Alcantara - Maranhâo

Traditional workboats on the wharft, in Alcantara, Maranhão. The State of Maranhão has a rich workboat inheritage, with many sailing workboats still in use.

Interestingly, Alcantara is also one of the most favorable places on the globe to launch rockets into space. It is close to the equator. Brazil maintains a airbase with launching capabilities there. I was more interested in the boats, though.

Give a tow

When travelling on the rivers of Brazil, it is not uncommon to be asked for and give a tow. It is allways a nice opportunity to chat or maybe buy a fresh fish, vegetables, fresh Acai paste. But one needs to be carfull with the Acai. One doesn't know the quality of the water used on its fabrication.

The people are friendly and shy. They manage to approach the boat for the tow quite gracefully, by approaching transversally and making a sharp turn to come broadside, and hand the towline.

See more for Acai: http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%C3%A7a%C3%AD

The picture above is actually from the Northeast of Brazil, from the Preguiça river, in Maranhão. But it could just as well be the Rio Negro.