Category Archives: Grenada

Mount Cinnamon

Family Visitors in Grenada (a.k.a. “Spice Isle”) Part II – by Theresa

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Following up our previous post, while Grenada is only 21 miles long, and 12 miles wide, there was still much to see and explore on the spice isle.

THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

Diamond Chocolate FactoryWe continued our journey exploring Grenada with our knowledgeable local guide, Mr. Rawl Bell (“Rawl”), and our visiting guests, Randy’s sister Patti and her husband Chuck. Rawl informed us that no visit to Grenada would be complete without a trip to one of the island’s two (2) chocolate factories. It did not take much convincing to get us to agree. At the Diamond Chocolate Factory, we  learned how chocolate is made from bean to bar. Our guide escorted us to the Cocoa fields laden with Cocoa trees producing buds. Harvesting the cocoa pods is still done by hand. The cocoa pods are carefully broken open to release the cocoa beans, which are embedded in a moist, fibrous, white pulp. We had the opportunity to taste the cocoa beans right out of the pod!

Diamond Chocolate Factory
Guided tour of the Cocoa Fields
Guided tour of the Cocoa Fields
Cocoa Pods are hand harvested
Cocoa Pod broken open (cacao beans embedded in a moist, fibrous, white pulp)
Tasting the Cocoa Pod right off the tree

In sum, the beans are then dried, fermented, mixed, and heated, with additional ingredients added depending on how the chocolate is to be used.

Cocoa Bean Drying and Storing Shed
Inside the chocolate facory
Cocoa Beans
Grenadian Chocolate Bar (60%)

At the end of the guided tour, visitors are able to sample chocolates with varying degrees of cocoa (i.e. 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% &100%) and purchase all kinds of chocolate. It was not at all like Willy Wonka’s Chocolate factory, however, the sampling and purchases in the end were deliciously delightful.

DESTROYED RUSSIAN PLANES

Grenada is an island nation rich not only in spices, but richly steeped in history as well. In 1983, the U.S. launched Operation Urgent Fury, during which U.S.-led forces successfully defeated a threat posed to the United States and the Caribbean by the “Soviet-Cuban militarization” of Grenada. As we explored the island, we observed Russian planes, abandoned and destroyed, at the now closed Point Salines Airport.

Abandoned and destroyed Russian Plane
US Welcome Sign
Abandoned and destroyed Russian Plane

We were pleased and proud to also see signs prominently displayed around the island thanking the U.S. for its part in liberating Grenada from the then untenable government.

THE RUM DISTILLERY

River Antoine Estates Rum Distillery

River Antoine Estates Rum Distillery

Exploring the Antoine River Estate Rum Distillery provided yet additional insight to the never ending beauty of the “Spice Isle,” its history and resourcefulness. To start, the distillery uses locally grown cane and a hydro-powered water wheel that has been operational since 1785! It was delectable tasting the fresh cut cane and then watching it go up the hydro-powered conveyor belt so that the sweet sugary juices could be squeezed out of the cane in the first step of the rum making process. The discarded cane remnants are then piled up and carted away for mulch. (To the gear-heads who want to see the hydro-powered water wheel in action, click on the video tab at the top of this page to view video of the wheel in motion.) Click on any picture to enlarge or for slide show.

Hydro-powered water wheel operating since 1785
Hydro-powered water wheel operating since 1785
Raw suger cane
Cutting cane
Ronan tasting freshly cut sugar cane
Ryan tasting freshly cut sugar cane
Patti and Ryan Tasting freshly cut sugar cane
Raw sugar cane going up hydro-powered conveyor belt. The machine squeezes out the juice.
Discarded sugar cane plants are manually gathered
Discarded sugar cane is transported away for other uses
Ryan on the cane mulch pile
R&R on the cane mulch pile

The sugar cane juice is then transported to large vats in the boiling house, where it is boiled and then fermented. The fermented remnants then continue their journey through large distillery pots where locally gathered wood fuels the fire that heats the pots converting the fermented sugar cane juices into steam. The steam is subsequently cooled and reconstituted into the rum liquid that is bottled and sold throughout the island.

Next step is the Boiling House
The Boiling House
Fermenting Room
Wood for fireplace under distillery pot
Next step rum distillery
Fireplace under rum distillery
Rum Distillery
Rum Basin (Made in KY)

The vapors at the distillery were truly intoxicating! Like the chocolate factory, we were fortunate to taste a sampling of the final product at the end of tour.

Randy andPatton exiting the Boiling House, Rum Distillery, Grenada
Sampling the end product
Patti & Chuck exiting the rum factory

GRAND ETANG

Our last spot of exploration with Rawl  took us through the rainforest around the Grand Etang Forest Reserve, to the focal point of the reserve, Grand Etang Lake. Grand Etang Lake fills the crater of one of the island’s extinct volcanoes and is located 1,800 feet (550 m) above sea level. The rainforest was fraught with tropical flowers that can only flourish in a rainforest.

Grand Etang
Grand Etang
Tropical Flowers
Tropical Flowers
Tropical Foliage
Tropical Flowers

Rawl Bell provided us with a fascinating tour of the island, one which none of us will soon forget.

Vista
Patti, Ronan, Ryan, Chuck & Rawl

Alas, the time came for Patti and Chuck to return to the states. We shared our farewell dinner at the elegant Mount Cinnamon Resort, on the south end of Grand Anse Beach. We were all sad to see Patti and Chuck leave, however, on our journey, there are no “good-byes,” only “until we meet again!” So, until we meet again …

Randy, Patton, Theresa, Patti, Chuck, Ronan and Ryan, Mount Cinnamon Resort

Randy, Patton, Theresa, Patti, Chuck, Ronan and Ryan, Mount Cinnamon Resort

Cliff Diver, Concord Waterfalls

Family Visitors in Grenada (a.k.a. “The Spice Isle”) Part I – by Theresa

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Patti & Chuck at PLM beach, Carenage in the background

Patti & Chuck at PLM beach, Carenage in the background

My sister-in-law “Patti” recently asked me “When are you coming home?” I replied, “We are home. Home is where the boat is!” Upon hearing this, she decided that if she and her husband “Chuck” were going to visit us in the near future, then it was going to have to be on the boat. Since we are currently stationed in Grenada, she promptly made arrangements and within weeks we had the pleasure of hosting both Patti and Chuck on board the Pilot’s Discretion.

HASH HIKE

We wasted no time introducing them to our Grenadian adventures and on the first full day of their visit they accompanied us on our weekly hike. This week’s hike began on the north shore beach in Sauteaurs, continued up mountainsides, and did not disappoint in providing the usual vigorous exercise and spectacular views (click on any photo to enlarge or for slideshow).

Patti & Chuck, pre-hash
Theresa & Patton, pre-hash
Hash Hike
Patti hash leading the way
Hash Hike
Post hash – we did it!

GRAND ANSE BEACH

Having exerted ourselves on the hike, we opted to spend the next day relaxing on the beach.  First, some 50’s music, and dancing, at Coconuts, on Grand Anse Beach, and then dinner at The Aquarium Restaurant, Point Salines, at sunset.

Theresa & Randy at Coconuts, Grand Anse Beach
Patti & Chuck dancing at Coconuts, Grand Anse Beach
Patti & Chuck at Coconuts, Grand Anse Beach
Point Salines, Aquarium
Patti & Chuck at Aquarium

CLIFF DIVING AT CONCORD WATERFALLS

With so much more to see and explore in Grenada, and only a short time to share with our guests, we chartered an air conditioned bus, with an experienced guide, Mr. Rawl Bell (“Rawl”). Rawl provided us with a wealth of  information regarding the beauties of Grenada, a.k.a. “The Spice Isle.” Our first stop was Concord Waterfalls, one of the countless natural waterfalls on the island.

Concord Waterfalls
Concord Waterfalls
Concord Waterfalls

The kids enjoyed playing on the rocks and we all enjoyed the natural beauty of the falls .

R&R Concord Waterfalls
Family Concord Waterfalls, Grenada
R&R Concord Waterfalls

Shortly after our arrival at the falls, a local “cliff diver” climbed to the top of the falls and amazed us all with his daring cliff diving acumen.  It did not take long for my ever-adventuresome brother-in-law Chuck to dive in after him (click on any photo to enlarge or for slideshow).

Concord Waterfalls Chuck Cliff Diving
R&R watching cliff diver Concord Waterfalls
Cliff Diver, Concord Waterfalls

(Note: We have created a dedicated YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com where we have compiled videos from our blog, and uploaded additional videos from our journey. To view the videos, including VIDEOS of Chuck, and the cliff diver, cliff diving, click https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC94z5hCIrRiEvY8MTJegTbA  (or copy and paste into browser).

NUTMEG FACTORY

Nutmeg Receiving Station (Examined, Weighed, Payment to Farmer

Nutmeg Receiving Station (Examined, Weighed, Payment to Farmer)

After the cliff diving adventures at the waterfalls, our guide informed us that Grenada is the world’s second largest producer of nutmeg, after Indonesia, and that nutmeg is Grenada’s principal export crop. He then took us to the nutmeg-processing co-op, in the center of the west-coast fishing village of Gouyave (pronounced gwahv), where we got to witness first hand the nutmeg process from tree to spice. There we saw locally grown nutmeg being received, examined & weighed with payments made to the local farmers. We learned the nutmeg is then dried in drying racks for 6-8 weeks.

 

Nutmeg Air Dried in Shells (6-8 weeks
Nutmeg Air Dried in Shells (6-8 weeks
Nutmeg Air Dried in Shells (6-8 weeks

Once dried, the seeds are cracked by a machine and then sent down a chute to the floor below where workers manually separate the shells from the nuts. No resource is wasted and discarded shells are collected in burlap sacks and sold for mulch. The nutmeg fragrance at the factory is intoxicating.

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Next, nutmeg kernels are graded by floating them in water (sinkers are sound and floaters are defective). Workers then hand grade the remaining nutmeg, removing residual defects and running the remaining nutmeg through metal graders (for size). The final nutmeg product is bagged in hand painted stenciled burlap sacks with international destinations throughout the world. We were surprised to learn that Rotterdam and Antwerp are the two largest importers of Grenadian nutmeg. The factory produces approximately 3 million pounds of Grenada’s most famous export each year.

Kernels Graded by Floating in Water (sinkers are sound and floaters are defective)
Workers Hand Grade Nutmeg (remove residual defectives) and Run through Metal Graders (for size)
Bagged in Hand Painted Stenciled Burlap Sacks
Rotterdam Burlap Sack
Burlap Sacks Ready for Export
Antwerp Burlap Sack

A lot of effort for a small, yet delicious, spice present in almost all spice racks!

LEATHERBACK TURTLES IN LEVERA BAY

After the nutmeg factory, we visited yet another notorious spot on Grenada, Levera Bay. Levera Bay is a Sanctuary to the endangered Leatherback Sea Turtle. Each year, Leatherback Sea Turtles return to Grenada to lay their eggs on the sandy beaches of Levera Bay.

Levera Bay
Baby Leatherback Sea Turtles

Leatherback Sea Turtles can grow to more than six feet long, weighing as much as 1400 pounds, however, the initial hatchlings, only inches long, are left on their own to find their way from the beach to the sea. Due to a recent invasion of Sargasso Sea weed on Grenada’s coastline, the baby Leatherback Sea Turtles have been finding it difficult to reach the sea. On the day that we arrived in Levera Bay, the Park Rangers were assisting this group of baby Leatherback Sea Turtles in reaching the sea!

(To view a video of the baby Leatherback Back Sea Turtles click the “VIDEOS” tab at the top of this page.)

After all the excitement exploring Grenada, we stopped to rest, enjoying some local cuisine on the north shore of Grenada looking out over “Kick em Jenny,”  and Ronde and Caille Islands.

Chuck, Patti, Ronan and Ryan, lunch on the north shore

Chuck, Patti, Ronan and Ryan, lunch on the north shore

There was still much more of Grenada to explore … however, we will leave those adventures until another post!

Ryan Sailing GYC

CAMP GRENADA – by Theresa

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GYC Sailing Camp Boats

GYC Sailing Camp Boats

With school out, and since we knew that we would be stationed in Grenada for the summer, we actively sought appropriate summer camp activities to keep the boys educationally engaged while socializing with their peers. Fortunately for us, Grenada Yacht Club, just across the lagoon from our marina, offered a summer sailing camp. Allan Sherman’s “Camp Granada” immediately began running through my head as I completed the necessary paperwork to enroll the boys in camp, in Grenada! (“Hello muddah, hello faddah, here I am at, camp Granada …”)

"Dinghy Bus" to Sailing Camp

“Dinghy Bus” to Sailing Camp

The boys were excited to begin camp, and even more excited when they realized that they would be transported to camp via the “dinghy bus.”

On the first day of camp, the boys returned home somewhat disheartened that they had not been able to go out sailing. They groused that it had been raining all day and that instead of sailing, they spent their time learning about (of all things) boat parts, sea conditions, wind, weather and knots. (Once again, Allan Sherman’s “Camp Grenada!” “… And they say we’ll have some fun if it stops raining!”) While the boys have spent significant time on the water, no doubt, the camp counselors were appropriately taking the temperature of their summer sailing camp pupils.

The next day, the weather cleared and the eager students were able to get out on the water to test their sailing skills, both solo and in larger boats working together as a crew. As the children’s time at camp, and their abilities, progressed, they even had sailing races. (Click any photo below for a slide show.)

Ronan Sailing GYC
GYC Sailing races
Ryan Sailing GYC
Ryan sailing out GYC
Grenada Yacht Club Sailing Camp
Ronan sailing out GYC

(Click below for videos.)

(Check out the videos tab at the top of the page for additional videos of the boys sailing!).

The camp has also offered a series of lectures: from marine biologists, on marine environment and pollution; nurses, on first aid at sea; and retired coast guard, on marine safety and sea protocols.

It turns out “Camp Grenada” is not so bad after all!

Click below link for “Camp Granada” by Allan Sherman (music with lyrics):

 

Hello muddah, hello faddah
Here I am at camp Granada
Camp is very entertaining
And they say we’ll have some fun if it stops raining

I went hiking with Joe Spivey
He developed poison ivy
You remember Leonard Skinner
He got ptomaine poisoning last night after dinner

All the counselors hate the waiters
And the lake has alligators
And the head coach wants no sissies
So he reads to us from something called Ulysses

Now I don’t want this should scare ya
But my bunkmate has malaria
You remember Jeffery Hardy
They’re about to organize a searching party

Take me home, oh muddah, faddah
Take me home, I hate Grenada
Don’t leave me out
In the forest where I might get eaten by a bear

Take me home, I promise I will
Not make noise, or mess the house with other boys
Oh please don’t make me stay
I’ve been here one whole day

Dearest fadduh, darling muddah
How’s my precious little bruddah
Let me come home if you miss me
I would even let Aunt Bertha hug and kiss me

Wait a minute, it’s stopped hailing
Guys are swimming, guys are sailing
Playing baseball, gee that’s bettah
Muddah, faddah kindly disregard this letter!

 

Carenage waterfront, St. Geoarges, Grenada

A DAY IN THE LIFE IN GRENADA – by Randy

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We have been exploring Grenada for a little over two months now and still there remains much more to be seen both on land and at sea. Fortunately, Port Louis Marina, in St.  Georges, is centrally located giving us easy land or dinghy-dock water access to the waterfront shops and restaurants in both St. Georges and Carenage.

Grenada
Carenage waterfront, St. Geoarges, Grenada

PORT LOUIS MARINA

Port Louis Marina (PLM) is a resort destination unto itself and we have been enjoying all of the amenities, including the spa,  pool, grounds, restaurants, waterfront park and beach (click on any photo for slide show).

Port Louis Marina, Grenada
PLM Private Beach Access
PLM Spice Isle Retreat Spa
Fun in the pool
Ronan squirting the girls in pool from behind the bushes
Pool play time
Port Louis Marina Garden
Port Louis Marina Garden Trail
Port Louis Marina Garden Vase
PLM waterfront park
PLM hiking trail
Port Louis Marina Waterfront Park

 GRAND ANSE

The pristine Grand Anse Beach is only a short distance from the marina by land or sea. The boys have been enjoying snorkeling with their friends just off the beach, as well as “sea-bobbing” (we had to look that up before agreeing to allow them to go do it), and getting pulled on a tube behind the dinghy.

Grand Anse Beach
Grand Anse Beach

 HIKING THE MOUNTAINS AND RAINFORESTS

Popular among cruisers, locals, and students from the on-island American University School of Medical and Veterinary Science, are the weekly organized hiking trips, known as hashes, which are scheduled at various locations around the island. Each week, bus loads of enthusiastic cruisers, locals and students arrive eager to get some exercise, explore local terrain, and partake in the after hike revelry.

We have been hiking in the mountains and rain forests where we have seen banana tree plantations, monkeys, tropical flower groves, and amazing vistas (click on any photo for slide show).

Monkey
Bananas
Heliconia pendula flowers
Grenada countryside hike
Amazing scenery
Monkey
Banana Trees
Grenada hike
Banana trees

With equally compelling scenery, other hikes have taken us through the countryside and along the coast line(s) of Grenada.

Black Bay Rocks
Grenada hike
Grenada countryside
Black Bay Beach
The boys last leg of the hike to the water
Playing after the hike
Patrick teaching R&R how to wax the boat

Patrick teaching R&R how to wax the boat

 

With all of the above said, it is not all fun and games in Grenada. At the end of the day, the boat requires daily maintenance and upkeep, not the least of which is keeping her clean and waxed. Fortunately for us, a very friendly and competent local gentlemen named “Patrick” has been assisting us in with these ongoing laborious efforts. He has taken the boys on in apprenticeship teaching them how to keep the boat “ship-shape!” Additionally, we have utilized our time in Grenada to take advantage of the well developed yacht support infrastructure to complete some upgrades to the Pilots’ Discretion to make her more long term cruiser friendly.

 

Rainbow over Port Louis Marina

Rainbow over Port Louis Marina

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kick 'Em Jenny

Eastern Caribbean on Heightened Alert as Underwater Volcano Activity off Grenada Increases – by Randy

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Kick 'em Jenny Alert

Kick ’em Jenny Alert

Thursday, July 23, 2015, the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Center (UWI-SRC) raised the alert level to “Orange” (the second highest) due to increased seismic activity of “Kick ’em Jenny”. As described in our previous post, Kick ’em Jenny is an active underwater volcano, located 8 km north of Grenada. Since tsunamis triggered by underwater eruptions are a potential hazard for neighbouring islands if Kick ’em Jenny erupts, we monitor and receive Eastern Caribbean volcanic activity updates at: http://www.uwiseismic.com/.

As it turns out, we were on an island tour, enjoying lunch at Petit Anse Resort on the north shore of Grenada, looking north towards Kick ’em Jenny when the raised alert was first broadcast!

Petite Anse Resort Petite Anse Resort looking north towards Kick 'em Jenny

Petite Anse Resort looking north towards Kick ’em Jenny

Fortunately, UWI-SRC advises that at this time no tsunami warning has been issued for Grenada. However, the alert level at the Kick ‘em Jenny volcano, has been moved from yellow to orange which means that the exclusion zone around the submarine crater has been widened from 1.5 km to 5km. On the day we arrived in Grenada, our approach route brought us 1.5 km to the west of  Kick ’em Jenny, a route that if followed today would place us firmly in the exclusion zone. One of the hazards of particular concern for mariners when dealing with underwater volcanos is the reduced water density that results from the volcanos release of hot gasses into the surrounding waters. In some cases, this can result in a loss of buoyancy sufficient to sink  any vessel traversing the affected area.

CNN: Underwater volcano rumbles off Grenada

http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/25/americas/kick-em-jenny-volcano-rumbling/index.html

Frequently Asked Questions About Kick ’em-Jenny:

Click to access KickemJenny_FAQ.pdf

Read more: http://www.caribbean360.com/news/alert-level-raised-as-heightened-activity-recorded-at-underwater-volcano-off-grenada#ixzz3gvRuxPAi