Marta Mouse goes to Amazonas
When Marta arrived in Portugal, she never imagined how much fun it could be to explore a Southern European country so different from her homeland, Norway.
In addition to making new friends, dogs Indie and Nestum and cats Monty and Citroën, she also got the opportunity to travel through Sicily with Sandra and Spain with Luísa, Citroën’s owner.
But eventually, her days became monotonous, even though there were occasional trips to the beach and sunbathing.
Lying by the shore in the south wasn’t exactly Marta’s favorite thing, and she didn’t have the right clothes for it either.
Plus, the sunscreens they used had become very sticky on a cloth mouse!
During quiet moments, Marta even considered asking to go home, she was supposed to have returned to the Tiger Forest last Christmas, but she didn’t make it.
So, perhaps it’s time to make it home for this Christmas...
But what Marta didn’t know was that big plans were underway.
One of the dullest days turned exciting when Sandra came to pick up Marta Mouse from Luísa, Citroën’s mom, with some big news:
– Marta, in November, we’re going to the Amazon.
– Oh, where does Amazon live? Is it a friendly cat?
– No, Marta, the Amazon is not a cat 😀
– Then I hope it’s a kind dog, like Nestum has become!
– It’s neither a cat nor a dog. The Amazon is in Brazil!
Marta had never heard of Brazil, though she thought Amazon would’ve been a lovely name for a cat.
But, turns out it’s actually a river, the largest in the world when you count all its tributaries. A mighty river, winding through the most important rainforest on Earth!
– Amazon? Brazil?
– Yes, Amazon, Brazil.
– But I don’t have a passport!
Exactly, Marta Mouse has been traveling the world without a passport. One of the perks of being a mouse is that you don’t need a passport, mosquito repellent, sunscreen, or the recommended vaccines for traveling there.
The best part is that Marta doesn’t need a plane ticket either, it’s enough to sit in Sandra’s pocket.
Still, being a seasoned traveler, she helped Sandra pack her suitcase. But first, she said goodbye to her good friends, including Canela, another dog friend Marta had made during her stay. And not to forget, a proper farewell kiss from Citroën, wishing her a safe and exciting journey across the Atlantic.
As the departure date drew nearer, Marta grew increasingly excited, and the night before the trip, neither of them could sleep.
This journey would be long, the longest flight Marta had ever been on and quite possibly the longest trip any cloth mouse had ever taken!
They flew from Porto to Lisbon and then to Belém, in the Brazilian state of Pará. This flight alone took seven and a half hours, and Marta started to grow restless.
A sleepless night before traveling has one benefit, you can shorten travel time by dozing off in your seat. Both Sandra and Marta did just that, with Marta sitting on Sandra’s lap.
Some passengers passing by on their way to the lavatory gave curious stares at the sight of a sleeping cloth mouse, but that was fine.
Luckily, they were flying business class with TAP, the Portuguese airline, which was very comfortable and offered great legroom, for Sandra, that is.
The first leg of the journey took them to Belém, a city in northern Brazil. After a one-hour layover, they flew another hour and fifty minutes to Manaus, the capital of the Amazonas state.
As soon as they stepped off the plane, the first shock hit them: the extreme heat and high humidity made Marta feel dizzy. Stripping down wouldn’t help much, a reminder of something Marta recalled from cold Norwegian winters.
When it’s cold, you can always put on more clothes, but when it’s too hot, there’s only so much you can take off, at least if you want to remain decent!
In addition, if you’ve noticed in the photos, Marta was wearing a scarf, which Sandra insisted she keep on at all times! Why? Well, we’ll get to that later.
It was just a matter of getting used to it, and in the following days, Marta acted like a true Amazonian.
Manaus, a city of 2.2 million inhabitants, boasts the magnificent Teatro Amazonas as its crown jewel. The Adolpho Lisboa market is also a must-see.
But Manaus is, above all, the gateway to Brazil’s vast and impressive rainforest, and Marta had plenty of opportunities to explore it.
In Presidente Figueiredo, about 120 kilometers from the state capital, she swam in waterfalls, hiked jungle trails, and stayed in a village cabin surrounded by nature.
She then sailed for three days along the Rio Negro, one of the Amazon River’s many tributaries. It was an unforgettable experience: in the vast Amazon wilderness, she saw caimans, swam with pink dolphins, and visited two indigenous communities, the Tatuyos and the Kambeba.
Toward the end of the trip, she experienced the “Meeting of the Waters,” where the Rio Negro and Solimões rivers converge to form the Amazon River. It’s incredible how the waters of the two rivers don’t mix due to differences in pH and temperature, a visual spectacle that’s unforgettable.
The last day in Manaus was literally a “high point.”
From a 42-meter-high platform at the Amazonas Museum, Marta had a breathtaking view over the rainforest, high above the trees.
The entire week was packed with overwhelming and unforgettable experiences, both for Marta Mouse from the cold north and Sandra, who would now write an article about the trip for her newspaper, Público.
It was an early night, don’t ask about the result. It might dampen the mood for a few days... Let’s just forget about it!
A week is far too short to discover the Amazon, which became clear to Marta quickly. But still, she returned to Portugal brimming with stories to tell.
And, despite the somewhat subdued final evening, the return trip offered Marta a surprising highlight. TAP had realized they had a unique passenger, a mouse from Norway!
So, on the flight home, MARTA MOUSE from TIGER FOREST, NORWAY, was given her own seat in business class. Sandra confirmed with the flight attendant that there was no misunderstanding, they hadn’t mistaken Marta for golf legend Tiger Woods. Nope, it was all arranged just for Marta!
Imagine that!
Now, the seat belts were a bit oversized, but the headphones were just the right size for Marta to curl up inside for a nap.
And for those who doubt this tale, just check the pictures below!
Marta learned a Portuguese word, one she kept repeating upon her return:
Obrigada, obrigada!!!
– Marta, maybe it’s time to go home, Sandra said when they got back.
– Go home? I’ve decided to apply for Portuguese citizenship!
P.S.
Sandra wasn’t the only one traveling with Marta, several other journalists from Portugal joined the trip.
Sandra said many laughed at the idea of her bringing a cloth mouse along, until she explained who Marta was and why she came. Then everyone grew fond of Marta, and she was nearly adopted by the whole group!
_
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