Around Grenada
Karinya
Tim And Vicki Schofield, Captain Cal 7 and Jess 4
Mon 14 Feb 2011 23:10
We've been having a great time touring Grenada, its one of the few
eastern carib islands that has really maintained the old traditional
ways. Let me explain:
2 days ago we with 2 other boats rented a taxi for the day. First we
went to a nutmeg factory (Grenada is one of the largest producers) The
local farmers produce the Nutmeg and bring it to the factory. Here the
Mace is taken off the nut, the darker red the better the quality and
this is used for cosmetics etc. The nuts are then dried for 14 days on
old hard wood racks. They turn them with a rake every day to improve
drying. Then they are shelled and sorted by hand. This involves
putting them in water, the ones that float are high quality. Then they
sort to size and ship. The going rate is 5 US per pound.
After this we went to carib leap. Apparently the last remaining 40
indocaribs jumped off the cliffs into the sea committing suicide
rather than live under colonial rule.
Also the person with the 1st diagnosed case of sickle cell syndrome
was buried in the cemetery at this site.
After this we went for lunch, the restaurant villa is owned by an
English couple that did the ARC years ago and decided to settle in
Grenada. The kids swam in the hotel pool and we had lunch overlooking
the Atlantic.
Next off to the Rum factory. This was really interesting. The
buildings and press go back to the days when slaves were still in
abundance. The water driven wheel that presses the cane had London and
Derby engraved on it and must have been several hundred years old. It
extracts the liquid sugar out, then via an open gutter it travels to a
cauldron where some of the water is burnt off. Then the thick molasses
is manually scraped out and put in a tank for fermentation. From there
it goes into a huge still and out comes 150% proof alcohol. They call
it rum, I call it moon shine. I had a sip of it and banned it from
being brought to the boat as it would definitely strip all the paint
of the deck if spilled.
After this we went to the cocoa plantation called Belmount.
Fascinating once again, the current owners are east indian and produce
one of the best organic cocoa for the world chocolate producers.
Hanging in a tree they had an original french made slave bell! I have
already bored you with the workings of 2 factories so won't with the
last.
If you interested the kids have done 3 projects on the operations and
production from these places so you can read their project books next
time you see them.
Today we went hiking up to some wonderful falls, although we got so
muddy and drenched with the topical down pours.
Jess did so well hiking all the way and both of them fell asleep in
the bus ( mini van) on the way back to the boat.
Tonight is valentines and we having a romantic cottage pie on the
boat.....see not everything is bliss!
All our love
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