Grenada
Today’s travel photo is from St George’s, Grenada.
Grenada was virtually an unknown country to me before I went to uni in the USA in the 80s. Then, two things made me aware of the tiny Caribbean country. One: many of my American fellow pre-med students planned to do their post-graduate studies at the medical school in Grenada, (while I decided not to go to any medical school at all – and changed fields to economics instead).
And two: Ronald Reagan was worried about Grenada’s pro-communist government and Cuban connections, and decided to invade the little island nation in what was secretly known as Operation Urgent Fury. Queen Elizabeth was none too pleased. Neither was the UN. The General Assembly deeply deplored the armed intervention in Grenada, calling it a flagrant violation of international law.
I sailed to Grenada in the early 90s and remember a green, verdant island full of spice. I also remember being slightly concerned about two guys we hired to take us around the island who giggled like little girls whenever they heard the Norwegian word for nutmeg. Muskat isn’t that funny a word, but then they were both high as kites.
Grenada rarely makes the headlines here in Europe. In fact, I only remember hearing about it twice in the last ten or fifteen years: when Hurricane Ivan hit the island in 2004, and when Grenada co-hosted the World Cricket Cup in 2007. (Though why I remember anything about cricket is weird in itself).
I only know Grenada in Spain, but this looks very charming too.
A beautiful island, more reminiscent of Britain than Spain, really.
I’ve heard about the medical school and Grenada always seems to get good marks as being a very beautiful island.
Isn’t it also called the Spice Island?
Yes, it is. Grenada produces 1/5 of the world’s supply of nutmeg, and heaps of other spices as well.
Wow it is Caribbean and they have a British phone booth? Are they common there?
It’s been years since I visited, but I remember all kinds of memorabilia from colonial days in St George’s: the red phone boxes, British police uniforms, driving on the left,…
That’s quite a home for that English phone booth. And I didn’t know you wanted to be a doctor!
Runs in the family that, so it was a given. Caused a bit of an uproar when I changed my mind…
Great photos, lovely colors 🙂
Thanks, Muza 🙂
I never thought Grenada is such green.
It’s very lush.
Gorgeous shots, Sophie. I really love the phone booth one.
Ta 🙂
Hey Sophie,
These shots are amazing. I have to admit that I had not heard much about Grenada until I came across your post today. St. George’s looks beautiful, and I’m sure there would be much more to see and explore in the city. The colonial-era type Phone booth is pretty interesting.
Lots more to explore in St. George’s and around the island 🙂
Oh, you’ve brought back some disturbing memories here of the invasion and the aftermath. I lost a few friends then. Coincidentally, just last night I got an email from another friend
with some political updates.
Anyway, the Spice Island is a beautiful place and your photos definitely do it justice. Thanks for sharing, Sophie.
Oh, that’s awful! I haven’t kept up with Grenada’s political situation, I’m afraid.
I remember the invasion very well but know very little else about Granada. It looks like a beautiful spot. I assume it must get a fair bit of rain to be so green.
There’s quite a long rainy season, we were told: June – December.
Grenada hardly makes the news here in the US too! I’m kind of surprised after seeing how beautiful it is.
That is odd, considering its close proximity.
Hi, I was born and raised in Canada (6th generation) and did work in Grenada for 6 months for Northern Telecom. We were 4 Canadians and installed underground plastic
ducts encased in concrete for the communication wires to be pulled through. The water mains pipes were buried only 18 inches under the streets .
But I loved the island when I was there. I wish I could return but I have MS as my health condition precludes me from visiting again.
Thank You for this opportunity and Take Care !
Norm
Hi Norman,
That must have been exciting times. Wishing you all the best and take good care of yourself!
A little of England 🙂
Indeed 🙂
Ugh. Memories of Reagan foreign policy. 😉
Where did you study in the US?
I was in Oklahoma.
How pretty! I’ve never been to Grenada, but would totally go if I had the chance.
Think I’d have another look, too, if the opportunity arose – and see it through more grown-up eyes…
I guess Grenada must have been one pole of Reagan’s “Axis of Evil.”
Well, he was afraid they were unduly influenced (if indirectly) by the ‘Evil Empire’, I think…
Grenada..the Spice Island. We were there on a cruise stop a few years ago and it was such an interesting and pretty island. I still have spices in my cupboard (not sure if it’s still good). We actually know a couple of people who went to Grenada for medical school. So, I’ve always associated it to spices and doctors =)
Spices last forever – at least according to my spice shelf.
My husband and I also visited Grenada on a cruise. It was my favorite of the five islands we visited. Hiking to Seven Sisters Falls was one of the highlights of our trip and Grand Anse is a beautiful beach. We brought home a bag of whole nutmeg and the smell makes me happy whenever I grate a bit of it.
Nutmeg = yum!
I have been all over the Caribbean, but never to Grenada. Perhaps I should change that:)
It’s absolutely worth visiting 🙂
Interesting to learn more about the history of Grenada, as I was reading this I realized that I knew very little.
You’re not alone 🙂
Grenada hasn’t really been on my radar, but it certainly looks lovely. I like how you shared so much great info about the island in just those few short paragraphs!
Thanks. I aim to inform and inspire 🙂
I’ve never been there either. It does look like a pretty spot.
Very pretty, indeed.
Looks really pretty. I had heard of Grenada but honestly didn’t know where it was until now.
Not that far from the US 🙂