On February 9th, we went to purchase our tickets to go from Manaus, Brazil to Margarita, Venezuela. That’s when I learned that Venezuela has recently changed their policy and now requires malaria vaccination proof to enter the country. This normally wouldn’t be a problem as vaccine I shelled out $120 for in NY, 2004 is good for 10 years – except I lost the vaccination card. To further complicate matters, you are required to wait 10 days after taking the vaccine before the card is valid and I want to leave in 2 days.
Wonderful.
The good news is that in Brazil, these vaccines are free. The next day, after finding a “Posto de Saude” I try to convince the doctor to backdate the card, but to no avail. I tried everything including some sob story about how my card was stolen from me in a vicious robbery. But he just kept on babbling something about medical integrity that was beyond my Portuguese comprehension.
The thing is, these medical posts issue Brazilian vaccine cards that must be converted to the international yellow cards at the Airport. At the airport, we meet the officer who is supposed to do the conversion and I once again plead my case. A supervisor tells me that what I want is impossible and then assigns me to a nice looking 21-year-old girl who finally succumbs to my charm. I convince her to accidentally transcribe the 10 to a 01 in the date so I don’t have to wait to leave.
We partied all that night in Porto de Negro. The highlights include watching some beautiful Amazon Dancers on stage:
while watching the local prostitutes swarm a travel group in their 50s like flies on shit.
The problem with taking vaccines is that people often get sick after taking them. The combination of the vaccine, travel, buses, the water and the food left me more or less useless with illness this past week.
If you are going to Manaus, Brasil, stay at Pousada Manaus - Roberto is awsome.
I did manage to go the beaches here on margarita and take in some of the local nightlife and catch up on some of my emails. We will probably be able to announce an exciting and profitable SEO contest for seocontests.com sometime in the next few weeks.
“While watching the local prostitutes swarm a travel group in their 50s like flies on shit.” Absolutely hilarious! I look forward to seeing you in fullswing upon your return.