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Monday 15 March 2010

Cruise - Grenada #11....



Once again we had to use tenders to visit our next stop - the spice island of Grenada.   Just 20 miles long and 12 miles wide, this charming island is a real feast for the senses, full of lush green rainforests and packed with more spice per square mile than anywhere else in the world.  The capital, St. George, has an attractive harbour lined with 19th century pastel coloured buildings rising up in to the green hillsides.






As we didn't have a trip booked for Grenada, once ashore we set off to explore the steep narrow streets and pastel coloured houses.


We found something we weren't expecting and very British


a red telephone box!

Being Sunday the shops were closed but there were two young men on the quayside selling fragrant necklaces made of spices such as nutmeg and cloves.   The first man offered me three for $10 and the second one offered me two for $10.   When I pointed out to the second man that I could get three for the same price he offered me four for $10 so I bought them.   I gave one each to my MIL and two DILs and kept one for myself which is hanging in my bedroom.    Two months on it is still fragrant and reminds me of our cruise each time I smell it.



Lots of the buildings were festooned with bunting in preparation for Grenada's Independence Celebrations in early February.  





We stopped at a restaurant/bar on the quayside for a much needed drink and struck up a conversation with a charming Canadian family, who kindly offered to take our photograph before they moved on.





The waitress brought our beers and asked for $12!  Beers $6 each, which were by far the most expensive beers we'd had on the entire holiday.  I think that's why I look so pissed off glum on the next photograph! 




Rested and refreshed we made our way back to the tender and back to the boat to get something to eat and do some sunbathing on deck. 



MWM snapped the beautiful sunset before we showered and changed for another evening of fine dining at The Bistro.   This time we had the following:


MWM: Smoked chicken with beetroot salad and horseradish dressing / Grilled fillet steak with rocket pesto and pommes Pont Neuf / White chocolate and whisky croissant pudding.

ME: Tiger prawn cocktail with Marie Rose sauce / Trio of Duck confit leg, pan-fried breast and roasted thigh in a red wine jus / Iced white chocolate, banana and popcorn terrine with toffee and chocolate sauce.


Mmmmmmm Yummy!


After dinner we enjoyed the comedian in Connexions before retiring for the night after another beautiful day in the Caribbean.   Next time we visit Isla Margarita, I hope you'll join me.

39 comments:

Dumdad said...

$6 for a beer? Outrageous. But, on the positive side, you'll always remember that bar and that beer because it was so expensive!

Anonymous said...

It seems you are going to the most fabulous places ever... If you don't pack me in your case next time me and you are going to fall out ;0)

Evalinn said...

Oh lovely, I was there in -96, these pics make me want to go back! :-)

Gledwood said...

I wanna go on a cruise one day... South Seas/French Polynesia flying in and out of Australia and New Zealand would be good!

;->...

Unknown said...

Oh how I loved Grenada. There is the most beautiful beach past Grand Anse beach which the locals call BBC beach, at the time of year we went we had it, more or less, to ourselves. I am so enjoying your cruise!!!

Akelamalu said...

I'll never forget that bar Dumdad!

We did visit the most beautiful places Eternally Distracted. I hope my reports aren't making you too jealous. ;)

I'm pleased it's brough back some nice memories for you Evalinn :)

I'd love to go back to Australia Gleds. I hope you make your cruise from there m'dear.

Ah nice memories for you Carol. The islands are so beautiful aren't they? :)

Elaine Denning said...

Ok, I'm envious!

When you get to the end, I want you to tell me which of the islands you would quite happily go back to for a whole week. (If that is possible.)

It all sounds so idyllic....

Gledwood said...

Does GRENADINE come from Grenada, by the way...?

;->...

Finding Pam said...

The look on your face says it all! They are making a killing on beer.

Lovely photos.

Akelamalu said...

I'll do that for you Laney :)

No Gleds Grenadine doesn't come from Grenada.


Yep they sure are Pam!

Anonymous said...

OMG $6.00 for a beer? Your look was priceless. I love the red telephone boxes. Another beautiful stop on the tour my friend.

Linda said...

Indeed you do look a bit disgruntled with that $6 beer in your hand! At least it was a large one for the price.

Grenada does look like a lovely place, though, plus it doesn't look horribly crowded in these pictures which make it a great place in my book!

May said...

Thanks for the tour. I am yet to go on a cruise. Last year we vacation in San Destin, FL and the beer was between $5-$7 depending where you brought them. But we found this place that was $1.50 for the longnecks. They got to know us well. May you day be filled with joy.

Alice Audrey said...

I had no idea the place was so spicy.

quilly said...

I am enjoying your cruise through you while envying you at the same time. Maybe someday this will be me, but likely not with Amoeba because my oceanographer gets horribly sea sick!

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Ron said...

Another wonderful and enjoyable post, Akelamalu!

What an adorable-looking town.

LOVED the red phone box!

OMG, I can only imagine how much a glass of wine cost!? Here in the States they run anywhere from $12 to $15 - YIKES!

Your dinner sounded delish!

Look forward to visiting the Isle of Margarita!

Thanks for sharing, m'dear!
X

Jingle said...

http://jingleyanqiu.wordpress.com/2010/03/15/a-shout-out-to-reach-out-kreativ-blogger-award-and-more/

an award for you in my blog.
Happy Monday!

buffalodick said...

A lot for a beer- Like a baseball park in America!

A Lady's Life said...

This was great. I guess the meals were cheap if the drinks were expensive.
Usually this is where they get you lol
You look wonderful!

Anonymous said...

Hello,nice post thanks for sharing?. I just joined and I am going to catch up by reading for a while. I hope I can join in soon.

Susan at Stony River said...

Oh WOW what a beautiful island -- and congratulations on that bargain you got on the spice necklaces! I love those kinds of souvenirs, the ones that aren't mass-manufactured, and keep you remembering.

snowelf said...

As always, LOVE the pics!! Your blog is like the perfect little escape. :)

And okay, do you guys actually still have telephone booths over there?? It's slim pickins for them over here.

--snow

Unknown said...

Thanks for allowing me to travel with you vicariously,Akelamalu!

Jeff B said...

Ha, that pic of you with those pricey beers is a riot. Sorry I haven't been keeping up with your travels.

Shrinky said...

Ugh, I see you've been spammed - unless you speak Mandarin? Oooh, you did have a beautiful cruise, didn't you? Who would have expected a red telephone box there? Grin.. and good on you with the bargaining power, too!

TBM said...

I think I'd wear that spice necklace all the time as a reminder of this amazing holiday :-)

Akelamalu said...

I think my look said it all Thom! LOL

None of the islands were crowded Linda even with all the cruise boats in, that's what I really loved about them. :)

If we'd found somewhere that sold beers for $1.50 we'd have stayed there all day May! LOL

I didn't either Alice ;)

Unless it is very, very rough you don't get sea sick on a cruise Quilly because the boats are huge and have stabilisers. I bet Amoeba would be ok on one. :)

Glad to be of help Anonymous :)

You would have really liked Grenada Ron. I didn't dare ask how much the wine was in that bar! :0

I'll pop over later Jingle, thankyou. :)

Some places just really jump on the bandwaggon don't they Buff - it annoys me a lot!

We didn't have anything to eat there Lady's Life so I don't know if it was cheap or not. :(

Welcome Anonymous, I do hope you join in soon. :)

Those are the sort of souvenirs I like too Susan. :)

Yes we do still have some red telephone boxes Snowelf but they are few and far between now. Glad you're enjoying the trip. :)

I'm please you could come along Nick x

I do look suitably p****d don't I Jeff? LOL

I've deleted the spam Shrinky - damn nuisance! I never expected to see a red telephone box - it was a nice surprise!

I pick it up every day JAPRA to remind me of the sunshine. It makes my day. :)

Spiky Zora Jones said...

I love that place. It's so wonderful. You know I've been to the Caribbean but not those islands you went on...and now I want to so badly.

Cruise fever is hitting me and there's only one cure...go on it. :)

thanks for the wonderful post and the pics are awesome...nah, you don't look pissed off....too much. hehehe.

later honey. xxx

Akelamalu said...

You really have to go again Spiky x

Thankyou Servant of the Most High but I have all the spiritual messages that I need. I would have appreciated a comment on my post rather than you just promoting your own blog. Bless you too.

cheshire wife said...

Well, somewhere had to have the most expensive beer. I hope that it tasted good!

secret agent woman said...

My goodness, where didn't you sail to?

Julia Phillips Smith said...

I haven't mentioned all this time how much I've enjoyed how you've shared the meals with us. It all sounds exotic and delectable.

But your grumpy overpriced beer picture is hilarious!

Julia Phillips Smith said...

Oh - I forgot to say that I'm a complete True Blood addict. Complete.

john said...

I think I'd wear that spice necklace all the time as a reminder of this amazing holiday :-)

Akelamalu said...

It did taste good otherwise I'd have asked for my money back Cheshire Wife! LOL

There's loads of islands we haven't visited SAW, we have to do another cruise! ;)

The meals in the Bistro were to die for Julia which is why I just had to share them - so glad you enjoyed them too even if it was only reading them. I do look grumpy on the photo I admit it! Ah another True Blood fan - fabulous isn't it? :)

It's a bit scratchy to wear all the time John but I do sniff it every day :)

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

i paid 5.95 plus tax plus tip = 7.25 for beer on the ship i just left!

smiles, bee
xoxoxoxoxoxo

Mimi Lenox said...

Was the beer at least good??? I hope so! (and I love that expression on your face.) Ha. Ha!

Anonymous said...

There is nothing better than traveling and discovering ^^