Apr 12, 2014 - April 12, 2014 – Devil’s Island, French Guiana

April 12, 2014 – Devil’s Island, French Guiana Devil’s Island is the smallest and northernmost island of the 3 Iles du Salut (Salvation Islands) located about 6 nautical miles off the coast of French Guiana. It was a small part of the notorious French penal colony in French Guiana until 1952. It is a rocky, palm-covered island which rises 131’ above sea level. The penitentiary was 1st opened by Emperor Napoleon III’s government in 1852 and became one of the most infamous prisons in history. While the colony was in use (1852-1946) the...

Mar 7, 2014 - Devil's Island, French Guiana

Thursday 6 March Day 63 - Devil's Island, French Guiana We docked at seven and we could see all three Islands in the Salvation Group. We were actually going to Isle Royale but is generally known as Isle du Diable because that is where the French Penal Colony was situated. It is situated seven miles off the coast of French Guiana. The penal colony was formed by the Government of Emperor Napoleon 111 in 1852 and it became the home for the worst criminals, political and military prisoners as well as repeat offenders. It was originally called...

Feb 23, 2013 - Devils island

We docked today off the French Guiana islands, Isles du Salut. They are 3 very small islands, Devil’s island, St Joseph Island and Royal Island. All were prison colonies (many political prisoners) for the French in the 19th Century, Devil’s Island being the most notorious. We were tendered to Royal Island as it is very difficult to land on the others. We had a lovely walk round it and enjoyed the views from the top. The prison is now in ruins of course but the warders houses are still there and are used as accommodation for the hotel. We...

Jun 2, 2011 - jour 10- Kourou espace centre

Aujourd'hui, je vais au centre spatial de Kourou. Il est un endroit étonnant et très pédagogique, haha. Quand je suis arrivé, j’ai réalisé que je n’étais pas exactement autorises à aller à l’intérieur et tout autour, qui a changé mes plans. Je voulais vraiment allerais, mais je suis allé l’ile de salut. Comme je suis maintenant la réalisé ce fut la meilleure chose à faire. Les sites à voir sont incroyables, comme vous pouvez le voir dans mes photos. Ma partie préférée était en visite à la dame avec les perroquets. Elle était belle, et les...

Jun 2, 2011 - jour 11- En conclusion

Il est triste de penser que je suis sur mon chemin maintenant en attente de mon voyage en avion. Tous les endroits visites par je, je tous les sites ont vu, sera dans ma mémoire pour toujours. J’ai eu un grand temps, je serais ravie de le faire encore, si j’ai le temps. Allant de Montréal, au Nicaragua, puis a la Guyane française a été incroyable, fatigant et écrasante. Si j’y vais encore une fois, je vais prendre des photos pour tout voir, et vous pouvez entendre parler de la beauté du monde. Jusque-là, adieu.

Jan 10, 2011 - The Amazon

Sunday, January 9, 2011 Today I was on the schedule to give a presentation on Travel Blogging. Was I nervous talking before my group, many of whom knew a lot more about computers than I do? A little. But, I think it went quite well. A number of people approached me and are encouraged to either start their own blogs or have their family log onto mine to find out what we are doing. At about 1:30 pm it was evident we were entering the Amazon as the ship is churning up mud from the bottom of the river leaving a brown wake. There is no land...

Jan 8, 2011 - Ile Royale

Saturday, January 8, 2011 I couldn't seem to get the map co0ordinates for this small island, but this is very close. It’s going to take a long time for me to get dried out after the trek on Ile Royale. Ile Royale is part of a group of islands off the coast of French Guiana known as Iles du Salut (Salvation Islands) The other islands in this group are Ile du Diable (Devil’s Island) and Ile Saint-Joseph. All of these islands housed murderers, thieves and traitors. The most famous of the islands is Devil’s Island which the movie “Papillon” was...

Sep 26, 2010 - St Luarent, Fr. Guiana

To Fr. Guiana and Philip & Shunee Since we exchged more than absolutely necessary, we figure we can afford the minivan to the border. No one seems to know what time the ferry crosses to Fr. Guiana (LP says 3:30), so rather than take a chance on missing one we go in a fast (2 hr) minivan - 40sd ea ($12 US) and only 2 hrs vs bus at 8.50sd ($2.50 US) and miss the ferry - cheap way to Fr Guiana. We arr at 10:30 and walk/fight our way away from touts trying to get us in their boats to Fr. Guiana. Six blocks away we walk back to police station...

Dec 8, 2008 - Devil's Island, French Guiana

Devil’s Island, French Guiana (The Salvation Islands: Isle Royale, Isle Joseph and Isle du Diable) December 8, 2008 After 2 days at sea we have reached The Salvation Islands 6.8 miles off the coast of French Guiana. These 3 tiny (34.6 acres), stunningly beautiful islands are: Isle Royale, Isle Joseph and Isle du Diable. As a group they are better known, world wide, as Devil’s Island. Not one of them is as large as our Buck Island and one is about the size of Protestant Cay. They are very close together and look as though you could easily...

Dec 8, 2008 - Devil's Island

Well, we weren’t REALLY on Devil’s Island . . . even though that’s what the cruise itinerary said . . . because no visitors are ALLOWED on Devil’s Island. We were REALLY on Isle Royale. But who cares, right? Here’s what’s REALLY important about our day on Isle Royale/Devil’s Island. For almost the entire time we’ve been on the Grand Princess . . . over four weeks . . . my heavens, who would believe it? . . . . Dianna and I have been saying we absolutely MUST step into the ship’s steambath sometime soon. After all, it’s there . . . for the...

Mar 2, 2008 - Devil’s Island, French Guiana

3/2 – 3/4 It took two days to make our way out of the Amazon River and north along the Brazil coast to Devil’s Island, French Guiana. Of course Devil’s Island is the home of the prisons where France sent a number of its criminals. It held up to 2000 prisoners at one time. Throughout its history 80,000 prisoners were sent to the island, only 30,000 lived to tell about it. The once horrible place is now a tropical paradise. We took a walking tour around the island which included a number of wildlife sightings (monkeys, cayman and agouti -...

Aug 30, 2005 - French Guiana - St Laurent

This used to be where the convicts arrived before being dispatched off to various penal colonies including the infamous devil's island - Papillon stayed here at the Camp de la Transportation in what can only have been appalling conditions. We spend a couple of lazy days here - the thermometer records 35 degrees - the problem being it is situated in the shade and directly under a fan! So we are pleased to have the use of a swimming pool in our hotel - which is the restored administrative block of the prison! Once again we are obliged to...