Blogs from French Guiana, South America
CRUISING DOWN THE AMAZON AND OUT TO DEVIL’S ISLAND
Published: March 27th 2012South America » French Guiana
March 26th 2012
Because of the strong current, the long trip up the Amazon, halfway across Brazil, took about three days. The speedy trip back to the ocean was only two days. At one point Captain Patruno proudly announced our speed at 25knots (29mph) which is really flying on this ship. While cruising in this part of South America we watched the movie “At Play in the Fields of the Lord.” It is a pretty good depiction of the atmosphere here in the Amazon. I also read the book “Fordlandia.” This chronicles Henry Ford’s attempt to build a utopian workers city in the heart of the jungle. It was a monumental failure but I learned a lot about rubber plantations and how good intentions can go awry especially when attempting to cross cultural, social and geographical boundaries. On our ... read more
ibud og bill og fronsku Gvaejana
Published: September 15th 2011South America » French Guiana » Cayenne
September 15th 2011
Jaeja, vika i fronsku Gvaejana. Thad haetti ad rigna eftir fyrsta daginn og vid tok steikjandi hiti og sol sem brennir a no time! (er buin ad finna upphropunarmerkid a thessu erlenda lyklabordi og thvi verdur thad ospart notad. !) I fronsku Gvaejana er near allt lokad um helgar, tho serstaklega a sunnudogum. Okkur langadi ad nyta solina a sunnudeginum og skreppa a strondina sem er I naesta bae, thar sem straeto og minibusar ganga ekki a sunnudogum akvadum vid ad taka leigubil, vid komumst tho fljotlega ad thvi ad leigubilar ganga ekki heldur a sunnudogum. Thannig ad vid vorum strandaglopar I bae thar sem eiginlega allir veitingastadir og allar budir voru lokadar, vid tolum ekki fronsku, folkid talar ekki ensku og vid til husa a einstaklega oadlandandi gistiheimili (sem faer tho plus fyrir frabaert starfsfolk). ... read more
September 10th 2011
Sidan sidast…. Eftir sidasta blogg gengum vid upp Champs Elysees i leit ad godum veitingastad, thvi midur voldum vid ekki vel… Vid letum blekkjast af fyndnum buningum thjonanna sem voru i sjolidabuningum, rondottum peysum med hvitar kollhufur. Maturinn vakti ekki eins mikla lukku, franska lauksupan var meira eins og kjotbollusosa en supa og crepe-id var gratt a litinn, bragdid var lika frekar gratt.. En eftir ad hafa fengid okkur godan eftirrett annarsstadar forum vid upp i Sigurbogann thar sem Svenni tok margar margar flottar myndir. Thegar vid komum nidur vildi hann lika taka myndir af boganum upplystum i myrkrinu og sa ad best vaeri ad gera thad liggjandi a gangstettinni, thad thotti folki skondid en myndirnar eru geggjadar. Daginn eftir, a manadar brudkaupsafmaelinu, aetludum vid heldur betur ad gera vel vid okkur og fara m.a. fint ... read more
May 30th 2011
I wasn't even sure this deserved a blog, but in the end I decided to do one for two reasons: first of all for continuity, otherwise some of you might wonder how I teleported from Cayenne to Rio; then because when I was looking for info on the Cayenne-Macapa route, I remember there was very little available, so it might turn out to be helpful to someone. I had to be in Rio on the 1st of May, so I left Cayenne on the morning on the 29th (don't worry, the route involves getting on a plane!). My friend dropped me at the bus station where I caught a shared minibus. Thinking that because you're in a French county, the standard of driving might be slightly improved would be a serious mistake and the ride from ... read more
May 29th 2011
For my final day in French Guiana, I was destined for the Iles Du Salut (the Salvation Islands). I will start with a spot of history to help you understand more about the islands. A long long time ago (1852 to be precise), in a land far far away (France, which may or may not be far depending on where you are), the emperor decided that it would be a good idea to send criminals to jail in Guiana. The plan was to help develop the colony and if they survived passed their prison term (tens of thousands died from malaria, other diseases or violence whilst they were incarcerated), the prisoners were not allowed to leave Guiana upon their release from jail. The Iles du Salut were judged the best place to lock up serious criminals ... read more
May 20th 2011
My visit to French Guiana started well, with a guided tour of St Laurent du Maroni in a police car. The first shop I saw was a boulangerie and that's when I realised “I'm in France! This is home! Well... Kind of...” Then I stumbled across a couple of French supermarket chains and was almost laughing to myself. It felt good to be “home”, probably better than it has felt going back to France every now and then over the last few years. It was a bit like having a break from the travels without actually having to fly half way around the world. I was only in St Laurent for a couple of hours, waiting for the bus that would take me South, to Kourou. With all the Suriname débâcle, I was arriving a little ... read more
December 15th 2010
(Anormal) Irregulares (Aparente) Figurativos (Viciado) Defectivos (Cíclico) Reciprocos (Término) Desinencias (Alteración) Articulaciones (Origen) Radicales (Refracción) Reflexión (Regular) Arquetipos (Modelo) Formales (Reales) Substantivo (Anormal) Irregular (Apparent) Figurative (Stale - Viced) Defective (Cyclic) Reciprocal (Term - Terminus) Definitive Alter - Alteration) Articulation (Origin) Radical (Refraction) Reflexive (Regular) Archetype (Model) Formal (Real) Substantive... read more
September 20th 2010
I was laughed at by the Brazilians in Oiapoque when I advised that I would cross into French Guiana by bridge - it was due for completion in 2007. However, it is far from finished; in fact, it seems far from started! So, I cross by boat to St Georges from where I catch a shared minibus to Cayenne, the capital of French Guiana. It is 1.5 hours on the road before we arrive at passport control; beforehand, the road is littered with burnt out cars; the after effects of the French police torching the cars of those illegally entering the country from Brazil. Cayenne was a bit of a let down; I had expected a vivid blend of French and Carribean cultures but am confronted with a town that seems to be lacking an identity. ... read more
Our last South America stop .Devil’s Island in French Guiana.
Published: March 13th 2010South America » French Guiana
March 13th 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010 - Devil’s Island is one of three islands called the Salvation Islands. We went ashore on Ile Royale which was home to the prison administration buildings and several cell blocks. The island has not been a prison for 60-70 years but one can still “feel” the darkness of this place….even though today it is a lush and peaceful place. Devils Island looks to be about 200 yards from Ile Royale (I never got the exact distance) but its rocky shore line and shark infested waters precluded successful escape. Only the most dangerous prisoners went to Devils Island and today tourists do not visit there. ... read more
August 16th 2009
We left Paramaribo in the morning via bus along a ridiculously rough paved road to the border town of Albina. We crossed the river by boat and got stamped into French Guiana. We would use the country’s capital Cayenne as our base so boarded further transport to take us the rest of the way. The country, as a French territory, uses euros and is a horrendously expensive place. Thirty five euros to travel the three hours confirmed the rumours! Our journey wasn’t without drama, a young lad and an old man were talking away before the conversation turned a little nasty. It seems that the young lad was from Paris and had moved to Cayenne because that’s where his family came from. He wanted to get away from ‘racist Paris’ but found the people of French ... read more
