South America in 1997

For 1997 I had planned to visit China and the ex Soviet Empire including Siberia and Mongolia. As I hate the cold, I had to time my departure so as to avoid the Siberian winter and to go to some warm place while waiting for the right time to leave for China (April). In January and February I took off for the three Guyanas and Panama. They were the only countries I had not yet visited in the Americas.

The map below shows the route I followed from Montreal and back. The travelogue of this trip is not in exact chronological order because it was more convenient to regroup my two stops in Cartagena and my three stops in Trinidad. You can start with Colombia and follow the "next" links from page to page or link directly to the places that interest you in the list next to the map.

   Colombia (1- Cartagena)
  Trinidad
  Guyana
  Suriname
  French Guyana
  Grenada
  Colombia (2 - Bogotá)
  Colombia (3- Cali)
  Panama 

I continue developing this site for the pleasure of sharing the joys of discovery with you. Meeting wonderful people of all skin colours, ethnic origins and beliefs has inspired me to set up the Humanist Foundation of Quebec to promote critical thinking and intercultural tolerance.

You may download and use the globetrotter's photos provided you mention "Photo by Bernard Cloutier" with a link to this site below each photo. High resolution versions can be acquired from our agent Travel-Images.com.

If you feel like it, you may exchange comments and impressions with other readers in the questbook or express them to me privately by the e-mail link. Putting a link on your web site, if you have one, would invite your viewers to enjoy free virtual travel as I hope you did.