Back to Grenada
July 10th, 2008. Filed under: Thursday's Travels.
I was transferred from the ship that took me to Grenada every week, but the island kept calling me back. I finally signed off my ship for a work break and spent a week in St. George. Getting there was a bit of a struggle. We started on our flight to Grenada via San Juan and hit turbulence. We had to turn around and return to Miami. That didn’t mean we were going to get off that plane any time soon. What we didn’t know at the time was that there was also some kind of problem with the plane. We spent what felt like forever circling the airport to use up fuel. Now that was unnerving. If we needed to use up fuel, that must mean there was a possibility of a crash landing. Finally, we landed and without the crash routine. We were told to come back to the airport the next morning and we would be put on another flight.
They didn’t know just how persistant a sea person with only a week’s shore leave can be when plans to relax on a beautiful island are delayed. When I asked why couldn’t I be put on another flight the same day, I was told that all the flights to Grenada went through San Juan. Give me a break. I asked if every single flight from everywhere in the world had to go through San Juan to get to Grenada. The lady admitted that not all flights went through San Juan. Just theirs. After much persuading and telling the airline personnel that I had to be in Grenada as soon as possible because I had an important meeting to attend, they did the ultimate in sacrifice and put me on a competitor’s flight. It would take me to Trinidad and they would put me up for the night and feed me. Then I would fly out of Trinidad at six the next morning. All right! Of course, my luggage was going to visit San Juan before meeting me in St. George, but I had my toiletries, clean under wear, my word processor and a book in my carry on bag, so what else did I need for a few days? And yes, I really did have an important meeting the next day. I was meeting Susie Sunshine and Betty Beach for a session on relaxation techniques.
While in Grenada I stayed at a guest house. Like I said previously, I travel as a visitor rather than a tourist and, therefore, avoid tourist hotels and ex-pat enclaves when in other countries. I had a tiny cottage of my own with a kitchen. Heavenly! A Jamaican friend had taught me years earlier to cook West Indian style and I was eager to have some “home cooking.” There was a grocery only about half a mile down the hill, so I walked down for supplies every day or so and cooked up a storm.
I was used to Jamaican brown outs when you might lose power for a short while, so thought the same thing might happen in Grenada. It doesn’t. They had “water outs.” I learned to take my shower first thing of a morning and then make sure the tea kettle and a water jug were filled.
I spent a lot of time just relaxing, cooking and writing but still got out and about the island to enjoy it’s beauty. I went on a party cruise one night and danced and then danced some more. Have I told you that I love to dance? One day my friend, George, drove me around the island on a tour. Beaches, palm trees and even a rain forest. Once while riding along, George all of a sudden stopped the car and we got out. What was this all about? A nutmeg. Until then the only nutmeg I had seen was ground nutmeg. Now we were parked under a nutmeg tree. The nutmeg is very unique. It’s actually two spices in one. The nutmeg has mace wrapped around it in a lacy pattern. Hey, George. I still have that nutmeg.
The beauty of Grenada still pulls on my heart strings. God willing, I will go back some day.