French Guiana Journals

French Guyana

An October 1999 trip to French Guiana by fredff

Quote: French Guyana was, until 1946, the place chosen by France to send all its convicts. Today it attracts mostly engineers who go to work on the European Space Program. More than just a technological center, the country is fantastic for its historic sites (the prisons) and its natural wonders (the forest).

French Guyana

Overview

Quote:
If you have seen the movie Papillon with Dustin Hoffman and Steeve McQueen, than you have to go to visit the prisons. They are all over the country and if you have the chance to visit them with a guide, you will enjoy it even more. Another major sight is the space center. To watch the rocket Ariane's departure is absolutely outstanding.Quick Tips: The country is quite expensive. Local transportation is rare and the best is to hitch hike from one place to another. As far as hotels are concerned, the prices are much higher than anywhere else in South America. Nothing under . If you want to see the jungle and the national parks, it is a lot cheaper to do it in Suriname, j...Read More
Quote:
One hour by boat from Kourou, you can visit the infamous Devil Islands. The "Iles du Salut" in French used to be the place of choice for all the worst convicts. Indeed, the current are so strong, the sharks so numerous, and the coast so far that it was absolutely impossible to escape. Famous convicts include “Papillon”, Dreyfus---a Jewish soldier who was accused of treason at the beginning of the 20th century---and Seznec, another famous French convict. The islands are very beautiful, filled with forest, monkeys, and “Agouti”, a kind of fat rat. The remains of the prison have since been swallowed by the jungle and they make a very impressive sight. The smallest of the three islands, Devil Island, used...Read More
Quote:
The space centre in Kourou is the location of the European Space program. If you are lucky, you can even watch the take off of an Ariane rocket, as it happens about once every three weeks. The best way to get tickets (free) to a close location (the closest is at 4.5km) is to go to the visitors center a day or two before the launch and just ask for them. To watch the rocket taking off is incredible and it is very strange to see the launch and not to hear anything, as the sound takes 15 seconds to reach you, while the light (your vision) reaches you right away. It is also possible to visit the centre on a tour (also free) and to see the different launch pad and facilities. A good museum of ...Read More