My travels through South America.

Flight to Belem

February 3, 2007
Day 493

Craig and I went to Macapa's small airport today four our forty-five minute flight to Belem. After the plane circled around Macapa and pointed southeast, we began flying over the Ilha de Marajo, which appears small on a map of Brazil, but is… Read More »

Did the Groundhog see its Shadow?

February 2, 2007
Day 492

We rode the bus all night, mainly over gravel roads, and were dropped off early at the bus station in Macapa, on the mouth of the Amazon River. I had previously contacted Eduardo about couchsurfing, and upon calling him this morning, he picked us up from the bus station,… Read More »

Leaving France

February 1, 2007
Day 491

Philip and Elise dropped us off at the bus zone this morning. It was not nearly as chaotic as the one in Paramaribo, but still a backwards system with no schedules. We rode the bus ($52 to ride for an hour? Definitely time to leave the country!) to St… Read More »

Hanging out in Pleasant Cayenne

January 29-31, 2007
Day 488-490

This morning I said goodbye to Alina, who hosted me in Kourou. She was a great host who was very helpful in showing me around the area and setting me up with a tour of the rocket facility. Her boyfriend Greg and his friend (an Al Roker lookalike) drove… Read More »

I Step into Robinson Crusoe's Shoes

January 24-27, 2007
Day 483-486

Ye Olde Food Rations

Breakfast:
Coconut and mango porrige with coconut milk.

Lunch:
Raw coconut meat with a bit of bread.

Dinner:
Coconut soufflé with coconut milk rice and a mango for dessert.

OK, it wasn't actually that bad, but the breakfast menu is accurate. For… Read More »

A Boatload of Americans

January 23, 2007
Day 482

Craig and I took a catamaran early this morning along with a dozen or so other tourists to the Iles du Salut (The Islands of Salvation), sometimes collectively known as "Devil's Islands," where the French had an infamous prison colony from 1852 to 1953. The islands… Read More »

French-Only Tours

January 22, 2007
Day 481

Alina found out for Craig and I that we could take a free tour of the rocket facilities this afternoon, but that it would have to be in French, which neither of us speaks. The only way they'll do a tour in English is if we bring a group… Read More »

Urban Trekking

January 21, 2007
Day 480

Today, Alina, Craig, and I drove to the capitol city of Cayenne for some trekking. We walked along a well-maintained trail on the far side of the city that led us past a dam, through a bamboo forest, and around an old fort.… Read More »

Couchsurfing in Kourou

January 20, 2007
Day 479

We started hitching early this morning, but had some trouble getting anyone to stop for us. Finally, in the middle of the rain, a strange man with about $10,000 of camera equipment for his "hobby" took us into Kourou.

I tried calling Alina, our couchsurfing host in Kourou, but… Read More »