The Captain made a PA this morning at 7:15 saying it was not safe for the planned tender operation today at Devil's Island. So we now have another day at sea. So as not to disappoint those following my blog, I will be posting photos I took at Devil's Island during a previous visits there.
Historical/Background Info:
France's, Napoleon III, established a penal colony for the exile of French political prisoners, murderers, and thieves from 1852 to 1953. The penal colony consisted of 3 very small islands located 7 miles off the coast of French Guiana and 2 prisons located on the mainland itself. There are three small countries on the northeast corner of South America: Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. They lie on the coast between Venezuela and Brazil. French Guiana is still under French control but the other two have gained their independence. Today, the economy is based on the near equatorial Guiana Space Center, the European Space Agency's primary launch site.
From physics we learned that it is easier for space vehicles to obtain Earth orbit if launched from near the equator. (I never took physics, if the truth be known.)
It was one of the most infamous prison systems in history. A vast majority of the more than 80,000 prisoners sent to Devil’s Island never made it back to France. Many died due to disease, beheadings, and other harsh conditions. The only escape was by water and few did due to strong currents and sharks. The prisoners came by prison ships to Kourou on the mainland to be processed and assigned to work camps or solitary confinement. Most of the movie, “Papillon” was filmed on the French Guiana mainland prisons but near the end it was filmed on the islands.
The three islands were: Isle Royale, Saint-Joseph, and Devil's Island. Over time the mainland and island prisons became known collectively as "Devil's Island". We stopped at the larger of the three islands, Isle Royale, Isle Royale is where the administrative buildings were located. The Governor’s house, guard house, hospital, church, as well as prisons were here. Devil's Island was the smallest of the islands and only 30 of the most infamous political prisoners at a time were located there. Escape was almost impossible due to the very strong currents and rip tides, plus sharks inhabiting the waters surrounding the islands.
Although you will see many trees on the island in my photos, during the time that the island was a prison, the French made the prisoners cut down all the trees so they could not be used to make rafts for escaping. I cannot imagine how HOT it must have been with no shade.
I think it is shameful that the French government has not done more to preserve the buildings on Isle Royale. I guess they are embarrassed by the inhumane treatment the prisoners received. They should be! Go rent the movie "Papillon".
France's, Napoleon III, established a penal colony for the exile of French political prisoners, murderers, and thieves from 1852 to 1953. The penal colony consisted of 3 very small islands located 7 miles off the coast of French Guiana and 2 prisons located on the mainland itself. There are three small countries on the northeast corner of South America: Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. They lie on the coast between Venezuela and Brazil. French Guiana is still under French control but the other two have gained their independence. Today, the economy is based on the near equatorial Guiana Space Center, the European Space Agency's primary launch site.
From physics we learned that it is easier for space vehicles to obtain Earth orbit if launched from near the equator. (I never took physics, if the truth be known.)
It was one of the most infamous prison systems in history. A vast majority of the more than 80,000 prisoners sent to Devil’s Island never made it back to France. Many died due to disease, beheadings, and other harsh conditions. The only escape was by water and few did due to strong currents and sharks. The prisoners came by prison ships to Kourou on the mainland to be processed and assigned to work camps or solitary confinement. Most of the movie, “Papillon” was filmed on the French Guiana mainland prisons but near the end it was filmed on the islands.
The three islands were: Isle Royale, Saint-Joseph, and Devil's Island. Over time the mainland and island prisons became known collectively as "Devil's Island". We stopped at the larger of the three islands, Isle Royale, Isle Royale is where the administrative buildings were located. The Governor’s house, guard house, hospital, church, as well as prisons were here. Devil's Island was the smallest of the islands and only 30 of the most infamous political prisoners at a time were located there. Escape was almost impossible due to the very strong currents and rip tides, plus sharks inhabiting the waters surrounding the islands.
Although you will see many trees on the island in my photos, during the time that the island was a prison, the French made the prisoners cut down all the trees so they could not be used to make rafts for escaping. I cannot imagine how HOT it must have been with no shade.
I think it is shameful that the French government has not done more to preserve the buildings on Isle Royale. I guess they are embarrassed by the inhumane treatment the prisoners received. They should be! Go rent the movie "Papillon".
Photos further down in this post.
LAST EVENING
We finished dinner an hour before the show was to begin so decided to skip the show and head back to the suite.
TODAY
Room service showed up with our breakfast at 7:30. I had this toasted bagel with smoked salmon and cream cheese.
We got to visit Devil's Island on our 2012 & 2016 Circle South America cruises. So I thought I would share those photos with you as nothing probably has changed.
Enjoying another lazy afternoon in our suite. I am watching the news and working a crossword puzzle. There is a notice that they will be updates on the ship's internet today from 4 to 6pm. So I will be publishing this post before then.
Our plan for this evening will start, as usual, in the Meridian Lounge for cocktail hour. At 7pm we have been invited to join Franck Galzy for dinner in Prime 7. Franck is the senior General Manage over all the other Regent GM's. We have known him since 2010. It will just be the three of us as we have a lot to catch up on.
The show tonight is featuring the guest entertainer John Lenahan, a magician doing his second show/ We do not care for magicians so not going to his show again.
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