French Guiana
Cayenne - Ethnic diversity, tropical ambience, gorgeous streetscapes and Creole cuisine - Cayenne is one of South America's most charming cities. Though it lacks the soaring grandeur of Buenos Aires, its French Colonial architecture gives it a charm reminiscent of New Orleans' French Quarter.
Kourou - Situated on the west bank of the Kourou River, 65km (40mi) west of Cayenne, Kourou used to be little more than a moribund penal settlement. These days, thanks to the influence of the European space program, it has rocketed from the 19th century straight into the 21st. It's worth visiting the town and touring the Centre Spatial Guyanais to witness this collision of worlds.
Currently, three separate organizations operate here - the Agence Spatiale Européenne (European Space Agency), the Centre National d'Études Spatiales (French Space Agency) and Arianespace (a private commercial enterprise developing the Ariane rocket). Between them, they comprise about 15% of the country's economic activity, employ about 1000 people and conduct eight or nine launches per year. |
