Things to do in Georgetown

Georgetown is a hive of activity. The markets (Bourda and Stabroek) are running over with vendors selling everything, including gold.  Since we are not clubbers, I cannot comment on the night life but I was told that the clubs are thriving.  Most of our activities were done during the day.  The National Zoo, the Botanical Gardens, the National Museum are very interesting places to visit.

The Zoo is home to many exotic birds that can be found in the the remote areas of Guyana.  We spent some time here viewing the animals and we feel sure they were suffering from the sweltering heat as much as we were.  There were visible signs that every effort was being made to maintain the Zoo but the Botanical Gardens was somewhat disappointing.  I searched for the water lilies that used to be in abundance in the ponds at the Gardens but could not find any.  I know that they were in bloom because I saw them in other areas of Georgetown.  The Promenade Gardens has a lot more exotic flora and is better maintained.    
One evening, we attended a show at the Cultural Center. The show, "Scandalous" was extremely enjoyable and was highly supported by the locals.  We were impressed by the discipline and hard work of the performers.  The caliber of the show, in our view, was of a very high standard.

The National Museum offers a wealth of information on the history of Guyana and the various rare animals that are unique to the region.  There is also a giant sloth on display at the museum.  The giant sloth, thought to be one of the largest mammals that walked the earth, died during the Ice Age. It is believed that it originated in the tropical rain forest in South America and carried a height of about 15 feet and weighed approximately three tonnes. Megatherium was a gigantic ground sloth that weighed as much as an African elephant with huge claws, much like tree sloths.  The sight of this creature is awesome.  We were very impressed by the life-like reconstruction of this huge mammal.

Recently, the Princess International hotel (formerly Buddy's hotel) opened the first casino in Guyana.  Although locals are not permitted to enter the casino, patronage is not lacking.  Visitors with funds to spare and Guyanese returning home on vacation make up the clientele. 

Out of curiosity, we decided to visit the Princess Hotel to see how the "foreigners only" admittance to the casino was being implemented. Upon arrival, we were required to show either our passports or any similar document that confirms foreign resident status.  It will be interesting to see how long this lasts as it is rather time-consuming. It is my view that within the not too distant future, locals will be allowed to visit the casino.

Although we decided not to stay at the Ariantze Hotel, we felt that we should still patronize the hotel in some way so we went there one Thursday evening for their Jazz night.  There was a group called "The Untouchables" playing that evening to a very full house.  Jazz in Guyana is wonderful and has a 30s sound.  The musicians use the trumpets and saxophones a lot and for most of the 50+ Guyanese, these sounds are truly nostalgic.  We enjoyed the music - even though the event started one hour later than the time advertised.  They called this GT time.

One of the highlights of our trip was the Annual Hat Show at the Promenade Gardens.  The Inner Wheel Club hosts this show every Easter and we were lucky to be there to experience the excitement and the creative talents of Guyanese - young and old.  Hundreds of people flocked the breezy , shady and breathtaking Promenade Gardens on the afternoon of April 17.  As usual, the event did not begin on time but the Guyana Police Band entertained the waiting crowd until things got moving.  The parade was a tropical mix of colors and the age of the contestants ranged from 3 months to 85 years.  It was truly a delight to see.

Besides the Hat Show, patrons were invited to partake in the garden tea party where many mouth-watering delicacies were served such as cheese straws, patties, sandwiches, cakes and ice-cream - to name a few.  Of course, all for a price.
 
The children, especially, had a great time running freely through the Gardens before and after the show.  There were several photographers capturing the highlights throughout the event and it was especially nice to open the Kaiteur News at breakfast the next day and see the event in vibrant color.  This made for a very interesting conversation with other guests at the El Dorado.




Some places to eat in Georgetown