Grenada Tour.........Rum and Spices

Hi folks...........sorry I went awol for a couple of days but the internet connection here went down and couldn't communicate at all!
Anyway, all is well now and have just returned from a lovely interesting day out covering the islands's perimeter and giving us a taste of this beautiful island's history, with visits to a Rum Distillery and a working spice plantation. The whole island is covered with nutmeg, cinnamon and banana trees with a few sugar cane plantations left after the hurricane of 2004.

First photo is the fantastic beach that fronts my hotel.........Grande Anse. It stretches for about 2 miles and I have walked most of it. Sand is pure white and the sea is the bluest I have ever seen........been swimming here a few times. We visited a nutmeg factory where we watched the nutmegs being brought in, sorted and dried ready for export to Britain, Holland, USA and many other places. Then on to a rum distillery where we followed the process from sugar cane to finished product and were given a tasting of 75% proof rum which just about blew my head off!
The other big exports are bananas, cinnamon and coconuts. It really looks like a really simple uncomplicated life here, the men fishing in the villages and the women making baskets and hats from the local greenery!! Wish things were so simple in the UK!

Last two photos taken today to give you a feel of the island. Everything is nutmeg-based, from the ice-cream, shower gel, hand cream to the topping they put on the cocktails!!
Tomorrow I have the option of a hike in the Grand Etang Forest or a very lazy day here at the hotel. Think I will opt for the second option as I know we have a very early start on Sat to get to St Vincent and more form-filling, bags being searched(though the quantity of Silk Cut is decreasing!) Our rep is trying to get us on a direct flight rather than going vis Trinidad again.
Watch this space.............thanks again to those people who have been emailing me. I am receiving them but for some strange reason cannot reply. Keep them coming, and I can receive and send texts.

Thanks Pauline for update on H and H.....pleased to hear they are behaving themseves in my absence!!

Gorgeous Grenada

Hi folks.............sitting on my balcony at 7.30am, admiring the beautiful gardens at this hotel in Grenada. The trip from Tobago yesterday was better than expected, and we here about lunchtime. Lots of filling in forms when you leave one island and enter another, but the security chaps are always smiling and helpful. Had my bag searched at Trinidad...........must have known I had packets of Silk Cut secreted away, but nothing was said!!
The inter-island planes are VERY small and a bit noisy with the propellors, but a quick way of getting about.

As soon as I reached Grenada it was obvious that they are more geared up to tourism than little Tobago. The hotel is really very luxurious...........excellent food, and the gardens are just stunning. Lots of brightly coloured birds flying amongst the bushes, just seen a humming bird feeding on the hibiscus tree outside my balcony.
We have an afternoon tour today to visit St George the capital, and then off round the coast to the privately-owned Botanical Gardens which are supposed to have a 'restful ambience'!! Just like the rest of the Caribbean!

Tomorrow we are all out on a full day trip round the island's perimeter, and will give us a taste of the history of the place, and also visits to a working spice plantation and a Rum Distillery...........hope they give us a tasting.......hic!

To all those who have been emailing me..............thanks, I  do like receiving them. I have tried to reply to them all but unfortunately cannot get them to Send. It was the same in SA last year, but please keep them coming!

Hot........Hot.........Hot!

Hi folks, another blog from your roving reporter.........
Yesterday we had an interesting day out in the Rainforest. We had a local guide who was so good, pointing out all the flora and fauna for us. Saw a great number of beautiful birds amongst the trees, and he was telling us that 75% of the forest was decimated in 1963 when they had Hurricane Flora, but hopefully they won't have another one before I leave tomorrow!
We ended our trek at Argyle Waterfalls and had a well-deserved swim in freezing cold water!

Today most of the group went off to Little Tobago on a trip but I decided to stay here and chill for the day. Want to make the most of this beautiful place before I have to leave tomorrow. Spent the day relaxing on the lovely beach, swimming, eating and drinking (surprise,surprise I hear you say!)

Snapped a few more photos round the hotel............

Well, my time in Tobago is nearly over, and we have an early start tomorrow to catch the flight to Grenada (via Trinidad)...........The Spice Island...........hope it is as good as this one.

Tobago..........Cocktails and Cannons

Well, here goes, my first blog from the Caribbean........after several glasses of wine and rum punches at the Manager's cocktail party!

Arrived safely on Thursday after a long day travelling, to a little slice of tropical paradise here in Tobago. We are a small group of 16 and they seem a nice bunch. My hotel is an old type colonial building in a beautiful setting, and apparently has been visited in the past by Princess Margaret, Rita Hayworth and Robert Mitchum! The first photo is the view from my balcony..................only a few short steps to the beach. Staff are excellent and cannot do enough for you, even though it might not be today..............Manyana!!

Today we had a morning trip round the bottom half of the island with a tour guide called Monica who I'm convinced is totally bonkers! She was very knowledgable and kept us highly entertained while on the coach............ending up singing theTobago national anthem! Anyway, I am now all clued about the history of this place. Apparently the island has changed hands dozens of times over the last few centuries from British to French to Spanish etc etc, and consequently there have been many battles for ownership. All around the coastline there are dozens of cannons perched in strategic places!

I do hope that you are not still freezing back home........it is so hard to imagine, being that I am sitting on the terrace here at the hotel at 11.30pm at night in a flimsy top!!

Off on a hike in the rainforest tomorrow, taking in some waterfalls, and hopefully I will see a few birds. Apparently Tobago is one of the best places in the world for bird-watching. Off to bed.........

Please Read and Enjoy!

As some of you already know I am setting off on 21st Feb with Saga for another big adventure.
This time to the Caribbean for a more relaxing holiday, although I have plans for some snorkelling, hiking in the rainforests, boat trips and generally taking in the flora and fauna of the beautiful islands.

I am starting in Tobago...........then to Grenada...........then to St Vincent. Lots of short flights involved on small inter- island planes, but shall be sure to leave plenty of time to enjoy the sunshine and lovely beaches (with a cocktail or two in hand!)

Please read and enjoy if you wish.

Sally