GEORGETOWN
By Nicolette Fernandes
We now have two public squash courts at the National Racquet Center which is great for anyone on a short-term visit. If you’re on more of a long-term stay, I would encourage anyone to join the Georgetown Club, which is the home of the Guyana Squash Association. That’s where I started my squash and the members there have known me since I was a young brat. Hopefully they will say I’m less of a brat now.
Georgetown is actually below sea level and our coast is protected from the Atlantic Ocean by a sea wall. The sea wall is a great place to run and also the National Park. At the sea wall, you’ll have the ocean for company, and at the National Park, you’ll have so many people playing sports and trying to keep fit, along with nature to keep your company. There are so many different and exciting places on the outskirts of Georgetown that you would never run out of new things to see or do. And one more thing…everyone is invited.
During the day I like to pop in the Oasis Café. It’s around the corner from Georgetown Club where I train, and they have great coffee. At night it would be Night Cap, quiet and great food. Palm Court is a famous place to go to. It’s been around for years and years. I hear stories from when my aunts and uncles used to hang out there. Palm Court has kept up with the times, though; it is very modern and I love the outdoor feel, with its thirty-three foot lighted coconut trees.
Guyanese are very friendly so it doesn’t matter where you go; you’ll receive a friendly welcome. I love coming home for Christmas, the city has a buzz during the day and at night. Everyone comes out and you get to catch up with so many people who have been busy working or traveling throughout the year.
You can drive two hours out of the city and the scenery drastically changes. Two hours is all it takes for you to be surrounded by lush rainforests If you have a day, you definitely have to visit the Kaieteur Falls. It will literally take your breathe away and remind you how small each of us are in the grand scheme of things.
