Quem come jaraqui não sai mais daqui

(S)he who eats [the fish] jaraqui won't ever leave here

or so the saying goes to those who eat this Amazonian River freshwater fish - he or she will never (want) to leave the region.

But I don't believe this saying only refers to eating the fish. People used to jokingly make this comment to me when they found out I was dating a guy from Manaus, Amazonas. The word "comer", or eat, also refers to sex; therefore, they were implying that my being in a relationship with a guy from the Amazon would mean that I'd never leave. I'd be hooked. Although I did end up leaving Manaus, I can't wait to go back whether it's for vacation or to eventually live there.

And we're still together, so maybe there is some truth in it.

Jaraqui is a fish native to the Amazon River. According to an urban type dictionary, jaraqui is "a tasty fish of the Amazon, it popular, cheap, and abundant". Food is very important to people in Brazil, and fish in particular to the people in the northern region of Brazil. I know for a fact that E misses his cuisine immensely. He drools when he watches TV programs about the Amazon, especially if it's about food and/or fish. When people talk about the local foods that he can't get here he makes comments about how much he misses them all and will eat like a starving man when he returns to Manaus. 

Even though I'm not too much of a fish "fan", I do miss food from Manaus like açaí, tapioca, other tropical fruits like cacau and cupuaçu, tacaca, and more. I really can't wait to go back to Manaus for vacation - to walk the streets downtown, hang out with family and friends at restaurants and their homes, drink a beer at O Largo de São Sebastião in front of the Teatro Amazonas, take a walk down to the Porto and stroll along the river on Ponta Negra at night.  

Com saudade,

Meredith

Wordless Wednesday: Teatro Amazonas

Pictures that I took of the Amazon Theater between 2004 and 2006

Wordless Wednesday: the Amazon River

All of these pictures were taken by me during my 2-month stay in Manaus in 2006.

Piranha fishing

Brazilian Fighter, right out of the Amazon (Manaus)

Jungle Boy - Garoto da Selva

I know I have mentioned previously how proud I am of my husband for his success in MMA and for pursuing what it is that he loves; but today I have even more of a reason to "shout it from the roof tops". He was recently interviewed by Manaus Fight who has written a blog article about him and his experience in MMA and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. It explains his "history" with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA as well as highlights his accomplishments and just portrays him in a positive light. He definitely deserves this. And.....love it! So again, please visit the blog about....

MAIS UM MANAUARA BRILHANDO FORA DO PAÍS COM O MMA "ELITON GOMES SARMENTO"

What's really cool is that the article is the first of its kind because it's bilingual and I wrote the majority of the English part. The interviewer then translated the biographical information into Portuguese. Well, I translated a teeny bit :). The end of the article was written by Jefferson Palma de Paula, of Manaus Fight, who put a nice touch on the interview about my husband.

Congratulations, E! Parabens!

And a special thanks to Jefferson from Manaus Fight.

Oh yeah. Interested in MMA? Read this funny commentary written about E's win from November 2010. It can be found here at MMA Spot.

Amazon Dolphins in Danger

Matar botos é matar a Amazônia [Killing the pink river dolphin is killing the Amazon]

The pink river dolphin is a storied symbol of the Amazon, but local fishermen are slaughtering the animal for catfish bait.

Watch this video [in English]

For more information, you can read the New York Times article on-line

Wordless Wednesday: Presidente Figueiredo, Amazonas

The town of Presidente Figueiredo is located in the state of Amazonas, in northern Brazil. It is about a 2-hour drive north from the state's capital, Manaus.

Both pictures were taken by me.