keir farrell

Two Irishmen, one canoe, the Amazon rainforest. What can possibly go wrong?

Find out in this true short-story prequel to the 'On the Amazon – Diary of an Irish Emigrant' books.

When I was persuaded to take newly-arrived Frank on a simple sightseeing canoe journey into the Brazilian Amazon, I believed I had everything under control. All we had to do was buzz around for a few days on the river, admire the wonders of the rainforest, and head home for a cold beer. When we lost our water and sank the boat, it got a little more complicated...

'It's not my canoe, amigo' recounts a trip I made not long after first moving to the Amazon. I was young and inexperienced... and I had Frank. Frank came to Manaus looking for an easy escape from a not entirely successful career as a salesman in Belfast. His detailed plans covered drinking and womanising in great detail, but largely ignored the challenges of finding a job and learning the language. He was good company on a visit to a bar. On a trip into the interior, maybe not so much.