Ides of March (more)

We had a nice flight and arrived in the Pantanal at about 5 pm having changed time zones.  For the next two days we will have the same time as EDT.

The flight was a little bumpy at the end.  We landed on a grassy strip owned by the Caiman Lodge.

The Caiman Lodge is one of a hand full of lodges certified by the Zeiss Foundation as ecological exemplary pursing conservation, preserving local culture and economically viable. It is a 53,000-hectare estancia in the Pantanal.  A hectare is 2.5 acres so you can see it is quite large. At some points of the year as much as 70% can be under water.  That should be the case now, but the rains are late coming and we are being told that it is very drier than should be the case.  Nonetheless, there is a lot of water.  The Pantanal is the largest wetland in the world and can be compared to the Okavango Delta (which we have visited in Botswana and the Everglades in Florida.  Rivers, some permanent and some temporary, flow from the surrounding hills to a low point in the continent forming a swampy, marshy wetland.  Exiting rivers as well drains the wetland.  It is called the Chaco in Paraguay.  Much of it was in Paraguay until the disastrous (for Paraguay) war between Paraguay on the one hand and Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia on the other.  Here we hope to observe wildlife, relax and learn something about this unique area. 

The main building on the estancia is closed for preparation for the owner’s daughter’s upcoming wedding.  Our accommodations are in a separate set of buildings.  Each of us has a suite and shares a rustic but clean building that has a common living area and kitchen.  We were met by a man named Elder and a woman name Cateny.  Both were very fit looking attractive young people.  We mounted a safari like vehicle for the 10-kilometer drive to our accommodations.   On the way in we saw the jabiru, which is the symbol of the pantanal.  We also saw the beccary (a pig like animal) and the capybara, which is the size of a pig but is the largest rodent in the world.   

 Dropping our luggage we went for a hike and for nature watching.  Right off the bat we saw two hyacinth macaws, which are the largest macaws in the world.   Get use to that superlative as big is a Brazilian characteristic.  

After our walk we had a drink and settled in for a PowerPoint presentation by Diogo one of the naturalist here at the Caiman lodge.  Diogo is from Salvador where he went to college a well and obtained a degree in biology.  He has been at the Caiman lodge for a couple of years.  The naturalists are always paired with locals.  Ours is Juarez who was a cowboy before he got into this work.

After the presentation we reconvened in our common area for a traditional Brazilian barbecue.  There was fish for Caroline and lots of grilled beef for the rest.  It was delicious and there is plenty more for the next night as well.  We were offered the option of a night walk but all passed and we turned in early.