Goodbye Grenada

Finally our time here on the beautiful island of Grenada is nearing an end. A year spent enjoying the beautiful scenery, friendly people, abundant fresh food, and laid back culture has been a year well spent but it is time for new horizons. Our daughter Darci has come for a visit before we head offshore once again and we did some quick island touring.

The views from  Fort George with cannons still in place never cease to astound us, and the inner harbor, known as the Carnage, is a busy main port of the southern Caribbean. Imports from Trinidad, Venezuela, and St. Vincent, tourists on cruise ships and private yachts, as well as local smaller interisland ferries makes this tiny harbor a bustling hub. Grenada’s largest export is all her many locally grown and world renown spices. Nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper, turmeric, ginger, cloves, thyme, and bay leaves all sold fresh in the local markets. The local combination of bay leaves, thyme, coconut milk, and peppers has become one of Don’s favorites and is now a staple on the galley menu.

The weather is sweltering and humid as we approach the spring equinox when the sun will be on the equator and the temperatures are starting to rise. This reminds us to give a shout out to our friend Joe, owner of Yosemite Ridge Resort, and makes us wonder if there is any snow at home. Suddenly it sounds very, very inviting. Get your reservations for one of their fabulous cabins or campsites right near the entrance to Yosemite National Park, they are filling up fast!

 As our departure from Grenada looms we take a stroll through the city central. Built on numerous steep hills, this city is good for the legs as well as the eyes. 

The produce market, the crisply uniformed children, British and French influenced architecture spiced with Caribbean color, and a little bit of Ital influence all set against the ever present backdrop of cruise ships are just a few of our favorite impressions of this spectacular island. 

I think Don is going to miss his daily dose of fresh sour sop the most. Sour sop is a fruit prickly and green on the outside and slimy and white on the inside with seeds that can break a crown if you are not careful. 

Don has first hand experience at this. Fortunately he was able to get a new crown placed by a young dentist from Venezuela who spends two weeks a month on the island of Grenada. She hand carried his tooth molds with her on the plane to Venezuela, had them cast, and then brought them back for placement. Midprocedure the air/water compressor that supplies the entire dentist office broke and the apologetic dentist tried to reschedule. Don, his mouth numb and bib flapping, replied “Let me look at it.” Analyzing that the compressor was beyond repair, the spare compressor was wheeled in, but in an office where all the employees were female no tools could be found. Don and the lady dentist hiked to the local hardware store a block away, the requisite tool was purchased and Don proceeded to put the dentist’s office back in business. So now the sour sop he so dearly loves and still eats almost daily will always bring to mind a lovely lady dentist and a reminder of the many healthcare adventures abroad we have had which always seem to turn out right.

Grenada we will miss you!