Pantanal and Caracas - Day 11 27/7 - Bello Horozonte - Sanctuaria

Saturday.

We flew to Bello Horizonte where we were met at the airport by our guide, Marcelo Vasconcelos and a comfortable mini bus for a 3 hour drive to Caraces. We checked in to our accommodation, which was in part of the monastry outbuildings and then went for lunch. This was a buffet selection with lots of salad, vegetables and hot meat dishes to choose from. We walked one of the trails in the afternoon. It was very different looking, very dry and with leafless trees. 

Several birds. Lots of skulks things. 

At 6.30 we went to the courtyard to wait for wolf. We took a quick dinner in the refrectory, with long tables and wooden chairs and then back for long wait. It was very cold, and as it was the weekend there were 100+ watchers spread around the courtyrd. The numbers slowly disappeared through the evening. Around 7.30 one of the monks came out with tray of chicken legs, dropped on floor, then scraped it forward three times, rocked the tray a few times and then scraped it back. A bit more waiting, with two crab-eating foxes moving back and forth, which, apparently, would stop the wolf coming in. A priest came out and repeated the process, plus calling out for the wolf. He also explained that the we should keep reasonably quiet until the wolf came in otherwise it might spook. 

He then spent nearly an hour talking about the history of the monastery and its care for the maned wolves but as it was all in Portugueses it was completely unintelligent to us. As we waited we were told of hot drinks and popcorn just along the corridor. Around 10.ish the cold and long hours began to tell and Brenda and Allen decided to go in but a young lady persuaded us to give it to 11.00. We came inside as it was marginally warmer and just before eleven I glanced out the window and there was the wolf coming up the track. Just as I was trying to WhatsApp Alan/Brenda, Alan came along, just to check, he ran back for Brenda and we all went out slowly and quietly and sat around the tin taking photos, without the wolf taking any notice. It seemed oblivious to the flashlights popping around it.  It scrunched up the chicken bones, kept going back to the steps to check, eventually, around 11.20 it walked to the top of the steps and went off into the night. One of the more amazing but bizarre experiences.