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ARRIVAL AT ST LAURENT Du MARONI |
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St Laurent du Maroni dilapidated, abandoned river-port of France’s ex-penal colony, Guiana. The checkpoint all concrete, glassless apertures, and heavy iron grills. Bullet holes pock mark buildings, scars left untreated from erratic raids by marauding Bush Negroes of the interior. Guards, fleshy, red-faced Frenchmen, surly and sweating in tropical khaki bark orders. I fret, fearful of their making trouble over my Kiwi passport. One snatches it - studies it, glancing at me, calling across to another whom also turns and looks. All now stare. There is tension. ‘Hah. Kiwi!’ they chuckle and with a friendly stamping I am welcomed in.
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Travelogue