The Pantanal
ย (By DG)
ย If you do not like the humidity, the heat, the snakes, crocodiles and insects do not go into the Pantanal … !!
The Pantanal is the largest wetland area of the World (150,000 square kilometers) ….
…. It is located in Mato Grosso, on the border between Brazil and Bolivia.
It ย is precisely there, in that place where time seems to have stopped thousands of years, where, some arthritic pain ago, I went to spend a few days ….
… a few nights …
… .some night …
… .and some dawn ….
… With my husband.
Our adventure began in Campo Grande, where we had rented a small plane, the only means possible to reach the “hacienda” destined to host us.
Arrived at the small airport, we learn that our plane is refreshingly cool, or rather I should say hot hot, of repairing …
…. and that would be his first flight.
While we do full fuel …
… The blue sky is adorned with graceful pink clouds …
… And, once taken off, made a little slalom to avoid the shower …
… Just below us the water does not miss it !!
It seems to me that the sky and the earth will become larger and larger and our airplane getting smaller …
The fuel gauge is at zero, but our pilot reassures us by saying that it is broken ….
… The border police asked us to identify ourselves to ensure that we are not doingย candy trade with Bolivia … and we respond that we carry only chocolates for crocodiles …
And finally here is looming ahead of us, beyond the Rio Negro, the small ground landing ….
… That, as we approach ….
… .getting smaller and smaller, while the plane again becomes bigger and bigger ….
And here we are on the ground ….
… We are the only guests of what was once a small colony and now a ecological observation station …
… No, actually we are not the only guests, on the arrival in the entrance of our accommodation is already a guest ….
… We had not invited … .. !!!…..
But never mind, we are surrounded by funny lizardsย ….
… small rats….
… .not we lack even the family cat …
We also have the insecticide
to free ourselves from the ants …
… Who keeps you company while chatting us …
… While Mr. Martin poses for us before go fishing …
… And my husband does not need to move from the florist to offer me flowers.
But I find that here the domestic worker has watered too much the ficus home .. !! ..
Just a shame that I cannot get my hands among the leaves ….
… and it is already time to return home.
But feel free to meet Candido Portinari , a Brasilian artist of Vicenza origin
(@ May 31, 2016)