Devil's Island, French Guinea

Long ago I had read the book, Papillon, and later watched the movie about the French Penal Colony off the coast of French Guinea.  Devil's Island actually refers to three islands and we actually visited Ile Royale which was the main prison and administration buildings were located.








We took tenders from our ship to get to the island.  It was a self-guided tour so with maps we were basically on our own.  Shortly after we arrived there was a tropical cloudburst and I temporarily lost Val and ended up walking along the rocky beach.  I realized it was the first time I had really been alone in a week!  Not that I was alone for long as other visitors explored as well.








I was strangely struck by how beautiful it was, much more so than the tropical forest we had visited in the Amazon.  Also there was animal life.  I ran into a rooster then a very interesting creature skittered across my path and then disappeared!  It was so fast I couldn't get a picture and finally managed to video one as it carried food to its lair.

I later found out it was an agouti.  And I came across several on my walk.





In the next picture you can see the island where prisoners were put into solitary confinement.








I just loved the beautiful wild beaches!  I thought how much more I enjoyed a walk like this than a walk around the track on the ship!









Decomposing coconuts








More gorgeous flowers
















After I had walked the perimeter of the island I climbed up the rather steep hill where there is a hotel, (interesting place to spend a night), restaurant, a small tourist shop, and a lovely garden.


































In this area you can see many of the buildings that were used when this was a penal colony.

I have to admit I really didn't want to linger amongst the prison's remains!  It was a grim history!






But I really thought it was a beautiful island!





It strangely reminded me of being on Kauai with its lush tropical vegetation and stunning scenery.  How ironic that its beauty was a borrow for so many!











But we were not doomed to stay there forever, rather on our way back to the ship for a late lunch!

Location:Devil's Island

Going down the Amazon Feb.27,2015

Internet continued to be problematic and expensive and it was extremely hard to post blog entries! And here I am back in Vancouver trying to catch up and edit and in some cases add more pictures.

But yesterday was exciting as we headed down the Amazon to the city of Belem. And that seemed quite magical to me. As you see it was a bit muddy and also wide. The Amazon could contain the other major world rivers. In the picture above you can see them bringing down the lifeboats that would be our tenders to transport us into the city of Belem.








When we got to Belem we immediately went onto another boat to take us in our Amazonian rain forest tour.






































When we got off the boat we initially walked over a rather rickety boardwalk








At the clearing we entered there was a small school in session. Parents are given by the government, family allowances if children in school, and this is effective in improving school attendance and lessening poverty.








We entered the rainforest and our guide was very knowledgeable about the Amazon plant and animal life. I wish I could remember all that he told and showed us!



























It was fun to see Birds of Paradise in bloom









A little girl brought us a wooly, apparently harmless spider to examine and other than ant and termite nests and one butterfly we didn't see much other animal life!








Here are cocoa beans drying








Below local boys scampered up the trees








A peak into the school








A couple of young men cool off in the river-I almost jumped in myself it was so hot!








But on our way back to Belem a dramatic tropical storm flared up. It was so bad for awhile tenders couldn't get back to the ship but we were in the pier shopping centre in pursuit of acai ice cream.





We would have liked to have seen a sloth or even a bird in the jungle but no luck. It also would have been nice to have seen a bit more of Belem but we were a bit wet as it was. But now I have been on the Amazon, and have experienced a bit of a world I had only read about!

Recife February 24, 2014

Another day at sea and then we arrived in beautiful Recife. I fell in love with the city aided a bit by our adorable and excellent tour guide, Leo.
Above you can see the Dutch influence here.


We drove along beautiful beaches but in this area you have to beware of sharks if you go swimming! This is Boa Viagem, literally beautiful voyage!





We went up into lovely Olinda, a Unesco heritage site where


You see I checked out local crafts!


We loved the brightness!


We went back down into Recife and this is inside their courthouse I think.


Then we went to a craft centre, with many shops all of crafts and arts of this state, Casa de Cultura, once the prison!!


We definitely didn't have enough time in this beautiful city-my favourite stop so far!!

Salvador de Bahia, Day 5, February 22

Saturday we were at sea and had lectures and I took a water colour lesson and we were well entertained
And Sunday we arrived in Salvador , the capital of the Bahia region. Our first tour stop was Ingreja de Nosso Senhor de Bonfim.


This area has a large percentage of people with an African heritage as this was where many slaves were originally brought. This church combines Catholicism with native African religions. The ribbons for instance symbolize good luck!


Next we went into historic Pelourinho district and above is inside the Sao Francisco Church


We still had the flavour of Canivale in the streets.


We next visited the Barra district where this lighthouse is located. It was lovely to walk in the breeze here! We enjoyed exploring Salvador but it was definitely very warm!!! I should mention the ship was docked in the Lower Town and for a few pennies you can take an elevator to the Upper Town.