Mazaruni river

The next morning at 8 30 we met at his hotel Balkarranom, I left my backpack at him and we went on a boat on the Mazaruni. Having left from Essekeybo, we went into the waters, which usually runs an annual Sailing Regatta - the most ambitious regatta in Guyana, and headed towards the Mazaruni, passing the golden beach, the shipyard where they build dredzhingovye pumps to extract gold from rivers, islands and Kalf KAEA , which formerly were a leper colony and the cemetery, and is now rumored to inhabit the many ghosts. The weather was perfect. Smooth, almost mirror surface water reflects the sky and clouds.

On the right hand could be seen the famous Mazarunskaya prison, or as it is called,; Educational Institution (Institution of Higher Learning), numerous islands and sand bar island Barakara. On the horizon on the west side of Mount chenille. We sailed close to the prison to examine the building. Fence no moat, a small masonry and more Mazaruni. The prisoners, according to Balkarrana distributed on arrival at the correctional work in local villages. Income from one third of the income allocated to them to at the end of it was possible to safely return to civilian life or to start a business, unless of course the desire to go back not overpower. During the escape yield of 3 to 5 years. Earlier attempts to escape are often taken as the legend of the underground prison was tonel to the island fortress and Kaikyo Over Ole (Kyk over Al), which in 1616 was built the first fort Guyana, and just do first building erected by the Europeans. But then the tunnel is filled, so as not to confuse an already troubled prison audience. It is unknown whether the reduced number of shoots from it, but by itself gives the impression of a prison Mazarunskaya very quiet place. Although it is known what happens in still waters
From prison, we continued our way to the island on which were the remains of the fortress Kaikyo Over Ole (Kyk over Al translated from Dutch; see vokruug) brick gates and foundations. According Balkarran when he was just beginning to organize trips to the Mazaruni in 1986 on the foundation with masonry gates towered high in the meter and a half meters, but gradually the locals pilfered it for building houses, mostokov, piers. Fragments of masonry we found on the opposite bank of the Mazaruni, when climbing to the store of local logger Mazarali.
Also on the island there are three graves of two burials from east to west and one from north to south. The burials belong to the Dutch, who first arrived in the area, and again the assurance Balkarrana its tourists Golladnii told him that usually buried east to west and from north to south bury bad or guilty. So, one, apparently, something is not pleased. Next, Kaikyo Over Ol we turned Mazaruni, and went down the river to the rapids and Marshall Marshall Falls. On the left side of us seemed to granite quarries, which are developed by the Government of Guyana together with BK international, the order of 3-5 pits in a row right on the beach. On the right is Itaballi settlement, which involved harvesting. Mazaruni on many islands, branches, bends. Soon, during intensified, and the captain warned that Marshall will soon begin thresholds, so you need to stay strong. As we approach the rapids, the number of boulders and rock piles. But the captain knew the terrain, so you can continue to safely look ahead.

Crossed the threshold, we stopped at the beach, which usually organizes Balkarran camp (tent with hammocks and a barbecue) to come to him of large groups. Beach clean enough, but at high water sometimes causes the grass and tree bark. From the Camp, we started to come back in one of the bays landed. Tying and covering the boat (according to Balkarrana, due to the fact that Georgetown Bartik above 40 feet, and is still in the Mazaruni 30-37 feet above the rain can go at any time), we took a machete, went through the jungle to Marshall waterfalls. The road passes through the stones, then gave way to the jungle, often on the way were littered with trees that had to be cut down. It should be noted that, despite quite clearly the intended way to the jungle Mazaruni sufficiently dense and thick. They grow these types of wood, as yarula (yarula) a large tree used for the manufacture of oars for canoes, a green tree (greenheart tree) - which is second in the world on the strength and durability of first (can serve up to 300 years), tree Mora.
After half an hour walking through the jungle we went to Marshall Falls. The size of these small but picturesque enough. Water in the Marshall Falls in red due to foliage and trees that fall into a river. If you omit the hand into the water on a sunny day, leather under the water gets golden hue. From the flow rate falls very foamy, and the presence of foam on the Mazaruni can be seen approaching a waterfall. Refreshed, we headed back to the boat through the jungle to continue the path to Essekeybo. Returning, met on the way miners heading to work, Issa, and then a career with the club were white, and Itaballi, now with the left hand side and the island Barakara against which we drew to the shore to go to the waterfalls Barakara.
Falls are less than the Marshall and more rocky, but also suitable for swimming. Island Barakara known in Guyana as a resort and it is usually confused with consonant Baganara island, which is located on Essekeybo if to swim upstream from Bartik, and is also a resort. From the side it looks quite nice and tempting white sand and solitude, but for unknown reasons, the cost of accommodation is very high, U.S. $ 180 per night without meals (which is higher than on a more popular and popular island Baganara), and transfers to / from Bartik.
Returning from a Barakary Bartik, we also drove past the only one in Guyana, a Benedictine monastery, which was closed in June this year. The monastery looks rather modest, but the guide was announced as a possible option of accommodation, if not satisfied for any reason, the options in Bartik. According Balkarrana lived here and served the monks were engaged in agriculture and horticulture, as well as teaching at a local school Latin and French. Due to the lack of students willing to pursue their case, it was decided to suspend the work of the monastery, so now there is only a caretaker.