Suriname > Papillon prison

In the morning we are once again awakened by the sound of lapping water right next to the bed. We pack our things and today we return to Paramaribo. At nine o’clock, we set off from Galibi toward Albina. Before reaching Albina, we first cross the river to Saint Laurent in French Guiana.

Suriname - The penal colony

For the third time, we land in French Guiana without our passports. In Saint Laurent is the former French penal colony, known from the movie Papillon. At the tourist information office, we find out that the prison is closed on Mondays. This is slightly annoying, as Terence should have known this. As an alternative, Guy takes us on a walking tour of Saint Laurent. Fortunately, the prison is open, but no guided tours are offered today. We start the city tour with a visit to the prison. Some buildings have been renovated for the film, while others are heavily dilapidated. At the back of the prison, some buildings are used by local associations. We continue walking through Saint Laurent along the waterfront, past the town hall and the city center. At the butcher shop, we buy croissants with our euros. On a terrace, we have a coffee and wander through the village. It is striking to see that on this side of the river, everything seems better organized. Saint Laurent looks tidier, the roads are good, and facilities are readily available.

Suriname - The former French penal colony in French Guiana

This could serve as a good example for Suriname. Around midday, we return to the dock. By boat, we go back to Albina. In the park, we have our lunch, and the bus is already waiting to take us back to Paramaribo. We say goodbye to Terence and his crew and get on the bus. Roy drives us back to Paramaribo over a very poor road. Some sections have completely washed away or are full of holes. The driver knows the route well and we weave past the obstacles. After a short break and three hours of driving, we return to the area where we cycled two weeks ago. We pass the restaurant where we ate and turn left toward the Jules Wijdenbosch Bridge. The high bridge offers a beautiful view of the Suriname River and the city of Paramaribo from the top. At half past four, Roy drops us off at Jasmine’s hotel. It feels wonderful to have our own room again, to shower, and above all, to put on clean clothes from our main luggage. In the evening, we eat meat and fries with a small group at ’t Vat, a tourist-friendly restaurant in the city center. We stay on the terrace until nearly midnight.