This spider monkey adopted Peggy. Here it gives Peggy a monkey hug. Later, Peggy wondered where all of her flea bites came from…
Monkey hug from the back.
“The war of the future will be between those who defend nature and those who destroy it. The Amazon will be in the eye of the hurricane. Scientists, politicians, and artists will land here to see what is being done to the forest.” —Jacques Cousteau
Cousteau’s statement to Dr. Francisco Bernardino inspired him to erect the Ariau Amazon Tower Lodge in the mid 80s to accommodate the expected influx of ‘artists, scientists and politicians,’ which it did up until it was closed in 2015, attracting such luminaries as Bill Gates, Prince Charles and Jimmy Carter, not to mention the Mekemsons.
Since it was located a mere 30 miles outside of Manaus on the Rio Negro River, Peggy and I decided to visit. We ended up staying in the same room that Jimmy Carter had occupied. Today’s photo essay reflects our stay there and how we hung out with the monkeys…
The Ariau is located at number 3 on the map. We took a boat out of Manaus to get there.
This is a map of the complex with its long walkways that wander throughout the rainforest.
A view of the walkways. Peggy and I had a lot of fun hiking on them, whether we were accompanied by our monkey friends or not.
Peggy on one of the walkways in the tree canopy.
Another view.
Looking out at one of the sights along the walkway.
We arrived from Manaus on this double-decker boat.
You didn’t want to spend a lot of time thinking about the structure. I doubt that it would meet earthquake standards. Pickup sticks come to mind.
We stayed in the Jimmy Carter room. The eel reminded me of current politics. You don’t want to be a small fish.
Not to disparage Carter, who I really like, but I would have preferred to stay in the Tarzan suite shown here. It was nestled up in the top of a tall ebony tree.
Bone put in an appearance.
Wooly and Spider Monkeys were found around the lodge and out on the walkways. This Wooly Monkey was behaving how monkeys are supposed to behave, dangling by his tail from a tree.
And this one wasn’t. It isn’t my best photo. (grin) I was not happy about having a monkey for a hat!
When I suggested that he go play with an anaconda out in the jungle, he wrapped his tail around my arm and treated me to this view.
And then gave me the evil monkey look…
Before threatening to take a chunk out of my hand.
Peggy got the good monkey. Given its heart-shaped face and adoring look, this seems an appropriate time to wish everyone a Happy Valentines Day!
I will note that the spider monkey had an impressive set of choppers.
When Peggy sat down, it settled into her lap and hammed it up for the camera..
Before deciding to take a nap.
I decided its feet and our “Travelers’ Tales of Brazil” would make a fitting photo to close my posts on the Amazon.
FRIDAY’S POST: I learn about cross-cultural relations as a second-grader— on a queen sized bed.
MONDAY’S POST: We finally start to make our way down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon while fighting a strong headwind.
WEDNESDAY’S Photo Essay POST: Peggy and I begin a trip up the Alaska-Canada Highway, one of the world’s premier adventure-travel roads.
