Suriname

05.10.2013 – 06.10.2013
Route: Georgetown – Moleson Creek – Paramaribo (446 km).

Suriname (former Dutch Guyana) is a South American smallest independent state, the area is of 165,000 km², and the population is approximately 556,000.

The country has borders with Guyana, Brazil and French Guiana, but between Suriname and Brazil there are no roads to connect the two countries, the only option is - either to drive through Guyana or French Guiana. For all the three countries can be said, " One Road In, One Road Out ".

For clarity, a map as well.
   

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Guyana. Moleson Creek is a border town. Small. Arriving on Sunday morning at 7 am at the border I showed my car insurance and other necessary Papers. All together it took very little time to get everything in order.


The two countries are separated by the River Courantyne, there is no bridge, and all the traffic goes by ferry but some days does not move at all. For example, Saturday was a day off for the ferry.

There was a common long queue to get the ferry tickets. The passenger ticket was 10 USD, and both were accepted - dollars and local Guyana cash. The price for the car was 20 USD. So perfectly ok.


Then it took one more hour until the ferry arrived and the cars were allowed to drive on board.


First of all the vehicles.


And then the pedestrians.


On the left – the Flag of Guyana and on the right- the flag of Suriname.


Courantyne River.


On the other side, just before landing.


The border of Suriname.

There are two queues here, one- for the citizens of Guyana, and the other – shorter, for the citizens of Suriname and drivers. Outside it is hot and humid, but luckily there is an air conditioning inside.The procedures take almost no time. The "Tourist Card "- received from Georgetown will get a stamp and the new document for the car will be valid one month.

Then, the car will be looked over and that`s all. Quick and professional. And here, too, there is the left side traffic of the road, since those times when Suriname was an English colony http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suriname


And the border station from afar.


The road conditions are normal.


On the road there is a control post. I arrange all the documents ready, but only the number of the car and the details of my passport will be written down and there are no more questions.




Paramaribo. President Palace.

Paramaribo is the capital and also the largest city of the country. The city was founded in 1613 by Dutch traders, and the Old Town of Paramaribo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.


St.Peter and Paul Cathedral. One of the tallest wooden buildings of in South America
















Dutch Reformed Church, built in 1833


A Post Office.












Parbo is unofficial abbreviation from Paramaribo.


Monument for Suriname veterans who participated in the Korean War.


A Mailbox.


Fort Zeelandia, now there is a museum.












Maroon Day is October 10, and since 2011 that day is a public holiday. Maroons are the former slaves who had fled to hinterland, and founded there their settlements. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maroon_(people)#French_Guiana_and_Suriname.






Independence Square. Evening concert performers belonged to many different ethnic groups, not only from Africa. Next in pictures



























Continued...