Here in the Caribbean - far south - things are pretty slow.
 |
| Cabier Beach, Grenada. Our apartment is on the left. |
But we have plenty of time.
We need to be out of the Schengen area for 2 months.
Our house for the first month here (!) was in the "busy" part of the island. The Lime.
A beautiful tropical gingerbread place - this was our view:
 |
| Not very busy, really. |
Arriving in the islands after leaving winter in London was quite a shock.
The green hills, colorful houses, blue seas.
The eyes - and the mind - need time to change gears.
We had to go to the police station to get our local driving permits - quite the cultural experience.
The fellow who rented us our car turned out to be the local doctor. Nigerian.
When Stan had a sinus infection, our landlady called the doctor. Turns out he's the guy we rented our car from. He checks Stan out, and says, "I'll pick up the prescription at the pharmacy, they know me, and it'll go faster. Otherwise you'll have to wait."
Then he went to the pharmacy to pick up the prescriptions! All for $30. What service.
(Since they don't pay him much as a doctor, he had a small car rental business on the side.)
(Since they don't pay him much as a doctor, he had a small car rental business on the side.)
During the second month, we moved east - to the windward side. Generally, in the islands, the leeward side has the lovely beaches, but can be warm. The other side is windier. NOt as good for swimming, but more comfortable with the breeze.
On the east side, there are no cities. Few towns.
Bumpy dusty muddy roads.
Bumpy dusty muddy roads.
Goats. Chickens. Pigs.
Enthusiastic roosters.
A few years ago we came to this part of the island.
It turned out to be wonderful - but the first night on Grenada was rough!
Jungles of plantain, papaya, coconut, mango, breadfruit trees.
Nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, cashews.
Everything grows here.
And the flowers -!
Everything grows here.
And the flowers -!
Beaches without a soul around.
(ok, maybe a few iguanas.)
We found a place to stay at Cabier Beach - and we stayed a month.
It's pretty remote - beautiful - and just right.
It's pretty remote - beautiful - and just right.
 |
| View from our apt. No one on the beach but a couple of donkeys. |
Pretty soon, it felt like home.
 |
| Our local store. |
The parrots, the turtles, the monkeys, the zookeeper. (Yes, they even had a small zoo!)
The people who live and work here began to know us and we began to know them.
 |
| Weighing scales used at the local "green" market. |
It's a mix of French, German and English - and some sort of local Creole.
Alexander, a gentle German, runs the hotel.
Alexander, a gentle German, runs the hotel.
Bruno is French and runs the restaurant.
|
| Sometimes a couple of pigs graze the beach, too. |
It's seriously relaxed.
We made driftwood sculptures on the beach.
Tried sometimes to catch crabs.
Took daily beach walks.
Enjoyed torrential downpours and spectacular moonsets.
Even took part in a "hash run" - a weekly event with a mix of people, music, noise, color.
Good local beer and BBQ chicken.
(These "hash runs" happen all over the world, apparently. If you find one, try it! It's fun.)
 |
| (I drew a LOT of little things in my journals-) |
It's the sort of place that - when a visitor comes to eat at the restaurant, everyone winds up sharing stories, and we leave with promises of meeting again somewhere else in the world.
We fed the macaw. Hunted for cashews.
Discussed local politics.
Drew. Played music.
You get the idea.
Grenada isn't glitzy.
It's a regular place, not a "destination".
It's a regular place, not a "destination".
 |
| "Downtown" Crochu. |
Most tourists only visit one small corner of the island.
Turns out - it's a great place to spend the winter.
