The Wandering Scot

An occasional travel journal.

French Guiana++, December 2022

  Ariane 5    Kourou   Îles du Salut   Cayenne   St Laurent du Maroni   Guadeloupe   Miami

Ariane 5 Mission VA259 Launch

I watched the Ariane 5 VA259 launch from the IBIS viewing deck, which is 13km (8 miles) from the launch pad. There was also some tropical haze.
So photos were a stretch, even with my Sony 70-350mm zoom lens.
View past Space Museum to Pad.  T-60min., Ariane 5 Mission VA259 Launch, French Guiana++, December 2022
View past Space Museum to Pad. T-60min.
View to pad.  Note outgassing., Ariane 5 Mission VA259 Launch, French Guiana++, December 2022
View to pad. Note outgassing.
The launch!, Ariane 5 Mission VA259 Launch, French Guiana++, December 2022
The launch!
My launch badge, Ariane 5 Mission VA259 Launch, French Guiana++, December 2022
My launch badge
The IBIS launch viewing deck, Ariane 5 Mission VA259 Launch, French Guiana++, December 2022
The IBIS launch viewing deck

Kourou: Guiana Space Centre Tour

Avenue of Flags, at Space Museum, Kourou: Guiana Space Centre Tour, French Guiana++, December 2022
Avenue of Flags, at Space Museum
Ariane 5 Mockup, Kourou: Guiana Space Centre Tour, French Guiana++, December 2022
Ariane 5 Mockup
Graham + Ariane 5 Mockup, Kourou: Guiana Space Centre Tour, French Guiana++, December 2022
Graham + Ariane 5 Mockup
Musee de L'Espace, Kourou: Guiana Space Centre Tour, French Guiana++, December 2022
Musee de L'Espace
Alas, the Space Museum was closed for renovations., Kourou: Guiana Space Centre Tour, French Guiana++, December 2022
Alas, the Space Museum was closed for renovations.
Juiper Control Room, Kourou: Guiana Space Centre Tour, French Guiana++, December 2022
Juiper Control Room
Jupiter Control Room, Kourou: Guiana Space Centre Tour, French Guiana++, December 2022
Jupiter Control Room
Assembly Building, Kourou: Guiana Space Centre Tour, French Guiana++, December 2022
Assembly Building
(Another) Asembly Building, Kourou: Guiana Space Centre Tour, French Guiana++, December 2022
(Another) Asembly Building
Rocket gantry, Kourou: Guiana Space Centre Tour, French Guiana++, December 2022
Rocket gantry
Launch Pad complex, Kourou: Guiana Space Centre Tour, French Guiana++, December 2022
Launch Pad complex
View to Launch pad, Kourou: Guiana Space Centre Tour, French Guiana++, December 2022
View to Launch pad
(Anoth) Launch Complex, Kourou: Guiana Space Centre Tour, French Guiana++, December 2022
(Anoth) Launch Complex
Sloth in roadside tree Much oohing and aahing from our tour bus, Kourou: Guiana Space Centre Tour, French Guiana++, December 2022
Sloth in roadside tree
Much oohing and aahing from our tour bus!

Îles du Salut

The former Îles du Salut Penal Colony was on three offshore islands, including the famous Devil's Island
Tropic Alizés catamaran, Îles du Salut, French Guiana++, December 2022
Tropic Alizés catamaran
Distant view back to Kourou Space Center, Îles du Salut, French Guiana++, December 2022
Distant view back to Kourou Space Center
Approaching Îles du Salut, French Guiana++, December 2022
Approaching Îles du Salut
Devil's Island, from catamaran, Îles du Salut, French Guiana++, December 2022
Devil's Island, from catamaran
Devil's Island "Dreyfus Cabin" from catamaran, Îles du Salut, French Guiana++, December 2022
Devil's Island "Dreyfus Cabin" from catamaran
Ile Royale: Hospital ~1867, Îles du Salut, French Guiana++, December 2022
Ile Royale: Hospital ~1867
Prison Church, Îles du Salut, French Guiana++, December 2022
Prison Church
Church interior, Îles du Salut, French Guiana++, December 2022
Church interior
Devil's Island, from Ile Royale, Îles du Salut, French Guiana++, December 2022
Devil's Island, from Ile Royale
Devil's Island, from Ile Royale, Îles du Salut, French Guiana++, December 2022
Devil's Island, from Ile Royale
Old Barracks, now a hotel, Îles du Salut, French Guiana++, December 2022
Old Barracks, now a hotel
Disciplinary Quarter: Cells, Îles du Salut, French Guiana++, December 2022
Disciplinary Quarter: Cells
Disciplinary Quarter: Cells, Îles du Salut, French Guiana++, December 2022
Disciplinary Quarter: Cells
Disciplinary Quarter: Cells, Îles du Salut, French Guiana++, December 2022
Disciplinary Quarter: Cells
Ile St Joseph: Main Prison, Îles du Salut, French Guiana++, December 2022
Ile St Joseph: Main Prison

Cayenne

Place du Coq.  With WWI Memorial, Cayenne, French Guiana++, December 2022
Place du Coq. With WWI Memorial
Felix Eboue Monument A French colonial administrator, from Fren, Cayenne, French Guiana++, December 2022
Felix Eboue Monument
A French colonial administrator, from French Guyana
Felix Eboue statue, Cayenne, French Guiana++, December 2022
Felix Eboue statue
Place Léopold-Héder, with former Prefecture, Cayenne, French Guiana++, December 2022
Place Léopold-Héder, with former Prefecture
Fountain at Place Léopold-Héder, Cayenne, French Guiana++, December 2022
Fountain at Place Léopold-Héder
Caserne Loubere fort, Cayenne, French Guiana++, December 2022
Caserne Loubere fort
Remains of Fort Cépérou, Cayenne, French Guiana++, December 2022
Remains of Fort Cépérou
Remains of Fort Cépérou, Cayenne, French Guiana++, December 2022
Remains of Fort Cépérou
Cayenne from Mount Cépérou, French Guiana++, December 2022
Cayenne from Mount Cépérou
Hotel de Ville de Cayenne (Town Hall), French Guiana++, December 2022
Hotel de Ville de Cayenne (Town Hall)
Les Palmistes Hotel, Cayenne, French Guiana++, December 2022
Les Palmistes Hotel
Trésor Nature Reserve, Cayenne, French Guiana++, December 2022
Trésor Nature Reserve

Musée Local de Guyane

Many Butterflies (
Many Butterflies ("Papillons")
Eyeful Butterflies, top & lower, Musée Local de Guyane, French Guiana++, December 2022
Eyeful Butterflies, top & lower
Two very large Spiders. Note the Euro coin for scale., Musée Local de Guyane, French Guiana++, December 2022
Two very large Spiders.
Note the Euro coin for scale.
Model of Cayenne in 1789, Musée Local de Guyane, French Guiana++, December 2022
Model of Cayenne in 1789
Painting of grand ceremony in 1902, Musée Local de Guyane, French Guiana++, December 2022
Painting of grand ceremony in 1902
1950s painting by Francis LaGrance, an ex-convict, Musée Local de Guyane, French Guiana++, December 2022
1950s painting by Francis LaGrance, an ex-convict
View from Devil's Island to Ile Royale, Musée Local de Guyane, French Guiana++, December 2022
View from Devil's Island to Ile Royale
Prison Knife fight, Musée Local de Guyane, French Guiana++, December 2022
Prison Knife fight
Trubunal:
Trubunal: "Sentence of Death"

Saint Laurent du Maroni

Camp du Transportation The arrival point for the Penal System, Saint Laurent du Maroni, French Guiana++, December 2022
Camp du Transportation
The arrival point for the Penal System
Cell Block, Saint Laurent du Maroni, French Guiana++, December 2022
Cell Block
Cell Block interior, Saint Laurent du Maroni, French Guiana++, December 2022
Cell Block interior
Prisoner Statue, Saint Laurent du Maroni, French Guiana++, December 2022
Prisoner Statue
Prisoner Statue, Saint Laurent du Maroni, French Guiana++, December 2022
Prisoner Statue
Residence of the Sous-Prefet, Saint Laurent du Maroni, French Guiana++, December 2022
Residence of the Sous-Prefet
Town Hall, Saint Laurent du Maroni, French Guiana++, December 2022
Town Hall
Distinctly grim Palais de Justice, Saint Laurent du Maroni, French Guiana++, December 2022
Distinctly grim Palais de Justice

Guadeloupe

Pointe-à-Pitre

Pointe-à-Pitre: Place de la Victoire, French Guiana++, December 2022
Pointe-à-Pitre: Place de la Victoire
Pointe-à-Pitre: Felix Eboue (again), French Guiana++, December 2022
Pointe-à-Pitre: Felix Eboue (again)
Pointe-à-Pitre: Catholic Church, French Guiana++, December 2022
Pointe-à-Pitre: Catholic Church
Le Memorial ACTe Museum "No Photos!", Pointe-à-Pitre, French Guiana++, December 2022
Le Memorial ACTe Museum "No Photos!"
Le Memorial ACTe Museum, Pointe-à-Pitre, French Guiana++, December 2022
Le Memorial ACTe Museum

Fort Fleur d'Épée

Fort Fleur d'Épée, French Guiana++, December 2022
Fort Fleur d'Épée
View from  Fort Fleur d'Épée, French Guiana++, December 2022
View from Fort Fleur d'Épée
Fort Fleur d'Épée, French Guiana++, December 2022
Fort Fleur d'Épée
Graham at Fort Fleur d'Épée, French Guiana++, December 2022
Graham at Fort Fleur d'Épée

Fort l’Olive

Lighthouse at Fort l’Olive, French Guiana++, December 2022
Lighthouse at Fort l’Olive
Craggy coast at Fort l’Olive, French Guiana++, December 2022
Craggy coast at Fort l’Olive
Fort l’Olive, French Guiana++, December 2022
Fort l’Olive
Fort l’Olive: Cannon, French Guiana++, December 2022
Fort l’Olive: Cannon

Fort Delgres

Fort Delgres, French Guiana++, December 2022
Fort Delgres
Fort Delgres, French Guiana++, December 2022
Fort Delgres
Fort Delgres, French Guiana++, December 2022
Fort Delgres
Basse-Terre: Hotel de Ville, Fort Delgres, French Guiana++, December 2022
Basse-Terre: Hotel de Ville

Miami

Miami South Beach from the Marriott Stanton, French Guiana++, December 2022
Miami South Beach from the Marriott Stanton
Miami South Beach from the Marriott Stanton, French Guiana++, December 2022
Miami South Beach from the Marriott Stanton