Georgetown old town

Previously known as the garden city of the Caribbean, the old quarter of Georgetown is full of tree-lined streets, green spaces, statues of Queen Victoria and Gandhi and beautiful English-style colonial wooden buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries (including St George's Anglican cathedral which stands 43 metres tall).

It has its rough edge and some of the buildings are falling apart, but I thought it added to the character of the place. I also enjoyed the fun and friendliness of the people (predominantly descended from African slaves who were brought to work in the sugar cane fields), listening to creole Caribbean accents, eating Indian food (chicken curry and rotis became a staple) and watching cricket.

It was a town which surprised me and far surpassed my expectations.

Stabroek market

If you want a full-on sensory experience, go to the river-side Stabroek market in Georgetown.

Cinnamon and clove from Indonesia (via the Dutch ex-colony of Suriname next door), cotton from India, watches from China, bananas from the Guyanan coast, palm nuts from the rainforest up-country, smoked herrings in wooden boxes from Canada, chilli sauces and mango chutneys made locally, rotis and cakes sold at kiosks- the market has it all (in vivid technicolor).