Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Tri de Spice




 
Before you get the wrong idea, no we did not compete in a triathlon.
Of course, those who know me would never jump to that conclusion.
Jim maybe, Wendy never!
But we really enjoyed going to watch the event.
The Grenada Tri De Spice is held every Easter if you're interested in competing next year.

 
Swimmers begin to arrive for the start at Port Louis Marina.

 
Rounding the mark with a view of St. George's in the background.


Front row seat, I mean board for the race.

 
Transitioning to the bike race.


The leader in the Sprint division from Trinidad and Tobago.

The women's leader in the Sprint division was from the U.K.
Participants could compete in the Sprint Race or the Olympic Triathlon.
It was inspiring just watching these amazing athletes.
 
 

De Big Fish



"Where everybody knows your name.
And they're always glad you came."
 
Remember that theme from the TV show Cheers?
De Big Fish in Grenada has been our Cheers for 5 years.

 


Tomorrow it will open for the last time.
Saturday was the last big bash!
We ate and drank and laughed and danced!


Hope and Steve (S/V Starshine)
 

Margit and Wolfgang (S/V MoMo)


Maurice and Maria (S/V Cattiva)

And many more friends that I neglected to take pictures of.
We have celebrated birthdays, Christmas, New Years, arrivals and departures, held pot luck dinners and fundraisers at De Big Fish.
Thank you to Rikky and staff for all the memories!

 

Monday, April 14, 2014

Sundays at the Pool


I love Sundays.
Sundays in Grenada, that is.
I know that we are retired and that one day should be the same as the next but for some reason that I can't explain, they aren't.  Businesses are closed on Sunday so the island is quiet.  There are activities during the week and chores but there are also lots of days when we don't do much of anything.  Sunday should be a good boat project day but we rarely use our time for that.  On Sunday mornings we go for a swim at the University Club.  We might meet friends or hang out alone.  We sit by the pool and read a book, maybe play bocci ball, have lunch or nap in a lounge chair.  Lately we've taken to treating ourselves to a pina colada from the beach bar.  It makes us feel like we are on vacation.  Yes, even when you live in paradise you need a vacation.  Or at least a change from the everyday.
We call that Sunday.



Our "private pool" as no one else was there when we arrived.


Jim in his favorite Sunday spot.


Saturday, April 12, 2014

Grenada Fun!


We have been very busy lately!
So much to do, so much fun to be had!
A few weeks ago we decided to play tourist and headed out around the island.  For some of us it was a visit to new places and for others, a return to a favorite.  It was a great day!


We visited Belmont Estate, where they process cocoa for the Grenada Chocolate Company.
There is also a new endeavor since my last visit.  They are raising goats and making wonderful cheese.






We also took a tour of West India Spices, Inc where they bottle essential oils like lemongrass, nutmeg and allspice.  Beautiful, modern operation and an interesting tour.


Another day we rode 2 buses to get to the town of Grenville to try out a restaurant we heard about.  You know you are retired and living on a island when you can spend 6 hours just going to lunch!  But it was worth it and the trip across the island is beautiful.  We took the bus through the Grand Etang rain forest to get there and the coastal road back which makes the ride another island tour!


While in Grenville we were treated to this parade of students.  They were celebrating the kick-off of their inter-school track and field competition.




The Grand Etang road to Grenville


Another culinary adventure was the Oil Down that Cutty, our taxi driver friend invited cruisers to.  Oil Down is the national dish of Grenada and is a wonderful stew of green banana and papaya, callaloo, coconut milk, turmeric, dumplings, breadfruit and chicken, pork or saltfish.  It's cooked in a huge kettle over an open fire and typically is a neighborhood event.  Everyone helps.


Ready for the fire and covered in callaloo leaves which is similar to spinach.
Delicious!