IslandStar
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Posts posted by IslandStar
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Is it possible to take a taxi to Carenage? I know it isn't far, but we can't do hills and the thought of walking through the tunnel scares me. I'd really like to go there.
you could get a taxi but most folks would laugh as you would spend more time int he taxi going through our crazy one way system than it takes to walk there and back three times.
Honestly the tunnel isn't that scary it is 350ft long only. Stay on the right hand side as you walk to the Carenage (left if you are on your way back), let others walk out and around you and hug the wall and you will be fine :)
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Islandstar, which way do we go for the "hilly through town route?" Last time we walked through the tunnel, and I'd like to go another way this time and see different things. Thanks for all your help! We enjoyed sitting and having a beer and crab cakes at a waterfront bar last time, enjoying the cool breeze. It was one of our favorite days of our cruise!
Sorry I missed this post - hope it isn't too late. The centre of town now has a brand new market square (way better than the old ramshackle huts we used to have) so I would suggest....come out of the terminal and go straight across the road towards the market.....at thetraffic lights go into the market and look about or keep going straight (you can go right but it isn't as interesting as this route I am giving you)...........turn next right up a small street (flow is down this road on the right if you need to check your bearing with a local)...............at the end of this you can follow the road right or take the more interesting cobbled road and stairs up towards the Anglican Cathedral.................then mosey right and follow the road back down towards some traffic lights...............turn left at lights and you will be heading down towards the carenage with batik shop on left and Tikal on the right. Museum down on the right too.
Hope you have fun and if you get lost just ask :cool:
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WE are looking forward to welcoming you and I'm sure it wont be your last visit. :D To give an honest opinion town is somewhat chaotic in cruise season when a boat is in as everyone wants to sell or show you something. A polite thanks but no thanks if you don't want to should suffice. If you want to kick back and simply watch the world go by in the Carenage I receommend either Nutmeg or BBs Crabback. Both have great food and great views. There is the ocean grill too but haven't been there for a long time.
If walking up and over the hill then check out the batik workshop and if in town on a saturday morning get the flowers from the market (main day they are in) while you can -they are gorgeous :cool:
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I haven't doen it as a crise ship tour but I can offer tips if that would help - hopefully some that have done the tour with the ship will comment soon.
At Fort Frederick - this is the time to take the panoramic shots as you get fabulous views of your ship and the carenage and Grand anse beach. You may get a tour of the fort but not 100% sure.
Grand etang - I know you guys aren't supposed to take food off the ship but if you can grab some bananas then you'll have something yummy to hand feed our mona monkeys. They are wild and live in the Grand Etang Forest reserve but are safe to feed. Our two year old has done it and though the monkeys very sweet. Couple of notes though: In cruise season the world heads up there so if you get there later in the day the monkeys may already have full banana tummies and may have gone for a sleep but on the most part they are greedy things and should be there. Please do not (whatever the locals say) feed them sweets as it isn't good for their teeth or their tummies (some tour operators seem to think this is a good photo op to have the monkeys unwrap the sweets but it isn't eco-friendly at all :() The lake is cool to see as it is an old volcanic crater and it is said when Monsserrat erupted the water bubbled and changed colour.
The waterwheel driven rum factory is small but interesting as it is super old and shows how we have always done it here - of course the tasting of rum is the best bit. My own personal preference is the red spice rum :p
It is a full day tour and you will get a good insight to our island but there will be quite a bit of driving from here to there. Our roads have some potholes but Grenada does have one of the better road systems in the Caribbean so sit back and relax and enjoy your day.
Don't forget to buy our yummy Grenada Chocolate :D
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About 5 mins if you walk the tunnel and about 10 mins if you go the hilly-through-town route. I walk the tunnel all the time but you just need to be safe and aware it is used by trucks and cars so stick to the side and walk it as fast as you can as ventilation isn't great.
There are plans to pedestrianize the whole thing which would be fantastic but it's ging to be a long time before it happens.
Have a fabulous day in Grenada :cool:
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Fantastic to see our spices reaching the rest of the world. :D A cautionary note though as I noted one poster make mention of ziploc bags. These will keep the strong smell of spices in that is true but do be careful as they also cause the spice necklaces to go mouldy very quickly. So if you buy them early on in your cruise I would recommend for the necklaces getting a brown paper bag (the good vendors should have these for you) to put them in as this allows them to breathe.
I also read a good tip from one poster that the vendors will tell you when the smell does finally fade (I'm a year on now ans they still smell lovely) to dip them in hot water and then air dry. The poster said to pop them in the microwave for a few seconds and it does work :D
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AJ is an excellent tour guide but is relatively new in terms of being promoted on tripadvisor and therefore here too. He's sort a hidden secret that's now coming out :D. Like Mandoo he is excellent and very knowledgeable and I'm sure you'll have a great day with him.
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There are a few shops (very few) and a couple of places to get a drink but overall the best thing to do is walk the carenage and see the sights of general grenada day life. My own preference is to visit the Carenage from the sea on a boat trip as this is where you really get the all encompassing view of our town as it rises up the hillside. I hope you have a great day in Grenada :cool:
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There ar lots of vendors that sell drinks and chairs on Grand Anse but if you want a beach bar the locals go to that has great food at reasonable prices, good drinks and is fun try Umbrellas. About 20min walk south along beach from watr taxi dock - or get a bus (if you have a group) and go right there. Note it is shut on Mondays- like most other places in Grenada
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Good point and excellent reminder!! I've told the vendors this before.....One of the things they should tell you is to take them out of the small plastic bag as soon as you get back on board.
Essentially they put them in a bag for you for ease of carrying but it backfires if you keep them in the bag for a few days. Remember anything organic will slowly start to produce gasses if kept enclosed so let them out hang them in your room on board and every day will be like you're ont he Spice Isle;)
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Wow you got a real bargain!! And you are so right they are unique and make a great gift. They do vary in price and in quality (in terms of number of different spices, colour of seeds and beans etc) so be prepared not to be as lucky to find all of them at US$2 :)
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Well said Ed. Just to give the readers an idea the average monthly wage is about US300. However this is for those with a full-time job. There is a high rate of unemployment (like a lot of places at present) but you will find if you get the chance to talk to them most will hold down 2-3 or more low paying jobs to make up to this amount. And yet they're still the most upbeat, genuine and friendliest people in the Caribbean as far as I'm concerned.
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Still working on the info for the spices as saw the request a bit late. Scuba Chick and I have underestimated a tad on the necklaces. To be honest it's a while since I bought so I was way out with my recollection of what I paid.
My local pals tell me the necklace vendors will sell to the cruise ships at anything up to US$20 :rolleyes: as the starting price. To give you an idea they as locals actually will pay EC$20 for the necklaces so about US$7.50 so I would say if you can get them for US$10 without offending anybody that would be a great bargain.
Again bear in mind times are hard on the island and there is no social security so if they don't get money they don't eat. Not to say cruisers should be taken advantage of - so US$7-10 is a hard price for them to accept but fair.
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I'll double check with my local sources ;) and let you know what the going rate should be. Mine have had their rejuvination bath recently and smell great but they don't look so pretty any more now they've dried out. I just love the colour of the red mace on the brown nutmegs - gorgeous. Time to get some more methinks.
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They will start high and you should barter them down to about US$2-3? I think
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Agree with Scubachick84....:p However......As a more short-term alternative do the following and they should be like new. Just did mine to make sure I didn't ruin yours.
1 - boil up kettle
2 - whilst it is boiling pour yourself a rum & coke
3 - pour hot water into a bowl and dip the necklaces into it x3 times. DO NOT let them soak! I just mean dip in until submerged and then take out right away. No idea why x3 times is the key but it's what they tell me.
4 - hang them in open window or doorway so they air dry and they should be good as new.
5. Get out photo album and reminisse whilst sipping rum and coke:cool:
How to dive the sculpture park ?
in Grenada
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For diving I would recommend you contact EcoDive - they are on the beach and do a pick up in town. Great operation and the owner is a marine biologist and one of the ones actively involved in the Marine Protected Area and the Underwater Sculptures. If you do go do leave a review
Based on your description I would say you are looking at the Grenada Seafaris Powerboat Adventure. Good one stop shop for sightseeting, information on the island, highly involved in both the MPA and the Underwater Sculpture Park. Check out their reviews which are great. They have a focus on safety and care for the nervous snorkeler and even the complete non-swimmers. could be a way to go for you if you want to see the statues and have a good sightseeing info trip mixed with fun. If you do go do leave a review