Hi Peeps,
If there is anyone still out there? It’s been ages since I last wrote anything. You might think, given I had absolutely nothing but time on my hands during most of 2020, I’d have been prolifically scribing away. In reality, I lacked the enthusiasm to do anything and being stuck at home, I didn’t have much to write about. After 12 interminable months, that has now changed. I am back, new and improved. Well back anyway and certainly bigger. I am sorry to report, lockdown binging has taken its toll. The gym beckons, but I am playing hard to get. Besides, having kissed Iraq goodbye, I am now exploring a new country in a new continent. Welcome to Suriname in South America.
The Waterkent in downtown Paramaribo in Suriname
2020
It’s a funny old world. At the start of 2020, I was contemplating a new car and looking forward to an Easter trip to Ireland. By the end of 2020, I had been essentially unemployed since April, had sold my Aston Martin and downsized our beloved home. The highlights of the year were my occasional trips to the supermarket. Who’d have thought Tesco’s could be so appealing.
2020 wasn’t all bad though. We now live in the middle of nowhere in rural Aberdeenshire. Its quiet, definitely secluded and has enough space to keep me happy. I built a log cabin for small daughter to use as an art studio, saving the carpets, walls and animals from being covered in paint and glitter. We also have an old barn that is being converted into a garage, a recording studio and, wait for it, a bar. It’s going to take a year or two to get it as we want it, but if it lives up to the architect drawings, its going to be awesome.
The year also saw me gain a beard.
The all new hairier Wannabe
I call it my apocalypse beard. It was essentially a product of apathy and laziness. Wifey always said she would divorce me if I grew a beard, but recognised my need for a new hobby. Not the most exciting of hobbies, watching a beard grow, but it wasn’t the most exciting of years. As it is, she now likes it and is insisting I keep it. Of course, this could be a double bluff. It does hide a multitude of chins, which, in my current bloated state is probably not a bad thing.
On The Positive Side
Apart from leaving 2020 far more hirsute than I had entered it, there was one other big development. In December I started talking to a company in Suriname about taking on a role with them. At first, I wasn’t keen. The role description didn’t seem like a good fit. But after a few conversations, I realised, this was something I would be rather good at and would really enjoy doing. It seems there was lots of competition for the role and it took several months of assorted interviews, but eventually, I was advised that I had been selected. The Wannabe’s were going on a new adventure to Suriname.
It has taken another few months for everything to fall into place, but finally, towards the end of April, I got confirmation that I would be flying to Paramaribo, the capital city of Suriname. Wifey and Small, plus the menagerie will be joining me in the summer, once the school year finishes. In the mean time, I am here, in Paramaribo.
Paramaribo in all its glory
Covid Travel
The flight out was OK, considering. I have found travel a chore for years. With Covid, its reached a whole new low. In order to be able to travel, I had to have a PCR test 24 hrs before flying. I then needed a lateral flow, or Rapid Antigen Test a few hours before boarding. The PCR was unpleasant. The lateral flow was worse. Have you seem how far you have to shove that swab into your head?
Shove swab up nose until it emerges from your ear
I had visions of the wretched thing appearing out of my ear. Suffice to say, both tests were negative and so I was allowed on the flight to Amsterdam.
Schipol
There are no direct flights to Paramaribo from the UK. Fact is, at the moment there are precious few flights to Paramaribo from anywhere. Suriname was a Dutch protectorate for may years and the city still bears the hallmarks of that Dutch influence. It also means one of the few flights to Suriname is with KLM. Hence, I found myself with a 24 hr layover in Amsterdam before picking up my onward flight to Paramaribo. Normally, I would look forward to a day in Amsterdam. Unfortunately, thanks to covid, I was prevented from leaving the transit lounge. Many of the shops and restaurants were open in Schipol, operating a reduced service. But a lot weren’t and everything shut by 21.00hrs. Fortunately, I had obtained a ‘pod’ in the transit Yotel, so I could at least get some sleep and a shower. Many thanks to the excellent Yotel staff by the way. My online booking only allowed me a room from 21.00 to 05.00 hrs. I don’t know why. However, when I checked in, the guy asked me when my flight was leaving, (13.00 hrs since you ask). Consequently, he modified my booking to allow me to stay in my little sleep pod until 11.00am. A far more civilised hour.
Yotel
I have used and written about the Yotel before, but let me just say again, it is perfectly comfortable and was very welcome. Price wise it was extortionate. An overnight room in the Yotel in central Amsterdam is less than $100. I was charged more than $300 for my room. As it was, I was more than happy to pay, as the alternative, a plastic chair in the gate area, didn’t bear thinking about.
My first view of Paramaribo was from a few thousand feet and its tiny. I have gotten used to huge, modern cities, with high rise developments. Paramaribo isn’t like that. No skyscrapers. Certainly not modern and not much building going on that I could see. The airport is a long way out of thew city and we spent several minutes flying g over rain forest before we landed in a little, single runway airport, surrounded by lush vegetation.
View over Paramaribo
The Arrival
Getting off the plane was fun. Because of Covid (always bloody Covid), you have to carry a lot more paperwork with you than normal. I had my two negative Covid test certificates, an invitation letter from my new company, a government letter permitting me to travel to Suriname, a health authority letter permitting me to quarantine at my accommodation, two separate health declaration forms, the landing card and a customs declaration form. When you disembark your have to fill another form and receive a quarantine letter which you have to keep for a subsequent screening to get out of quarantine. All this means that the airport limits the number of people disembarking the plane to allow all of this paperwork and additional processing to be completed without huge queues. Fortunately, I was in the pointy end and so was in the first group. It took just over an hour to get through immigration. Anyone sitting in there tail section must have had to wait 3 or 4 hours before being allowed off. As I said, travelling in the covid era is absolutely no fun.
First View
It took just over an hour to drive from the airport to my accommodation in Paramaribo. I am in a serviced apartment in the north of the city. Its not exactly 5 star, but it’s comfortable and serviceable. Just as well as I was stuck here for 8 days in quarantine.
It’s the rainy season, just like Scotland, but warmer
Oh yes, getting out of quarantine was fun. I was driven to a government health facility where you are obliged to stand outside ( in a socially distanced style of course), part of a long line of folks waiting to be screened. It was sunny and hot and very humid. After around 40 minutes I finally got to the head of the line. Here you poke your head through an open window where someone takes your temperature before asking you how you feel? After answering in the positive, your quarantine form is stamped and thats it. You are free to room Paramaribo.
There is still a curfew in force here due to a rise in Covid cases. Weekdays it’s 8.00pm till 6.00am, weekends its currently 6.00pm Friday through to 6.00am Monday morning. Last week this was relaxed slightly with Saturday being open from 6.00am till 5.00pm to allow people to shop as it was Mothers Day on Sunday. Many flowers were purchased from what I could see.
And Finally
A large tree in the garden of our Paramaribo house
I now have transport, and have found a house for the family and I when they come out. But the curfews and of course work, mean it is difficult for me to explore. But rest assured dear reader, as soon as I am able, I will be out and about and sharing my adventures with you. In the meantime, let me assure that, a) its hot and rather damp here. We are in the rainy season. b) the local beer is passable, but there are lots of outlets selling various Belgian beers and even Boddingtons bitter and Newcastle Brown. c) the chocolate is very acceptable. Thats all the important priorities covered. What more could you possibly need to know.
And on that note, I will sign off for now and will leave your with a song all about Paramaribo by some local artists.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcdVyUtDlOA
Bye for now,
Graham the Wannabescot
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