Wednesday, 10 Jan 2018 – Our 4-hour excursion was to start at 8:00
AM. As we left the ship to walk toward
our assigned bus, the heavens seemed to open, dousing everyone with heavy
rain. Although the rain soon stopped, it
rained on and off until the last hour, when it cleared. This is supposed to be dry season!
Raymond was both the driver
and guide of our small bus of 25 passengers.
First, we rode through Grenada’s quaint old city of St. George. Then we learned why this island is referred
to as the Spice Isle. At the De La
Grenade Industries located just a few miles outside of town, this family-owned
company produces jams and jellies and the prize-winning Nutmeg Syrup and De La
Grenade
Liqueur, which are both
made from nutmeg. Before leaving, we
were treated to a taste of their delicious rum punch.
 |
| Laura Spice and Herb Garden |
Although Grenada is the second
largest producer of nutmeg in the world (after Indonesia), many other spices
and herbs are grown here. Arriving at
the Laura Herb and Spice Garden, we were engulfed in the aroma of every spice that is
grown on the Island. Within the garden were a wide variety of herbs and
medicinal plants, some of which are exported for use in patented medicines and
in Caribbean and International cuisine. Amongst others, you will also find aromatic
spices such as cocoa, mace, pimento, cinnamon, vanilla, turmeric, allspice, and
cloves. We passed around handfuls to
smell.
Our
final stop was at Westerhall Estates which produces the Island's leading rums. After a brief tour here, we sampled their very
strong rum (which could have been used for disinfectant!). We saw what appeared to be a storage tank of
possibly petroleum – except that it was filled with rum!
An
important event involving the United States happened in October, 1983, which
the two of us did not remember (since it was a year before we started working
for the Department of the Army!). The
U.S. invaded Grenada, which resulted in a U.S. victory in shortly more than one
week. That action was triggered by the
execution of the previous leader and the establishment of the Revolutionary
Military Council. President Reagan,
citing the threat posed to the almost 1,000 Americans on the island (many of
whom were students at a medical school) by the turbulent Marxist regime,
ordered the Marines to invade and secure their safety. The invasion resulted in the appointment of
an interim government, followed by democratic elections in 1984. The country has remained a democratic nation
since then. [The daughter of our family
doctor went to medical school in Grenada.]
Formerly,
agriculture was the main industry in Grenada; however, the average age of a
farmer here is 67 years, our guide said.
Even though the government tries to help young people get started in
farming, most are not interested. Tourism is the main industry. Many young people migrate elsewhere. Schools here produce educated people (medical
school and other university level education is available), and the government
now gives scholarships to foreign students who then must live here 5 years
before leaving for “greener pastures.”
The remainder of our day was spent with napping or reading, dinner
in the Terrace Café, and then dancing before bedtime.
No comments:
Post a Comment