We're preparing for our return now - the movers are about to collect our things (we hope) - and starting to think about what we'll miss: warm weather, cheap rum, sea views ... not all that much in fact but it's been an interesting year.
Our neighbour Margaret has also just left to return to Trinidad, which for her means going back to civilisation - she's distinctly sniffy about Guyana. It's a bit ironic therefore that we had a weekend in Trinidad at the beginning of this month and spent most of the time with no water, no power and not much else. Just like being back in Guyana in fact. To do them justice, we were in a pretty remote part of the north coast and there was heavy rain which kept bringing down the power lines. Between the rainstorms it was a lovely place, though. We were staying on one of the beaches the turtles use in spring to lay their eggs. No sign of them, but plenty of old eggshells and vultures hanging around waiting for their next meal. We also visited an eco-centre in the mountains - lots of humming birds and elderly British and American tourists; our demographic I suppose, but it didn't feel like it.
We've also been to Berbice along the east coast of Guyana with Penny's colleague Sam and her family. The Guyanese always speak positively of Berbice and it is indeed very pleasant and laid back. It's also got country (cows grazing in fields and that sort of thing) which you don't really get elsewhere in Guyana - it's either built-up, sugarcane or rice plantations or (generally) wilderness - and makes a nice change.
It's been rather odd having the build up to Christmas in temperatures of 30 degrees plus. The Guyanese are pretty enthusiastic about the whole thing - putting up fake Christmas trees and many houses are decorated with huge inflatable Santa Claus and reindeer. The Christmas cards feature snowy scenes that most have never experienced and have no wish to - in fact, dealing with cold weather, is the main concern Sam has about a possible study visit to the UK next summer. There is an air of mild surprise that we northerners - there's a Canadian museum 'expert' in town as well - actually feel there should be cold and snow at this time of year.
Hope to see y'all again in the New Year. We should be back by Christmas - snow and other travel hazards permitting - and no doubt longing for the sun again. Penny may get back to it again in the spring, as she has a bit of unfinished business (more detail on the archive experience in a following post).
