Day 20 - 12/09 - Devil's Island

The lemon tree was really trying to grow at Devil's Island this morning. Rain squalls and wind were present in full force and the Captain's announcements weren't especially encouraging about our ability to tender. The 9am start of tendering came and went. Finally a tender with the staff Captain and Hotel Director and port agent was sent ashore to assess the dock situation. At around 11am 4 & 5 star mariners were sent down to the tender platform and we were ashore in about ten minutes.

Before recounting the time on 'Devil's Island', I need to clarify something. One does not actually visit Devil's Island. Devil's Island is one of three islands closely located together off French Guiana and its Space Port. The island we visited is called Royale Island and the third Island is called Joseph Island. From the time this former French penal colony started in the 1850's, prisoners were first brought to Royale Island. Hard core political prisoners were then imprisoned on Devil's Island which is separated from Royale Island by a treacherous channel. Most prisoners sent there didn't survive. I'll let you research further details on your own. Nowadays visiting Devil's Island means visiting Royale Island.

There are trails around the perimeter of the island which is covered in dense vegetation. From the tender platform we chose another path leading up a rocky cobblestone like surface. There are many buildings up there including the former hospital, police station (still in use), hotel/gift shop, helipad, lighthouse, and many other buildings in various stages of being reclaimed by the jungle. We chose then to walk through the infant cemetery and found monkeys. There were also agouti (a large chewing rodent unique to this island and the area). It's about the size of a very large domestic cat or small dog and has long spindly legs and is very quick.

We walked all over the Island and ended up walking the perimeter trail facing Devil's Island on our way back to the tender platform. During that time it was pretty hot and muggy and I applied bug spray and sun block. We then caught a tender back to the ship. That 'what should be a 10 minute ride' turned out to be longer than a half hour for a reason I couldn't ascertain. Back on the ship just after 2pm I rustled up a salad for lunch (the salad bar remains open in the afternoon after the Lido buffet closes). I then watched the remainder of the tender operation. And at 4pm after all the tenders were retrieved a nice squall passed over us. All the time we were on the island it was wonderful weather and the lemon tree shriveled up. I was also able to photograph to Spaceport on the land many miles away. It was the site that launched the rocket that caused us to miss the Devil's Island stop on our way to Brazil.

Once the anchor was stowed, the ship did a loop around the islands and we got to see the backside of the real Devil's Island and we began our route to Barbados. Tonight was gala night with surf & turf so we dressed up and ate in the dining room. We arrived at the Main Dining Room at 5:15pm and barely made it out by 7:25pm. It was super slow and it wasn't our server's fault. It appears to me Hal is understaffing the dining room and/or kitchen. We'll return to the Lido where we can eat in under 1/2 an hour if we wish.

The evening entertainment was 'Five O'Clock Somewhere' a high energy duo from Ireland. Their rendition of Hallelujah was chilling. More Christmas decorations were up including a gingerbread village and miniature train set and we got our picture taken in front of the Christmas tree.

We then enjoyed listening to the dueling pianos musicians perform songs from the 60's and then people's choice songs. It was also Chocolate Surprise night and we imbibed.

It was a good day, and it's a sea day tomorrow. Stay tuned.

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