Grenada – the Spice of the Caribbean
GRENADA THE SPICE OF THE CARIBBEAN
I was delighted to be going to Grenada, famously known as the Island of Spice, with a band of fellow travel agents, guests of Grenada Tourism. Just nine hours after leaving Gatwick on a cold, wet November morning we arrived in the warmth and sunshine of the beautiful island.
Located on the southern-most tip of the Windward Islands, Grenada and her islands of Carricou and Petit Martinique enjoy an average year-round temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Our hotel The Flamboyant boasted wonderful views of Grand Anse beach and the capital St George beyond. St George is steeped in history with three military forts offering outstanding views of what is considered the prettiest harbour in the Caribbean. Market Square is a lively, bustling place where the air is filled with the aromas of nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and ginger. We spent a day visiting some of Grenada's main attractions. The Gouyave and Grenville Nutmeg Processing Station, Laura's Herb and Spice Garden, Concorde Falls (one of the many beautiful cascading waterfalls on the island) and Lake Antoine, a 16-acre lake within the crater of an extinct volcano. We were treated to lunch at Morne Fendue, an old plantation house and then onto the River Antoine Distillery. Tours here cost $1, which includes a taste of the finished rum, an experience once tried never forgotten.
A trip to Grenada would not be complete without joining the Carriacou and Sandy Island day trip. Carriacou is just 60 minutes by fast ferry and well worth the trip, we were lucky and saw dolphins and flying fish on the way. The tour took us to all the sites and then by speed boat for a couple of hours relaxing on Sandy Island before our return to Grenada in time for a Pina Colada while listening to the steel band and watching the sun go down. Grenada has so much to offer, whether you are looking for five-star luxury, affordable family friendly hotels, self-catering or guesthouses; a range of restaurants, serving exquisite Caribbean food, some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, world class diving, waterfalls and rainforests; and above all the welcoming friendliness of the Grenadians. All this on a small Caribbean island I would call Paradise.
If you would like to know more please email me: charmaine@hallmarktravel.com