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This
sleepy island has friendly people, a lush interior
that includes Grant Etang National Park, and
the lovely and popular white sands of Grand
Anse Beach. Crisscrossed by nature trails and
filled with dozens of secluded coves and sandy
beaches, Grenada has moved beyond the turbulence
of the 1980s. It's not necessarily for the serious
party person and definitely not for those seeking
action at the casino. Instead, it attracts visitors
who like snorkeling, sailing, fishing, and doing
nothing more invigorating than lolling on a
beach under the sun.
The
"Spice Island," Grenada is an independent,
three island nation (the other two islands are
Carriacou, the largest of The Grenadines, and
Petite Martinique). Grenada has more spices
per square mile than any other place in the
world: cloves, cinnamon, mace, cocoa, tonka
beans, ginger, and a third of the world's supply
of nutmeg. "Drop a few seeds anywhere,"
the locals will tell you, "and you have
an instant garden." The interior is like
a jungle of palms, oleander, bougainvillea,
purple and red hibiscus, crimson anthurium,
bananas, breadfruit, ferns, and palms.
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Hotels in Grenada
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Carriacou
& Petite Martinique
Located
to the north-east of mainland Grenada, the islands
of Carriacou and Petite Martinique offer visitors
a glimpse of a more leisurely pace of life.
With a mix of Scottish and African ancestry,
these grenadine islands boast a wealth of historical
attractions and cultural festivals. Local traditions
reflect the mixed ancestry of the peoples, with
African Big Drum Nation Dance and the European
Quadrille.
Carriacou
Known as the Land of Reefs, Carriacou is the
largest of Grenada's sister islands. The town
of Hillsborough is the bustling heart of Carriacou,
with banks, Government offices and the main
police station. Business hours are generally
from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Although
just 13 sq miles in size, Carriacou is packed
with activities to fill your day. From world-class
snorkeling and diving on some of the Caribbean's
most pristine reefs to historical attractions
and cultural landmarks, Carriacou offers something
for everyone. And with a restaurant or bar around
every bend, there is no shortage of good food,
drink and entertainment.
Rich
in tradition, Carriacou has many unique customs
handed down from African and European ancestors.
These include Traditional Weddings, Traditional
Boat Launching, Tombstone Feast "Saraca"
Libations, Big Drum Nation Dance, Village Maroons,
Shakespeare Mas, All Saint Candle Lighting "Pass
Play", Cemetery Cleaning and Fishermen
Birthday Celebrations.
In
the village of Windward, sailing boats are built
using the traditional methods passed down by
the Scottish settlers. Recent initiatives are
encouraging younger persons to learn to art
of boat building and to produce model boats.
The annual Carriacou Regatta held in July/ August
seeks to rekindle this art.
Petite
Martinique
This dependency of Grenada has a very strong
culture and one of the highest per capita incomes
in the Eastern Caribbean. The island is really
one large hill with fine beaches on the calmer
western leeward side. About 900 people live
on the island, which covers 486 acres (194 hectares)
and is 3 miles (5km) east of the northern half
of Carriacou.
Like
Carriacou, Petite Martinique was first settled
by the French and many islanders have names
of French origin. Fishing and boat building
are still the main occupations here. In fact
the island is still only reachable by boat.
Visit
Carriacou and Petite Martinique to experience
life at a slower pace.
Though
the official language in Grenada is English,
most Grenadians speak a Creole or English dialect.
In "Grenada’s Non-Standard English",
Grenadian writer Alister Hughes points out some
of the more interesting aspects of the language,
which remains a mixture of African, French,
Spanish and English words.
But
don’t be alarmed, it is easy to understand
the accent and nuance of language. So pack up
your dan-dan and come down to Grenada for a
little lime
*Pack
your party clothes and come to Grenada for a
good time.
Grenadian
customs have evolved as much from its lush tropical
environment as from the mixture of cultures
that settled here. From our African influences
come the strong traditions of dances and drumming.
On the sister island of Carriacou, it is still
possible to witness a Wedding Dance, where on
the wedding day friends and family gather outside
the houses of both the bride and the groom and
with music playing dance their way to a central
spot. Tradition dictates the dancing of the
flags and then of the cakes before all can retire
home to prepare for the official Church service.
Many
local festivals are religious in origin, with
modern day names reflecting the ethnic influences.
The annual Carnival, originally held in February,
was once thought to signal one last festivity
before the austerity of the Catholic Lenten
season. In the days of slavery, it became a
way for the slaves to openly mock their colonial
masters. A tradition which continues today in
the jouvert celebrations held in the early hours
of Carnival Monday.
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