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 |    My random thoughts and reactions to my everyday life. The voices like a forum. |
| I do not know quite what happened or when , but my hubby and I now qualify for seniors' discounts at some venues. This creates a quandary; in order to save money, but not face, we have to admit to our age. HMMMM..... We definitely do not consider ourselves to be old. In this day and age ,when people as a whole are living longer and healthier lives why are 'young seniors', those in their fifties, like moi, considered 'old'?? It's so true that age is just a perception! "Maturity" is very objective/subjective, and I object! Whew, a few years have skittered by since I composed this biography block. Those "fifties" are in the rear view mirror and they are distant, fond memories. Oh, I do not plan to stop writing any time soon. |
| August 6th A direct flight from Georgetown to Paramaribo would get us across the border in an hour’s time. So to maximize our time there we’re leaving at 9am no snoozing ladies and gents on this adventure. We’re ditching our stuff at the hotel and we’re off. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g294082-d1218711-Reviews-Courtyard_Para... And we’re off for a day of walking, so dress comfortably. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g294082-d2233127-Reviews-Saint_Pet... This is a real breathtaking place, this Roman Catholic (Cathedral until 2014) now Basilique of Paramaribo, known as the 'biggest and tallest wooden structure of South America. Look for the dress code and the openings hours. A tour guide will meet us here https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductDetail?product=20632P1&d=447474... Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname, featuring numerous wooden buildings of unique architecture and a variety of hospitable ethnic groups, living together in harmony. First the guide will take you on a bus ride along the most prominent historic locations in the city center and then he will take you to visit other hot spots in different suburbs. What to Expect Our guide will pick you up by bus and our tour will past the most important monumental buildings and streets of the city. You will see the Presidential Palace, the Museum Fort Zeelandia and the Corner House. We’ll have time to watch the dolphins play on this lovely river cruise before have a late night dinner. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g294082-d4740690-Reviews-Commewijn... We were on Suriname river for a while and then moved toward the Commewijne River where we saw quite a lot of dolphins https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294082-d2213863-Reviews-Garden_of... Its Asian cuisine with lots of vegetarian options for those who prefer veggies. Sweet dreams, we’re off to our next country in the morning. Everything I read about reaching French Guiana from Suriname involves a lot hassle from taxi rides with passes to the border, then a boat ride to Cayenne and more passes required. This tour guide isn’t going to fuss with all this, so we’re moving on to Brazil. Sorry, only 12 countries. Such a lot of fuss to visit a tiny country! Once again, I found myself in a plane, but this time it was a short flight. Huh, Suriname is the smallest South American nation. It's another one with a Dutch past. Apparently, the official language is Dutch. At least, this morning's wakeup time was more civilized. So, Paramaribo has a dress code... Okay, I will endeavour to modestly cover my shoulders and knees. I'm a t-shirt gal anyway. I do not think I am acclimated just yet. The heat is all pervasive. A bus tour is most welcome today. I let my eyes do the walking. This capital city is pretty. I smell the tempting aromas of coffee, cocoa, sugar cane, and see evidence of billowy cotton. Our guide explains that the surrounding plantations once used African slaves as labourers. I cannot imagine such a life! Because of its resources and differing groups of developers from other nations,, this country is ethnically and culturally diverse. indigenous natives have blended with Africans, Dutch, Brits, Indians, and Asians. The highlight of the day was the Commewijne River boat cruise. Floating on water promotes a feeling of serenity and tranquility. Snowy egrets looked so regal. The curious dolphins seemed to generate laughter as they cavorted for our entertainment. Surprisingly, my appetite proved hearty once again. Tonight, we dined at the Garden of Eden. I never say no to Asian cuisine. You are receiving this email because you are part of the group "30-Day Bloggers Group" . If you no longer wish to be part of this group, |
| GUYANA DAY 5 Yawn... I did moan and groan about today’s early start, but that is the price of travelling. My eyes were certainly bleary, but I did not dare to even blink lest I miss something. The views from the plane were spectacular. One of the best parts of flying is chit-chatting with my fellow travellers. We are all suitably awed by what we see. Now we will explore Guyana, land of many waters. Oh, Lyn you are such a trip guru! The Hotel is superb with its stunning ocean vista. It feels so posh and decadent. So, we are set loose in Georgetown the largest city in Guyana and its capital. Interestingly, it is built within a sea wall. The sun feels so warm against my skin. I like the sing-songy local dialect known as Guyanese Creole. People always seem to smile. Huh, Guyana is the only South American country in which English is the official language. I expect it will be tinged/influenced by this nation’s past colonial rule by the Dutch and the British. Guyana is a relatively new nation that earned its independence and established itself as a republic in 1970. I enjoy my stroll/meander through the Georgetown Promenade Gardens. Trees abound and everything is so lush and green. One huge flower in particular is beautiful, the Victoria lily. It serves as this land’s national showcase of a bloom. The many arbors and benches in this park welcome me to sit and soak in its glory. I laugh when I discover that one plant is named the cannon ball. One gazebo is especially pretty with its red-spired roof. We find a massive knot of tree roots and decide it is a photo opportunity to good to pass up. Locals tell us it’s a buttress tree. Sally  , Apondia  ,Jellyfish in Morocco  and NaNoKit  climb into it for our pics. Strike a pose, ladies. It’s somewhat comparable to the giant redwoods back home in British Columbia. Wow, the St. George’s Anglican Cathedral is impressive. Our guide informs us that this is one of the tallest wooden church structures in the world, and it was erected in 1842. The builders were certainly artistes! It’s such a shame that a seemingly beautiful location such as Guyana has petty street crime to mar the touristy experience. It doesn’t jive with the gorgeous scenery and locale. It was a great day to stroll and saunter about. Supper was served at an Indian restaurant, Aagman. I love curry, and I didn’t hesitate to order it. I also tasted the mulligatawny soup, mainly because its name intrigued me. I also could not resistsampling some chicken shish kebab. Thank God all this hiking scares away the weight gaining gremlins. The atmosphere in this dining establishment was all light and gold. It appeared to glow. There’s nothing better than listening to one’s travel companions comparing notes, and sensations. |
| Aug 4th El Ávila National Park Half-Day Jeep Tour I’ve made special arrangements and we’re doing the whole day, spending longer time spans at the locales along the way. Dress comfortably because we will be walking too. El Ávila National Park, in north-central Venezuela, occupies a 200,000-acre mountain region that ranges in height from 120 meters to just over 2 meters. After 9am pickup from your Caracas hotel, you'll be driven to the highest point in the park, where you'll be able to walk and take in gorgeous views that contrast with the hustle and bustle of the capital. From atop El Ávila, you'll be able to see Caracas on one side and the Caribbean. Don’t forget your camera. https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductDetail-g316066-d12465496-El_Avila_N... Dining enjoyment for the evening is El Alazan, it’s on the pricey side but highly reviewed and rated. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g316066-d792792-Reviews-El_Alazan-... Even though it is basically famous for its varieties of meat you can also find an excellent quality of fish plates or pasta plates.The ambiance is very chic with lots of wood in the decoration. Besides all of that, the quality of the service is superb. You always feel pandered and like a preferred guest. I must admit, I held my breath as the dented, old jeep plowed up the mountainside today. Well, I tried to hold my breath, but it wasn't easy. I was jostled, jarred, and jiggled. My first instinct was to squeeze my eyes closed because I couldn't help but notice how narrow and winding the dirt road was as we careened too close to cliffs. How did the driver stay on that zig zag route? Actually, I'm thrilled that I also couldn't resist sneaking a peek at the gorgeous scenery that tumbled along. The one word that springs to mind is lush. This rain forest is so green and lush. The fluffy white clouds looked like spun cotton candy. The spectacular view at the summit of El Avila National Park was breath taking. It was so worth the minor moments of panic, and the fresh bruises. I relished the opportunity to stretch my legs with a hike. Yes, I did stumble a wee bit, but the terrain is rugged. The tiny towns of Galipan, San Jose de Galipan, and San Isidro de Galipan were so peaceful and quaint. a smile translates in any language. I must say the skating rink in the middle of nowhere was a complete surprise. It was not something I expected, so I laced on a pair of skates and stroked around for a short time. It was a welcome relief from the ever present humidity. Another shock was the immense Humboldt Hotel. It must've been quite the feat to erect it so far up a mountain! I understand the government has plans to restructure. There seemed to be past problems with the cable car. After a day of hiking and gawking, I was more than ready for a good steak meal, or as the locals say "bistek/bife". I now realize that the Spanish "carne' for meat is similar to carnivore. I ordered a huge "chuleta\ which is a T-bone steak. Don't worry Jellyfish in Morocco , you will find great food too as a "vegetariano". A handy phrase for you is "no comemos carne". Well, it translates to "we're not meat eaters", but it'll work. I was curious about this restaurant's name, and so I did a little research. El Alazan is a sorrel horse. That would explain the horse symbol everywhere. I discovered a Spanish song about just such an animal. here are the introductory lyrics: Era una cinta de fuego Galopando, galopando, Crin revuelta en llamaradas, mi alazan te estoy nombrando. Now for the rough translation... "gallopando"=galloping... "de fuego"=gun...."cinta"= tape/ribbon....."revuelta"=revolt/uprising.... "en llamaradas"=into flames..."crin"=mane/ horse hair...."te estoy nombrando"=I'm appointing you/I'm making you...... Anyway, it was a stupendous day! |
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Happy June! May was so fun!
