Exploring Suriname

I’ve decided to put the pictures in a separate entry. This way I can… man I don’t really know why it’s better, I just did it!

If you want to have a better visual understanding of the route I took, use Google Earth to see the spots I placemarked and put in this file

30 seconds away from my front door we have, what we know as “Kerkplein” (Church square), simply because there is a church at this square (to the left). To the right we have the RBTT Bank, where the ABN Bank (a Dutch bank) used to be.

Next to the RBTT Bank we have the Heerenstraat, which I put here, because of the mahogany trees along the side. These trees are older than my father (can be a lot older, but I have his tales to tell).

[break] I just went and put some hot water in a cup to let it cool down a little, while I’m adding these pics. I recently read that when putting green tea, infuse your teabag for 3 minutes in boiling hot water (100 degress C) you get a biter taste, use 80 deg water and you get an astringent taste, use 60 degree water to get a sweet taste. I have no thermometer here, so the best taste I got till now is astringent. Now back to “work” [/break]

To the right you have the Sint Petrus & Paulus Cathedral, The largest wooden building in South America (they say). Right next to it you see De Surinaamsche Bank NV (old way of writing, nowadays we just write Surinaamse), which now changed it’s name to DSB Bank.

This is Spanhoek, the spot where the trains used to have their last stop in Paramaribo back in the days when we did have trains here. Now it’s a very modern square with Spanhoek Passage to the north-west (with the Golden Arches across the street), Staten monument in the middle (surrounded by a fountain, which is dormant in the picture) with the and Telesur to the south-south-west, in front of a Carillon

(I’m so happy that Google Earth also runs on my Ubuntu Linux box!)

In the Keizerstraat, on about 1 football field distance from Mc D, we have, what is sometimes referred to as “the great symbol of harmony in Suriname”: A Jewish Synagogue right next to a Muslim Mosque. (get the Google Earth placemark files for Jewish Synagoge and Muslim Mosque, because I forgot to add them in the collection)

Coming from Spanhoek, going to the left, we have the Domineestraat. This is probably one of the most visited streets in Paramaribo. If someone comes to Suriname and has not walked the Domineestraat, his/her trip has been in vain! Not that there is so much special there, but just because for some reason people meet/mingle/chill on the intersection of Domineestraat and Steenbakkerijstraat, right below Popeye’s in the Krasnapolski Building and around the entrance of the Kersten Mall (fifth picture from top in this group). These pictures were taken before school was out. The ones below were taken right after school was out!

Schaafijs

On a hot day in Suriname there is probably nothing (non-alcoholic) more refreshing than a “Schaafijs”. As seen in the picture, a plane like tool is used to rasp a block of pure, regular H20 ice. This “Schaaf” has a chamber where the rasped ice is collected. From here it is transferred into a plastic cup or a small plastic bag, and you can pick from several kinds of syrups (tamarind, cherry, cola essence, passion fruit, Soursop, Mope [Hog Plum], Orgeat and even milk mixed with cola essence). Add a drinking straw and start sucking! This schaafijs seller is standing in the best spot, since there is constant foot traffic here.

This used to be the place where slaves were sold. Now there seems to be a problem with descendants of the owners. They can’t seem to decide what to do with it. And since the decision needs to be unanimous, nothing is done with this property. And I mean NOTHING, as is clear in the picture. (Karma??)

This Brick house is on what is probably the busiest intersection in Paramaribo. Here the Zwartenhovenbrugstraat , which usually mostly contains traffic from south of the city, meets the Dr Sophie Redmondstraat, which usually contains traffic from the western outskirts of the city. Of course traffic that needs to go south and west may need to pass this intersection. Even traffic that needs to go east, because you need to travel south on the Zwartenhovenbrugstraat to reach the Wijdenbosch Bridge to cross the Suriname river to go east!

In the Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat we have one of the oldest clubs in Suriname, club Touche.

This picture was taken to show a nice Fayalobi (Flaming Love) Ixora bush, which is probably the most popular flower in Suriname, with a Billboard against HIV discrimination in the background, and the huge Surinamese flag further in the back.

The Huge Flag

This is probably the most beautiful picture I’ve taken on my journey: A huge Surinamese Flag (6 meters wide) with the beautiful blue skies in the background, making a perfect color combination with the green, red, white and yellow in the flag! It took me a while (and a lot of shots) to get this photo, cause this massive flag would not fly, even though it was kinda windy.

I did have 1 nice shot, but the American Embassy is also on that picture. I was not told that I could not use pictures with the embassy on it (I was approached by a security guard who politely asked me who I was, what I was taking pictures for, what my name was, so I explained a little about the blog and gave him my card), but I’m just careful. Think of it: I use the words “Muslim” and “American Embassy” in one entry, plus I post a picture with the Embassy on it! I’m sure the guys from the CIA, FBI, NSA and/or from other 3 letter acronym organization, are watching my blog as we speak! Let’s not give them reason to shut it down

I like this shot too. Using the pole to block the sun, while having the sun radiate the colors of the flag. Unfortunately the yellow star got darkened.

Misfortune

And then it happens: My favorite set of shoes, the one I have worn for years now, the one that has been through a lot with me, could not take it any more. It just quit on me. And not just a loose heel or something like that, no, the whole side just ripped open. So I had to interrupt this journey and go home to change footwear.

Took a quick shot of the Calorschool (Secondary school), which is mostly build with bricks…

… Needed to drink, so I got me some Pomme de cythère (Ambarella) juice, produced in Suriname…

… Looked in the window of a shoe store, but there was nothing there that was to my liking, or that would fit on blue jeans with a pink shirt…

… met Ajay (brother of my best friend, Sanjay, aka DJ Kuyken, the #1 allround club DJ in Suriname) …

… met my sisters, who were walking to my house where their car was parked.

I changed footwear (just put on some slippers) and continued my quest.

I think this is a good spot to take a break. I will continue this report in a new post. But I think that’s enough for today. The wifey is getting stuff ready for me so I can cook. Sigh. I sometimes wish I didn’t cook that tasty!

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