After arriving in French Guiana, or Guyane, I’ve now visited all the countries in South America!
While the other Guianas – Guyana and Suriname – seem culturally distinct from the other South American countries, French Guiana is like a world apart. Politically it’s a part of France and the European Union. The country is much more expensive than any of the others on the continent, about the same as the US, and transportation options are even more limited than in Guyana and Suriname. Taxis are difficult to obtain, and very expensive. The ferry that crosses the river between Suriname and here was not running when I arrived so I crossed in a small boat, then met a driving instructor parked by the side of the road near the boat dock, who kindly offered to let his student drive me into town.
Not many people speak English here, so I’ve been scrambling to learn more or relearn the little French I once knew. Enjoyed some great French cuisine, and was pleased to see the French ban on plastic bags in grocery stores enforced in this small corner of South America. Hope this spreads to the rest of the continent.