Traveller's tree and others...

Over the past few weeks, I've taken photos of some of my favorite plants here in French Guiana.  (Click on photos to enlarge).

Bromelia are really popular in our area. Some species, like the one below, are so flashy that it reminds me of a bursting firework. Nature is so amazing.

Alpinia, or red ginger, are also prevalent in most gardens and backyards. Alpinia are mostly red, but we've also seen pink and white ones. 

Lastly is the traveller's tree or Ravenala. It's originally from Madagascar and has been imported to French Guiana as an ornamental plant. It's big, beautiful, and... invasive! It thrives in the tropical climate here and can grow really tall.

Here's a closer look at the base of the palm leaves which nature weaves together so beautifully.

Our Christmas vacation begins in three weeks. Jack and I will be driving over the border to the Brazilian town of Oiapoque for a couple of days and then we'll be spending Christmas on the Salvation Islands. I'll be sure to take plenty of pictures to share...

French Guiana's Orchid Garden

A French couple of botanical scientists have just created a unique orchid garden about 40 minutes from our home in Cayenne. They've spent over a decade collecting and studying specimens and have created a jewel of a botanical garden to show the public over a thousand orchid species indigenous to French Guiana. This is a definite must for all nature lovers! (Click on photos to enlarge)

We learned that many orchids can grow very tall like this one:

There's also a greenhouse offering over a hundred varieties of orchids for purchase. This one really impressed us by it's size.

They also research and produce vanilla which are some of the oldest orchids still in existence since prehistoric times. Only a few flowers on the vanilla vine will actually produce a vanilla bean which is one of the reasons why it is a rare commodity.

This fiery red orchid is called Renanthera Philippinensis. It's a giant orchid that can grow taller than a person. We bought one in the greenhouse and have already enjoyed blossoms in our backyard!

The orchid garden has been beautifully landscaped to create little areas of shade and rest like this small lily pond.

Some of the orchids were planted in the ground. Most, however, were niched in trees and had drooping garlands of blooms.

It is really amazing to see how orchids come in so many shapes, sizes, and colors. I think this variety was one of our favorites.

Return to Paramaribo

Ok, you trivia lovers... What small South American country, formerly a Dutch colony and independent since 1975, has the capital named Paramaribo? We're speaking about... Surinam, of course!

Jacques and I just got back from a week's vacation in the Surinamese capital. This is the second time that we've gone there and we really enjoy the attractions, food, culture, and historical buildings we can find there. (It's also a lot cheaper than French Guiana!)

Here are a few of the highlights of our stay. (Click on pictures to enlarge.)

Paramaribo is a city full of art and old buildings. Some houses have a very old look to them while others are carefully restored and figure among UNESCO's world heritage sites. We liked this one for the famous Surinamese figures painted on the fence.

A large part of the population in Surinam is from Indian and Hindustani descent. There are many Hindu temples around the city like this one near the Surinam River.

After some sightseeing, a refreshing Parbo beer at a local café really hits the spot!

Paramaribo's oldest monument is Fort Zeelandia built in the early 17th century to protect the colony's plantations. The Dutch architecture is easily recognizable.

We also made a few friends while in Paramaribo and got a special treat... A private cooking lesson to learn how to make "pom" a traditional Surinamese dish. Thanks Elfriede!!

Our favorite part of Paramaribo is the shady Waterkant area along the river. Some of the city's most beautiful historic wooden houses are located there.

 This was our favorite building.

To complete our stay, we visited the famous orchid market held every Sunday morning. Hundreds of varieties are found there for sale, each unique and captivating. The prices are unbeatable!

It's really too bad that Surinam is unknown to most travellers-- the country has made great strides to preserve its history and offer good quality touristic services. How fortunate that our jobs in French Guiana have allowed us to discover this little country.