Bountiful Grenada

Approaching St. George’s, Grenada

After our experiences on Dominica, we made the decision to cancel our rental car in Grenada before we even arrived, opting to hire a driver for the day (which isn’t as expensive as it sounds). It definitely proved to be the right decision. Especially considering our first stop of the day was somewhere we hadn’t even heard of before our driver, Felix, suggested it.

The sign says it all… The people of Grenada couldn’t have been more welcoming

Grenada  is known as the Spice Island. Nutmeg, mace, cinnamon, cocoa… you name it, they’ve got it in abundance. And at the Dougaldston Spice Estate outside the town of Gouyave, we learned how several of those spices are traditionally collected and prepared. We even got to sample a couple.

With some friends at Dougaldston Spice Estate

Nutmeg (?) drying in the sun

Smells like Christmas!

Don’t eat that! (Too late!)

Heading up towards Grand Etang National Park, high in the centre of the island, Felix pointed out all sorts of exotic crops and wild plants growing right beside the road.

Breadfruit perhaps?

Figs? Or are these the breadfruit? Or maybe mangoes?

Absolutely no idea… sorry, Felix!

Now these are bananas! Or possibly plantains?

Definitely bananas, complete with plastic bags to keep the spiders off (ick!)

At the heart of the lush, rainforest-covered National Park, at an altitude of 1900 feet, was the extinct Grand Etang volcanic crater. Legend claims that the lake within the crater has no bottom.

Grand Etang Crater

Circling around the west and south coasts of the island from Grand Etang, we returned to Grenada’s capital, St. George’s. Although the effects of 2004’s Hurricane Ivan are still very visible, St. George’s is picture-postcard material. The views from Fort George, which sits astride a promontory above the modern cruise terminal, were particularly scenic. From there you look down on the Carenage, the town’s inner harbour, formed from an extinct, partially-submerged volcanic crater.

The Carenage from Fort George

Grenada really is a welcoming and Bountiful island.

Rolls of cinnamon bark drying by the roadside

Grenada = Bountiful!

And one of the most noticeable things about it is its cleanliness. Unlike some other Caribbean destinations, there is very little litter around, and people seem to take a real pride in the ‘curb-appeal’ of their homes and gardens.

Grenada has a unique variety of eggplant

By the way, if anyone can correct my botany and tell me what the fruits in this post really are, I’d be very grateful!

This post was inspired by the themes Bountiful from Ailsa (of Where’s My Backpack?) and Signs from Cheri (of the Daily Post).

While you’re longing for the bounty of the Caribbean sun, why not sign up and follow my continuing Journeys here at Jaspa’s Journal (on WordPress or Bloglovin’), or through my website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr?

And if that’s not enough for you, there are now three Jaspa’s Journey novels to enjoy as ebooks! Perfect for Kids 8 – 80!