SPICE ISLAND

Grenada

Grenada is a lush green island known as Spice Island, because they produce more spices per sq-foot then any other island. The island lies between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and south of St. Vincent. Here the currency is still in EC (Eastern Caribbean) the population is about 100,000 most of African descent, language is English but still has strong French influence . They all live up to GMT (Grenadian Mode Time) no schedules no worries.

We anchored in Prickly Bay, just outside of Prickly Bay Marina. Most everyone here travels by bus or taxi. You can stand anywhere on the street and wave a bus will stop to pick you up. Each bus has a conductor boy that opens the door for each stop, he will tell you where to get off if you ask he also collects he money for the driver.

Our 1st day we spent in St George with (Bleu Marie) Jean Pierre and Michele. They are French Canadians. We met up with a guide that helped us find everything that we wanted and also took us to visit the fish and spice markets, St George Fort and the Roman Catholic Church. When we arrived at the church the children were practicing for there graduation ceremony. The Nuns were strict each one carried a strap. Needless to say the kids did what they were told. They are all dressed in uniforms and are neat and clean. We also stopped at the Methodist Church that had been hit by Ivan, the hurricane that hit Grenada in 2004. It still sits with the roof off and in ruins due to lack of funds. Most Grenadian are Catholic.

(Allergic To Cities) Rick and Suzie took us for a sail on their boat to Le Phare Bleu Marina. There they had a 100 year old lighthouse ship. Completely restored, she was beautiful.
Next we took a Henry’s Safari Tour with (Bleu Marie) Jean Pierre and Michele and a couple from (Contessa) Jeff and Carol Lee. We had a great time. We saw the Concord waterfalls, Gouyave Spice Plantation that showed us how chocolate is grown and made into Chocó, the River Antoine Rum Factory that is a 200 year old distillery. Then to Grand Etang rainforest, home of the Mona monkey. I didn’t see one monkey! I was so sad. Last stop Creator lake then back to Prickly Bay.

The next night was the fishermen’s birthday so they put on a fish fry in the town of Gouyave. We took Cuties Taxi and Tours busses along with Bleu Marie, Off-line and Nebula. The fish fry reminded me of a swap meet back home. Little booths lined the streets, but instead of selling goods, the locals prepared fish along with other Grenadian dishes beer and soda for sale. It was fun people were dancing and having a good old time.

Our stay is now completed. We will be Sailing to Trinidad on Sunday June 29th this will be the end of our trip this season. We will put our boat up for hurricane season in Trinidad, come back in November and continue our journey to the Sea of Cortez next season.