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Fort George's On The Hill - Carenage on Right
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Today was the day to
explore St. George’s. It isn’t a
large place but full of history with forts dating back to the 18th
century. We motored across the
harbour in the dinghy to the Carenage.
The name Carenage has its root in the word careenage, a word used to
describe the act of careening ships to the shallows in order to get the boats
high and dry enough to effect repairs. While the careening doesn’t take place anymore it is a very
convenient place to tie up the dinghy and explore the nearby streets.
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A Little Tight When a Truck Rolls Through
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Our initial target was
the old British Fort. We walked
through the tunnel dividing the town and took a quick left to climb the hill to Fort George. It was an easy
walk and the rewards were the great views of the sea, harbour and surrounding
hills. For those used to all the
trappings of a well-preserved museum piece, this fort does not fit in that
category. Much is left exposed to
the elements and descriptive plaques are few but as it is, you still get a sense
of what it must have been like back-in-the-day. The Fort is where Maurice Bishop (and his pregnant wife) and
cabinet were taken in 1983 before meeting their deaths by firing squad. We were told some of the bullet holes
are still in the walls but we didn’t find them. There is also an old French fort perched on the hill
overlooking the town but that will have to be for another day.
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Looking Across to Port Louis - Our Marina
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We had a short walk
around the town and lunched at Deyna’s, a small eatery across from the bus
terminal. Deyna's served authentic
Grenadian food and caters mostly to locals. Even though each cruise ship brings nearly 3000 tourists, at
least three times a week, places like Deyna’s see few tourists as most folks
eat on board. Meals were about $8 each. Deborah chose the traditional Grenadian dish
called Oil Down and Pam chose Lambi (conch in other places) and everyone
enjoyed their meals.
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Oil Down
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After a further short
walk about we enjoyed Soursop smoothies for desert. Soursop is a green fruit that resembles a knobby pear reknowned for its cancer-fighting properties
The large outdoor market was under repair but we still managed a short walk around the produce market and to make a few deals.
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The Royal Grenadian Police Force
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Pigeon Peas and Turmeric
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Pam Finds a Breadfruit
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Our last stop was the
National Museum. We were lucky to
get a guided tour for our $5 EC admission. Our guide was originally from the U.K. but has lived in Guyana
and Grenada for the last 44 years. I think she thought we were Americans because she wanted to emphasisze to us the great benefits Cuba bestows on Grenada through the supply of doctors, nurses and teachers. She was passionate about her subject matter and well practised in her
delivery. For the price, it is
well worth the tour.
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Measures Left Over From The Spice Trade
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So Passionate - She Followed Us Onto the Street
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Back to the boat, more
pool time until happy hour, and another day in paradise concluded.
