Duncan and Sara 2018

Off to another country.  Was it a tick?  Hmmm.  Taxi-driver cousin Orlando took us over the large bridge crossing the Paramaribo river and onward to Albina, through lush countryside and past churches and little settlements Once stamped out of Surname and into no man's land, a border-river crossing.  Fantastic.   The mode of crossing the Maroni river is a US$5pp pirogue (speedboat-cum-gondola) bit wobbly and jolly close to the water's surface but most enjoyable On the other side is St Laurent du Maroni Now, I know it's France but it still feels very improbable!   OK, that feels better.  Jungle and baguette s!  D makes the 1km walk to Jumbo cars where we're expecting to collect our little blue hire-car, and the large Super-U supplies a marvellous feast, which we guzzle at a  picnic area off the N1 (which runs along the coast, through thick forest vegetation and river estuaries) Onwards, a...

Fact of the day - Maroon, a word we're all familiar with, is thought to have come from the Spa nish cimarron meaning fugitive.  Today is a commemoration of all who were or are enslaved - and, as we saw yesterday in the Palmentuin, an excuse for a party After coffee and breakfast on the balcony,  we set off for the ca thedral A l ong-running service is in full swing: musicians, preaching and some dancing at the edges.  Everyone is wearing colourful garments; for some, it's Sunday best and, for others, wrap the most garish tablecloth you can get your hands on around your waist or shouldres Others are getting ready to dance... Another wander and it's time for a reviving caipirinha We hear a lot of noise from Palmentuin opposite, where, as suspected, kiosks have been set up for food and drink, yet more dancing.