The Amazon - The Rough Guide to Brazil - page 370

5 BUYING A HAMMOCK

Cloth hammocks are the most comfortable, but they're also heavier, bulkier and take longer
to dry out if they get wet. Less comfortable in the heat, but more convenient, much lighter
and more durable are nylon hammocks . Aesthetically, however, nylon hammocks are no
match for cloth ones, which come in all colours and patterns. You should be able to get a
perfectly adequate cloth hammock, which will stand up to a few weeks' travelling, from around
R$25 for a single and R$50 for a double; for a nylon hammock, add R$10 to the price. If you
want a more elaborate one - and some handwoven hammocks are very fine - you will pay
more. Easing the path to slinging hammocks once you get home are metal armadores , which
many hammock and most hardware shops sell; these are hooks mounted on hinges and a
plate with bolts for sinking into walls. When buying a hammock you are going to use, make
sure it takes your body lying horizontally across it: sleeping along the curve is bad for your
back. A good hammock shop in Manaus is Casa des Redes (see below) on Rua dos Andradas.

Casa do Pensador Rua José Clemente 632, Centro T 92
9981 9556. Formerly a school (it translates as “The House of
the Thinker”), this bar and restaurant with tables spilling onto
the square is a great spot for a sundowner as you soak in the
views of the Opera House. Try the tasty peixe à delícia (R$26),
grilled fish served with rice and potatoes. Daily 4-11pm.
Copacabana Chopperia Av do Turismo s/n T 92 3584
4569, W copacabanachopperia.com. This large breezy
bar is a popular spot along Av do Turismo and gets packed
over the weekends. Local bands play on Saturdays, while

on Sundays it's pagode and samba. Beers (R$6), cocktails
(R$10). Thurs-Sat 8pm-3am, Sun 2.30pm-2am.
O Chefão Rua Ferreira Pena 50, Centro T 92 3234 2202.
This cosy Irish-style pub set on two floors features
checkered wooden floors, a handful of comfy armchairs
and plenty of curios dotted about. There are plenty of local
and imported beers (R$6), along with comfort food like fish
and chips (R$25) and burgers (R$25). There's an open-air
courtyard at the back and live rock music on weekends at
11pm. Mon & Thurs-Sat 8pm-3am.

SHOPPING
Casa das Redes Rua dos Andradas 106 T 95 3234 9814.
One of the best places to buy hammocks, with a huge variety
of all colours and sizes; prices for singles start at R$45, for
doubles R$59. Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 8am-1pm.
Feira de Artesanato da Avenida Eduardo Ribeiro
This lively Sunday-morning street market which appears
out of nowhere in the broad Avenida Eduardo Ribeira,
behind the Teatro Amazonas, displays crafts, herbal
remedies, cosmetics made with local products, and food
stalls. Sun 7am-1pm.
Feira de Artesanato da Praça Terreiro Aranha By
the riverfront, this market is one of the best spots to buy

crafts, and at reasonable prices, too. Mon-Sat 8am-6pm.
★

Galeria Amazônica Rua Costa Azevedo 272, Largo
do Teatro, Centro T 92 3233 4521, W galeriaamazonia
.org.br. This lovely shop displays traditional and
contemporary products of the Amazon, such as pottery,
sculptures, paintings and mats. Prices are high but so is the
quality. Mon-Sat 10am-8pm.
Pare & Leve Rua Rocha dos Santos 95 T 92 3233 1733.
An excellent healthfood shop selling all manner of natural
and wholewheat products along with a range of juices, ideal
for self-caterers; the walls are lined with foodstuffs from
dried fruits to wild mushrooms. Mon-Sat 7.30am-6pm.

DIRECTORY
Consulates Bolivia, Av Egigënio Salles, Condomínio
Greenwood Park, Quadra B, Casa 20 ( T 92 3236 9988);
Colombia, Rua 24 de Maio 220, Centro Rio Negro ( T 92
3234 6777); Peru, Rua Mato Grosso 10, Parque das
Laranjeiras ( T 92 3228 9312); UK, Rua Poraquê 240,
Distrito Industrial ( T 92 3613 1819); Venezuela, Rua Rio
Jurai 839 ( T 92 3584 3828).
Health The Fundação de Medicina Tropical, Av Pedro
Teixeira 25 ( T 92 2127 3555, W fmt.am.gov.br), also
known as the Hospital de Doenças Tropicais, specializes in
tropical illnesses; Hospital Santa Júlia, Av Ayrão 507
( T 92 2121 9000, W hospitalsantajulia.com.br).

Internet Palace Cyber Café , Av 7 de Setembro 1428 (daily
8am-11pm; R$2/hr); Top Cyber , Av Getúlio Vargas 5815
(Mon-Sat 8.30am-9.30pm; R$2.75/hr; T 92 9154 5815).
Laundry Lavanderia Brilhante, Rua Lima Bacuri 126
(Mon-Fri 7am-5pm, Sat 7am-noon; T 92 3635 1485).
Money and exchange Bradesco, Av Eduardo Ribeiro 475;
HSBC, Rua Dr Moreira 226 and Rua 24 de Maio 439; Banco
do Brasil, Guilherme Moreira 315.
Police The tourist police is in the same building as the
tourist o ce on Av Eduardo Ribeiro ( T 92 3231 1998).
Post o ce Praça do Congresso 90 (Mon-Fri 8am-4pm,
Sat 8am-noon).