Grenada Wednesday September 24 2014

Today is the first time the Disney Magic will visit the island of Grenada.  We are excited for this inaugural visit.  Not only that, we find out that the Disney Magic is the first ship in for the season!  I guess the ships don’t start coming in until the end of the Hurricane season and then they come the rest of the fall, then stay through spring.

Grenada is known as the “island of Spice”.  The island is a major source for cinnamon, cocoa, ginger and the world’s largest exporter of nutmeg.  Originally home to the Arawaks and then later to the Carib Indians, Grenada was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1498.  Due to the strong defense by the Caribs, it wasn’t until the 17^th century that the French finally settled the island.  

Battles waged between France and Britain until the British formally gained possession of the land in 1783.  The British ruled the land until 1974 when Grenada gained independence.

We dock around 6:15 a.m. and are greeted by fireboats to escort us in.  The ship is all clear by 7 a.m. when everyone can get off.  We have a tour scheduled “The Best of Grenada” at 7:45 a.m.  It is an 8 hour tour so we will basically be gone all day.

There are 7 buses (mini buses that hold about 20 guests each) that are doing our tour.  

We first head off from St. George where we are docked to Fort Frederick.  Fort Frederick is the fort overlooking the city on Richmond Hill.  The French overtook the island in 1779.  During the building of Fort Frederick the Treaty of Versailles was signed giving the island back to the British.  We have a beautiful view of our ship from Fort Frederick.

Olaf and I enjoy a picture from the Fort with the Disney Magic in the background.

We have a steel band playing music for us at the Fort

After our brief visit to Fort Frederick, we work our way to Grand Etang Forest Reserve.  We climb at high as 1910 feet to get to the forest reserve.  We get a view of Crater Lake which was formed by the volcano.  It is a fresh water lake.

Some bamboo trees.  The trip really reminds me of the rainforest on Maui.

Flowers growing at the reserve

We have our local ladies wearing the hats of fruit and nuts and such on their head.  Couldn’t get a picture with them unless you wanted to pay money.  However, we stopped and Faith and I played with the Steel Band and got our picture with the guys.  A shocking fact….unemployment is 40% on Grenada.  Definitely bought some stuff from the local vendors who are at least trying to make a living since they can’t find regular work.

The roads we are travelling on are pretty crazy and our bus driver is driving like he is in a road race, so I am thankful I am sitting in the front seat.  I would have not done well if in the back of the bus.  If you have been to the Island of Maui in Hawaii, the road reminds me of the Road to Hana.  One lane, you have to back up in some places so you can let a car through.  Pretty challenging.  Glad I am not driving today.

We drive by the airstrip where the Americans came in and bombed the Cuban planes back in October 1973.  Operation Urgent Fury was a 1983 United States–led invasion of Grenada, that resulted in a U.S. victory within a matter of weeks. Triggered by the house arrest and murder of the leader of the coup which had brought a revolutionary government to power for the preceding four years, the invasion resulted in a restoration of the pre-revolutionary regime. The planes still sit there today.  The airstrip is now a place for cows and goats to eat and keep the area mowed.

We then go to the River Antionne Estate to learn how they make Rum.  They have been making rum here since 1785.  They don’t export much, they drink it all.  I think they said they make 300,000 bottles a year.  They still use the old antiquated way to make the rum including the water wheel that carries the sugar cane up the belt and gets the juice out all the way to the fermenting process and the Boiling Room and then to the rum distillery.   They use wood the old fashioned way to heat the boilers.  Quite interesting.  Now I don’t drink, but they actually make a rum here that is 75% proof.  I guess that is higher than what you can actually take home on a plane.  The highest proof is 70%.  So they make one at 69% proof so you can buy bottles to take home.  

Then it is off to lunch to the Belmont Estate located in St. Patrick, Grenada.  It has 400 acres of lush rolling hills and is a working plantation.  We have a delicious lunch of chicken, rice, salad and other items and for dessert I have a very tasty Nutmeg Ice Cream.

These are the cocoa beans they put out to dry.  And if it starts raining they just slide the huge trays back under the building so they don’t get wet.

We then head down the crazy road continuing our journey to Leaper’s Hill.  Leaper’s Hill is named for all the Caribs that jumped off it into the sea when they were defeated by the French in 1651.  Rather than admit defeat, they jumped into the ocean.  So that is where the name came from.  It is kinda hard to tell from these pictures because the trees are now all overgrown, but it was quite a drop to the sea below.

The local church by Leaper’s Hill

We then continued to the Dougaldson Estate where spices are made and our guide there gave us a little lesson on what kind of trees the spices grow on and how they are produced.  They still do it the old way, and the building is just as old!  We were able to purchase some really fresh spices at the end of the tour.  The tree branches and leaves are cinnamon!

Next we are off to Concord Waterfall.  The road is very narrow and we have to back up several times when we meet other vehicles on the road

Olaf decided it was time to feel some of the cold water since it was such a hot day

Some pictures I took on the road headed back to the ship

All aboard was 4:45 p.m.  The last four buses arrived back to the ship at the same time we did 4:50 p.m.  So we all were the last ones on board before we left Grenada.

Some pictures I took at sailaway

I absolutely loved Grenada.  Would love for the Disney Magic to return again.  I would enjoy spending more time on the island.

Back on the ship, it was time to get ready for Villains Tonight.  As usual it was a fabulous show and enjoyed every minute of it.

At 7:30 p.m. we headed off to play Bingo.  Was close to winning, but no such luck.  Michael finally won after a 25 game losing streak.  He split the jackpot though and only ended up with $82.

At 8:15 p.m. we had dinner in Animator’s Palate.  Tonight is the Drawn to Magic Show (I think that is what they call it.)  Anyway, we all drew our characters and then saw them come to life at the end of the evening.  It is always fun to see what your table mates draw.  We have some extremely talented animators in our group (but that would not be me!)

Bob (of Bob n’ Lee) is still talking about his birthday dinner in Animator’s from the May cruise on the Fantasy and how wonderful it was.

Next we are off to Fathom’s for Match Your Mate.  It was hilarious tonight.  Miguel did an awesome job as club host with the 3 couples playing the game. 

So, it is now after midnight and time to call it a night.  Tomorrow we will arrive in Barbados and have a tour scheduled in the morning, so once again an early start to the day.

Was a great day and the time just goes by too fast.  Can’t believe our journey is soon coming to an end.

Until tomorrow then, goodnight from the Disney Magic!