It has been some time since our last update, but that’s because we have been enjoying our stay here! We have been enjoying activities in the local area (within walking or dinghy distance), tours of the island, hiking, hashing, swimming, eating out way too often, and of course fixing things. The bus system is fantastic and you can travel half way across the island for about US 90 cents. Grenada’s infrastructure is surprisingly good. Electricity, water, and roads are all (mostly) in excellent condition, and the people are fantastic. Good roads, excellent public transportation and friendly people make it very easy to get around and enjoy the country. Click on the pictures for a full screen view.
Roads are well marked which makes getting around much easier than on other islands:
This is the capital of Grenada, St George’s. To the left is “the lagoon” which has a large modern marina, Pt Louis. To the right is “the carenage” which is where most of the local tour and fishing vessels are moored. In the center is the container ship terminal:
The carenage:
Home of the Royal Grenadian Police Force Band. The Chinese have been pouring money into the island recently and during a visit of Chinese dignitaries the band played the national anthem of Taiwan. The band leader, and maybe a few other people, were dismissed (fired).
Concord falls:
Grenada is second only to Indonesia in nutmeg production. Nutmeg grows in a tree and when it becomes ripe, the shell pops open and the nutmeg falls to the ground. Makes harvesting kind of easy I would think!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutmeg
The red outer part is called mace, the nut on the inside is the nutmeg:
Tour of a nutmeg processing facility:
The facility is ultra modern and uses super secret new technology, so no cameras allowed:
So we were told “don’t worry about it”. The only request was to ask permission before taking pictures of the people working in the facility. When the nutmeg comes in it is sorted by size in this sizing tray:
After sizing, the nutmeg is rinsed, checked for quality and dried. Nutmeg will float or sink when placed in water, which determines its quality.
http://www.fao.org/docrep/v4084e/v4084e0b.htm
After sizing, the nutmeg is sorted by hand into different grades. Once graded it is shipped upstairs, no elaboration on what happens up there. We’re thinking that’s where the super secret stuff takes place. We asked these ladies if it was okay to take their picture:
After the secret second floor processing, the nutmeg falls down into this cleaning station:
Then it is bagged and marked for export:
We also took a tour of the Diamond Chocolate Factory where they make Jouvay Chocolate, it’s soooo delicious and they have huge tubs of samples:
http://www.jouvaychocolate.com/
Cocoa tree:
Cocoa pods, beans inside:
The pods are harvested and the beans are extracted. The beans are allowed to ferment for eight days, then they are dried and sized in a machine. After drying they are roasted in this machine:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocoa_bean
Ground up in this machine:
Then mixed with other ingredients in this machine. The other ingredients, sugar, nutmeg etc., are mixed depending on the desired product.
The end product. We love the 70 percent dark chocolate:
On to the Rivers Rum Factory. Before the rum tour we sat down for a wonderful lunch. Our tour guide Mr Cutty at the far end of the table, Tanya to my right, and Kevin of s/v Catchin’ Rays…just taking in the air:
Then a walk up to the rum factory. Mounds of pulverized sugar cane:
Just like the nutmeg plant, I don’t think much has changed here in the last couple of hundred years:
The plant is still powered by water wheel:
Sugar cane comes in…
Then goes up this conveyor:
The cane is compressed in this machine to squeeze out the juice:
OMG MY HAND:
The juice from the sugar cane runs down a concrete-wood-pvc conduit and into the adjacent building to be boiled:
The juice is boiled down to a syrup in these cauldrons:
Then the syrup is pumped into a fermentation room:
After the syrup is fermented it is pumped outside into the distillery:
Once distilled, the product is sent to the testing room. Everything is under lock and key. Once the rum is tested it is sent to bottling:
Final product, 140 proof. We took a pass. Yes, I know…
Then onto the old airport which is now a multifunction property, but mainly a dragstrip. This airplane was for the Prime Minister of Grenada. The plane of the far side was an Air Cuba plane that landed on the 24th of October 1983. The United States invaded Grenada on the 25th of October.
…on a lighter note, this is a cashew, nut grows on top of the fruit. These are the type of cashews you buy in the store. The nuts are delicious but the fruit is not so good. There is another version that looks very similar, the French cashew. The French cashew has the nut inside the fruit. The French cashew nut is not so good but the fruit is delicious! The fruit is juicy, has a mild pear like taste, and smells like gardenias.
We also hiked around Grand Etang Lake, twice, once around the shore and once around the surrounding mountain peaks. We have better pictures and video that we will put up later.
Found this guy which we were told can devastate vegetation:
Picked some huge juicy mangos, some of the best we have had:
The town of Gouyave on the west side of the island, is called the fishing capital of Grenada. Every Friday night they host “Fish Friday”, where vendors line the streets and cook all kinds of fish, it’s fantastic: http://gogouyave.com/content/about-gouyave
Food vendor:
Beer vendor: 
Fort Matthew and Fort Frederick are on the list to see:
http://www.grenadagrenadines.com/explore/attractions/historic-sites/fort-matthew/
http://www.grenadaexplorer.com/tip/fort/
This is the Sendall Tunnel downtown St Georges, built 1889. The tunnel connects the two halves of the city:
http://www.ritebook.in/2014/03/sendall-tunnel-in-grenada.html
Then up to Fort George:
It was here on the 19th of October 1983 that Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and several other government officials and business leaders were executed:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Bishop
Six days later The United States Invaded:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Grenada
More Fort:
The cannons are still operational. Cannon Markings:
General Hospital:
View to lagoon and Port Louis Marina:
Police Headquarters at Fort George. The fort is also home to the police academy:
That’s it for now. We have more pictures and video to go through and will put those up later. We have had a great time here. Grenada is our favorite island so far and we hope to be back here soon. Right now we are getting ready to depart in the next couple of days. We’re not sure of the destination but we’ll let you know when we get there!