Hello everybody!
It has been an age and a half since I gave an update -- I know! I know! I'm sorry, I'm totally crap at updating regularly but this is how it is unfolding so this is how we're all just going to have to deal with it... but I have been really busy. My excuse is really quite good as you will see. I have (finally) finished my TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) Certificate - YAAAY! and I scored a 97% on my final test. (Boom.) So I think it safe to say I have English down. So I'm happy :)
Although, this update is actually about a trip that we took a couple of weeks ago but as I have not had time to update it before, I was planning to do so now. We flew up to Saint Laurent du Maroni, the northernmost town of French Guiana, across the "maroni" (which the dutch call "marowijne") is Surinam. Maroni is the 724km long river that flows into the Atlantic Ocean and seperates these two countries.
We flew to Saint Laurent along a route which at first took us inland and then north, and returned along the coastline. Our flight up was rather cloudy but I did mange to grab some good shots!
This is Kourou by air, with the river Kourou and the bridge crossing heading towards Cayenne.
The lush greenery and these wonderfully windy rivers were the highlight of the flight up to S.L. I liked this one particularly because it looks like an S from where I took the photograph :)
As I was flying over I wondered how many anacondas live in these rivers (and how long it would take me to get eaten by one of them had we needed to crash land). Fun thoughts!
We then came across one of the only landmarks on our flight up, a large dam.
Later on into the flight we climbed quite high and I managed to catch this beauty.
This is Saint Laurent du Maroni from the air and Suriname just across the river.
Upon our arrival we were greeted by no one less than the town army commander, a friend of our co-pilot, who very kindly showed us the sights of S. L. The first sight was of course the prison camps where the convict Henri Charrière (or "Papillon", meaning butterfly) spent his incarceration, until his escape, 11 years later, in 1941. Surprisingly, I thought, the camp, although abandoned, was open and free to any visitors. You simply walk in.
So, here we are, posing in front of the gate of the enforced labour camp which housed the century's French condemned criminals - rather morbid actually. But there we are, looking nice.
These were the kitchens. Obviously, at the time of use the buildings were not as flashy. Some of the camp buildings were restored in the early 1980's.
This is the main square where the guillotine was located, now replaced by the magnificent mango tree seen on the left. Ahead are all the cells parallel to each other.
This is the main square where the guillotine was located, now replaced by the magnificent mango tree seen on the left. Ahead are all the cells parallel to each other.
The first set of cells.
Judging by the erosion these buildings have seen quite a bit of life and death.
"Case 1" - Cell 1.
The doors were still intact, including the gigantic locks spanning the length of the door.
A relic, used for transportation of goods or building materials.
Some of the buildings were being completely restored in order for public use. If I remember correctly I think our "guide" mentioned they would be used for schooling purposes or likewise.
Afterwards we headed to the sizable local market, featuring (I will claim!) pretty much every vegetable and fruit that you can grow on the continent. Seriously, I had never seen some of these things! Anthony was vexed to notice that the prices were considerably lower than in Kourou - still, very impressive!
These are all different types of chillies, ranging from mild to you-will-die-if-you-touch-it (unless your taste buds have been weaned to eat this stuff since birth). I know I'm Finnish and blabla.. we can't take this sort of stuff but seriously, just trust me.
We proceeded to a really awesome ship-wrecked themed restaurant that is actually situated on a boat docked by the maroni.
... including pathways with thatched bamboo roofing!
and actual bamboo :)
Wonderful setting! right by the river. (Those who plan to visit us.. we will take you here - BY PLANE if you fancy it :P)
"Case 1" - Cell 1.
The doors were still intact, including the gigantic locks spanning the length of the door.
A relic, used for transportation of goods or building materials.
Some of the buildings were being completely restored in order for public use. If I remember correctly I think our "guide" mentioned they would be used for schooling purposes or likewise.
Afterwards we headed to the sizable local market, featuring (I will claim!) pretty much every vegetable and fruit that you can grow on the continent. Seriously, I had never seen some of these things! Anthony was vexed to notice that the prices were considerably lower than in Kourou - still, very impressive!
These are all different types of chillies, ranging from mild to you-will-die-if-you-touch-it (unless your taste buds have been weaned to eat this stuff since birth). I know I'm Finnish and blabla.. we can't take this sort of stuff but seriously, just trust me.
We proceeded to a really awesome ship-wrecked themed restaurant that is actually situated on a boat docked by the maroni.
... including pathways with thatched bamboo roofing!
and actual bamboo :)
Wonderful setting! right by the river. (Those who plan to visit us.. we will take you here - BY PLANE if you fancy it :P)
Yes, the menu was printed on rolled up cloth and the food was extremely scrumptious.
Before our departure home we had a spot of trouble with the weather. It started raining and we saw some thunder so we had to wait it out until we flew back. Once it cleared, our flight back to Kourou was trouble-free and the visibility was fantastic! This is the maroni of S. L. with the town just "behind" us.
A panorama inside our four-seater Cessna plane. A-boom :D
These are rice fields right by the sea.
Again, I managed to catch some great shots of the rivers (and fluffy clouds!)
Layering perspective.
Jungle, all the way up to the coastline. See, unless it is sand or marshlands, every inch of earth has something growing on it here.
Anthony piloting our plane above what I have started to refer to as "the broccoli fields" :)
Yay for flying! Woop-woop.
A small town (whose name I have forgotten) in between S. L. and Kourou.
More fantastic winding rivers.
And there we have it, our trip to Saint Laurent du Maroni :)
Thanks for reading and stay tuned for chickens! yes... I said chickens.
Thanks for reading and stay tuned for chickens! yes... I said chickens.
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