat the crew had set up a picnic with fresh
fruit, cheese, fish, and a delicious local lemon drink, followed by
Chiprianas (the local rum drink) and beer. They cracked open a fresh
brazil nut (which inside contained all the nuts that we identify as
Brazil) and we ate these fresh - wonderful. They also roasted fresh
Cashews on an open fire. We saw ship's excursion boats going past and
waved at them,but they only went about a quarter of a mile further on
before they turned round and came out. After our wonderful lunch we
boarded Gil's boat again and from memory we probably cruised for a
further 2 hours, definitely over an hour, time just passed, seeing more
birds and wild-life, then, on the way back to our starting point Gil
kept us entranced with the interesting story of his life and his family.
We only caught one glimpse of a pink dolphin, but as with any wild
animal, their presence cannot be guaranteed, and all of us agreed at the
end of our month long cruise that Gil's trip in Santarem was the
highlight of our holiday.
Friday, 15 January 2016
New Review on Trip Advisor
We took two tours with Gil Serique, one at Altar do Chao and one in
Santarém, both in December, 2015. We were on a cruise ship that went up
and back down the Amazon all of the way to Manaus. Both tours with Gil
were superb! In Santarém we were about 6 couples. We were picked up at
our cruise ship and taken first to the fish market in town. After that
we boarded a two decker boat (just for our small group) and set out on
the Amazon and up a smaller tributary. During the short voyage there, we
were provided with snacks and drinks. We disembarked on the shore for a
walk in the rain forest where some of Gil's assistants found several
animals for us to view, including a sloth. After the walk, we were
provided a lunch, served on a table with chairs they had brought on the
boat. The food was delicious and the drinks were plentiful. We were also
provided snacks and drinks on the voyage back to town. From there we
had a tour of the city in a comfortable air-conditioned van and then
back to our ship.
Several days later, on the way back out of the Amazon, we had a second tour with Gil at Altar do Chao, which is where he lives, a town of about 5,000 people. There were 6 people in our tour group. Again, Gil met us with an air-conditioned van and driver. Snacks and driinks were provided. We drove throgh the rain forest for about an hour through villages and coutry-side to Tapajos National Forest, named by his grandmother. He grew up on that property. Back in Atar do Chao, we went to Gil's house overlooking the beach. He lives on the Vaughn estate, built shortly ofter the U.S. Civil War, by Confederate immigrants to Brazil. Food and drinks were provided and he gave us copies of the book he has published on the rain forest. His English is fluent. He is a recognized expert on Amazon parrots and has lectured in U.S. Universities. These two tours rank at the top of my list and Gil as the best guide ever! Highly recommended.
Several days later, on the way back out of the Amazon, we had a second tour with Gil at Altar do Chao, which is where he lives, a town of about 5,000 people. There were 6 people in our tour group. Again, Gil met us with an air-conditioned van and driver. Snacks and driinks were provided. We drove throgh the rain forest for about an hour through villages and coutry-side to Tapajos National Forest, named by his grandmother. He grew up on that property. Back in Atar do Chao, we went to Gil's house overlooking the beach. He lives on the Vaughn estate, built shortly ofter the U.S. Civil War, by Confederate immigrants to Brazil. Food and drinks were provided and he gave us copies of the book he has published on the rain forest. His English is fluent. He is a recognized expert on Amazon parrots and has lectured in U.S. Universities. These two tours rank at the top of my list and Gil as the best guide ever! Highly recommended.
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