![transpantaneira](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2791/4430900225_13af6059f6.jpg)
147 kilometers of elevated dirt road with 126 bridges over swampy wetlands. And lots of wildlife to be encountered along the way.
So I followed my knife-wielding guide one non-rainy afternoon to check it out. (Can a knife in a sling be considered a fashion accessory in Brazil?)
![my armed guide to the Pantanal](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4430898475_e02850c046.jpg)
Pantanal Panda.
![pantanal panda 2](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4431668054_a7f7275050.jpg)
Capybaras, the world's largest rodent, can be seen crossing the Transpantaneira en famille.
![capybara_xing2](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4431671004_22c2e4f549.jpg)
They are quite adorable, kind of like a giant guinea pig! Cuteness!
![capybara & cow](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2785/4455093235_d993f7b376.jpg)
I would not describe all animals of the Pantanal as cute. Especially the ones that got their eye on you. Like this jacaré, a cousin to the alligator.
![jacaré 2](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2689/4455086369_38eaf38b00.jpg)
Creepy, yes. Cute, no.
![jacaré 4](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2704/4455865148_320a4d0bc4.jpg)
Even though there are said to be three jacarés per human in this region, the colorful tuiuiu remains the symbol of the Pantanal. Pure beauty & elegance.
![tuiuiu](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4455095021_960a05296a.jpg)
From my saddle, nary a jacaré was missed...
![jacaré 3](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4455085739_3f27ecbbc9.jpg)
nor were these purple flowers...
![purple flower](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2728/4455086831_7dd1529ff4.jpg)
nor these snail eggs...
![snail eggs](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2724/4455870222_032395b395.jpg)
nor this fox...
![fox](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4455087523_3729149395.jpg)
nor this rainbow.
![rainbow](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/4455089443_f37d68116f.jpg)
The Pantanal provided a pleasant change of pace from my experience cycling elsewhere in Brazil.
![KT_Pantanal](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2765/4431671610_1f34da7902.jpg)
And yes, that is a plastic poncho tied around my waist.
7 comments:
aiaiai... Looove your photos! Makes me smile com saudades :)
Obrigada, Julz!
". . .kind of like a giant guinea pig!"
But with more good eatin' on 'em.
". . .this jacaré . . ."
Don't say "Hey," to a jacaré,
best to tip your hat and slowly back away.
Well said, kfg! Though I'm more of a pescatarian, so bbq capybara is all you.
Actually, I'm a vegetarian myself, but that don't mean I don't know how the world works.
In Peru, people eat guinea pigs, but I didn't see capybaras being consumed anywhere in Brazil. ;-)
You should go to my hometown...kkkk "jacarés" (taste like chicken and fish together) and "capybaras" (taste like pork, quite rich) - I prefer jacarés :P
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