Fellow adventurers,
Our last day in Georgetown was rather brief yet fulfilling. The Caribbean breeze runs throughout the city and reggae music pumps through speakers on all corners, reminding us of our days in Jamaica. The population of the old Dutch and British colony of Guyana is 770,000; less than that of my home city, Philadelphia. It’s primarily devised of people of African and East Indian heritages; the minority being those of mixed races. I wasn’t sure what to expect to see before arriving, and had heard from fellow travelers of all the trash in the streets. What I saw were19th-century wooden houses supported on stilts, and charming green boulevards laid out along the lines of the old Dutch canals that give it a unique character. Where we stayed was surrounded by pretty colonial houses. While some of those canals did have lots of garbage, I was glad to be in the country where it’s said only the experienced, brave, independent travelers venture into, a country that is often mistaken to be in Africa.
The British built what used to be the world’s tallest wooden structure, the St. George Cathedral constructed of local wood which is dark and termite resistant. It was completed in the Gothic Style at 143 feet tall in 1899. We admired the clustered columns, flying buttresses and tinted, Gothic windows from the inside. The chandelier that was given by Queen Victoria still hangs. Old emblems line the walls in memory of those passed, each one telling the brief tale of the role in the community the person played, as well as how they died. Some were stories of men going down with their ship while during battles in the Caribbean, brothers whom fought with Britain during the first World War, or sudden illnesses caught while at sea. It was an unusual piece of personal history.
Gavin and I had read about a decent burger joint where they’re served topped with pineapple, so we enjoyed that for lunch in Guyana’s first and only mall. We then visited an old, bustling market, constructed of iron and steel by a company out of Delaware, USA in 1881. Inside a variety of goods were being sold, as well as the typical meat, fish and produce. I love to visit markets while traveling, as I’m always curious about the local foods and exotic fruit. We’d stop when we saw something unfamiliar, such as cassava juice, which is typically used for coloring foods or a base for hotpot soup. We tried the unusual Awara fruit, which after the red or orange skin is peeled the nutty flavored fruit is eaten around the nut; and mamey fruit, large and brown with easy to peel skin, and a sweet orange flesh inside to eat. The vendors were kind enough to tell us what they were, and how to eat them. We stopped at a bar to drink some local brews and try the reputable rum. The people in Guyana were all very friendly and sociable to us, and we never felt in danger. After filling our bellies with delicious chinese food, we were content on our positive yet short experience in Guyana.
We left early Saturday morning, had a stopover in Trinidad before heading off the Fort Lauderdale where Gavin’s mother awaited our return at the airport. The flight was smooth, but security in Guyana and Trinidad were tighter than expected. However, we had a smooth, timely arrival and took comfort in seeing a familiar face to welcome us.These next few days I hope to post videos and audio recordings of our past travels. I also plan to update on what I’ve taken from this trip, so please stay tuned.
June y Gavin
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