Year: 2014

Sunday we watched the Superbowl on the big screen. Monday the racers are in town for Grenada Sailing Week and that means it’s party time so we were treated to a good band and music.

Through the tunnel to the Carenage and over to a restaurant by the library. The streets are steep. The typical lunch is a Roti, potato and chicken or fish mixed with potato and wrapped up in a roti. Why use the staircase?

Grenada, getting ready for National Day celebrating 40 years of independence so the flags are out;  

This is the time of year for flowers

Provisioning at SpiceIsland Mall. The Mall is inhabited by a woman who approaches all foreigners asking for $10EC. The supermarket is well stocked and is within a couple of hundred yards of Grand Anse beach.

More views of the beach infront of the anchorage (never anyone on them!), the marina seriously-mini mart, and Tiki Bar. It’s always Christmas here. Many places in the Caribbean are still flying Xmas decorations so we are ready for the next one in eleven months time. Fancy hiring a boat bar? The marina is the first I have seen to have the docks lit by glass chandelier.  

This is proving to be a friendly island where you can relax. After our time in St Lucia if anyone approaches us we are immediately on our guard; what do they want, are they pick-pockets, where’s the threat? But here people come over and chat then leave having had a good conversation. The younger kids play instead of begging for money and people are out mixing together and having fun. It seems odd given our previous experience. We went to the workboat races. The bass thumped the beach so hard and loud that the sand was jumping. We had barbecue

We pulled in at De Big Fish to get a bus to the airport. Departures was oh so busy, and arrivals doubly so. After a long wait Francesca emerged from customs and back we tracked over the 2.5 miles to the tender by taxi.  

The time is coming when we have to decide on next steps. This involves so many issues and of course draws upon our experience so far. The key question is ‘do we go through the Panama Canal? The key issues are; Distances to sail to return to the UK (c.39,000nm) versus the potential experiences en route? Education & A-levels? Is the ship fully fit for a maintenance free passage to New Zealand? Security? It’s one thing to read about being permanently cautious, not going out at night, staying in crowded public places and so on. But it is quite different

We are anchored in Prickly Bay, Grenada, at the end of the airport runway (reassuringly we have seen a couple of planes). Our eldest daughter joins us from the UK tonight so it’s a short trip on the bus to collect her. The Tiki-Tiki bar has internet pods with multiple types of power connections, lays on entertainment and judging by the ‘car park’ has got something right.