Heading North on the coast I arrived at Datyona, where driving/riding motor vehicles on the beach is permitted. Last time I did something like that in California I had to explain it to the judge afterward…
The Kennedy Space Center
| I was interested in visiting the Kennedy Space Center to observe the differences between it and the one in Guyana. Owing it probably to the proximity to the Disneyland, the KSC visit feels like one to an amusement park: rides, 3D theaters, special effects, popcorn, restaurants and so on. Nobody was wearing an astronaut’s suit, though 🙂
The bus took us to an observation deck, to an old Apollo control center and to the cargo preparation area for the shuttle program. Besides those, there are many full size mock-ups, including a shuttle, the Saturn V and other rockets and sections of the International Space Station. |
One of the cargo preparation areas. Occasionally, alligators could be seen in the canals like this one |
The Apollo command center |
Saturn V mock-up and other exhibits |
The Lunar buggy, also a mock-up |
Some of the first suit designs |
 Outside the cargo preparation area |
Inside the cargo preparation area |
The toilet aboard the International Space Station |
The ISS lab |
The shuttle cargo bay with the payload, mock-up |
Tags: museum
The Florida keys
From Miami I continued South towards Key West. The road is very scenic. There are long bridges that connect the islands, side by side with the decommissioned bridges that now serve for jogging or fishing. Eventually I arrived in Key West, a popular tourist destination for families and elders (fourth picture). Many restaurants, clubs and shopping locations. Not my style, so I left without spending too much time there, but not before visiting the Southernmost spot of the continental USA (last picture). In the background you can see a Cuban listening to Radio Havana (located just 150km South), bringing him memories from his hometown that he haven’t visited since fleeing in 1980.
Tags: architecture
This has to be a joke!
The people I spoke to were proud to be living in a country where everybody, no matter if black, white, chinese, jew or muslim, may enjoy a peaceful life together. This must be true, since the mosque and the jewish temple are located one next to the other.
Tags: architecture
The shipwrecks
In the middle of the Paramaribo river there is a German shipwreck dating from World War II (first picture). Trying to get closer I found two other grounded vessels. I went aboard to check them out and I met Raed, a former seaman who now lived aboard one of the ships, together with four other people. While drinking a beer he told me the story behind the ships, in a mix of English with Portuguese and Dutch 🙂
Tags: watercraft