Dec 24

We sailed up the Amazon and, at Santarem, we had our first "meeting of the waters" where the dark acidic Tapajos River enters the Amazon and the waters don't blend for several miles.  We went into the Tapajos and sailed to Alter do Chao, a small beach resort.  The 4 towns or villages we will visit on the Amazon going to & from Manaus are inhabited by Coblocos which are a mix of indigenous, Portuguese & African and they live & trade on the river.  We tendered in and walked around the town and visited some of the unique souvenir shops with local handicrafts.  There are some beautiful beaches and it's a get away resort frequented by people from Santarem & Manaus.  The town is very basic but clean and the people are friendly.  Back at the beach before we got on the tender we stopped at a makeshift beach bar and had caiparinha's, Brazil's national drink made by crushing lime slices and sugar, add ice and pour in casasha, a clear rum.  The drinks are delicious, but don't drink too many or you'll think you can speak Portuguese.  The Christmas Eve dinner menu included goose & Chateaubriand.  After dinner the show was the ship's cast and cruise director staff performing a medley of Christmas songs with special choreography & costumes created by the dancers for the occasion.  Towards the end a large group from Housekeeping and a few from the bar staff and other departments got on stage and performed another 3 songs with the audience joining in on Silent Night.. It was a spectacular performance and at the end they came into the audience to say Merry Christmas and there were handshakes & hugs all around.