Grenada

By Amy Adejokun

Section editor

Baptised "Concepción" by Christopher Columbus, Grenada is a country in the Antilles, located north of Trinidad and Tobago, 124 miles north of Venezuela. Before the arrival of Christopher Columbus, in 1492, the island was inhabited by the Caraibes group. Those who travel to Grenada will discover white sand beaches, turquoise sea, tropical forest, luxurious vegetation, and impressive wild waterfalls and lakes...

Our Editorial team's advice

To enjoy calm holidays in the heart of nature and if you want to meet inhabitants, favour Carriacou Island. Only a few tourists in spite of the island's natural richnesses, such as the white sand and desert beaches, tropical flowers and small colourful villages. Finding a room is not really a problem. Please, if you are taking advantage of the island's natural richnesses, do not participate in its lootings and boycott the shops that sell coral as well as restaurants that serve sea turtle dishes. Don't expect to spend crazy nights in Grenada as besides a few hotels, there are very few events taking place on the island.

pros

+The exhilarating diversity and beauty of the natural setting: mountains, jungle or beach, it's a paradise on earth.
+The gorgeous landscapes are dream places for all kinds of activities: undersea diving, hiking, sailing, golfing, windsurfing, fishing, swimming and leisure time!

cons

-The rainy season, between June and September, is not the best time to spend your summer holiays.
-Other than leisure and sport activities, Grenada does not have many other activities and there are only a few cultural sites.

Traditions

Grenada's culture, marked by the island's history, is a mixture of English, French, African and Indian influences. The European influence can be felt through public institutions and political organisation, while African influences have marked cultural and family life. More recently, African names given to the children reveal the revival of African culture. Cricket and soccer make up the national sports, and rally the whole of the population during tournaments and contests. Cricket fields are numerous and present throughout the island. Many players from the Caribbean are ranked at world level.

Food

Local cuisine offers many dishes made with seafood, like fish stew or curried conches. The "pigeons peas", a sort of brown garden peas, plantain bananas, sweet potatoes, and rice are served with the meats and fishes. The dish called "roti" is a chicken curry with potatoes rolled in a tortilla, a slice of bread. The soup, callaloo made of leaves and coconut milk, is a classic.

Souvenirs

Bring back spices, it is an essential purchase on a trip to the "Caribbean Spice Island"! Nutmeg, cinnamon, curcuma, cloves and vanilla pods exhale fragrances more real and natural than ever. After all, the island is the first producer of nugmet in the world ! Wooden sculptures, clothes and handmade jewellery are also sold a little everywhere. Save the environment and avoid buying coral and all types of jewellery and ornaments made of sea turtles shells or of tropical bird feathers. Shops are open from 8:00 a.m to 12:00 p.m, and from 13:00 p.m to 16:00 p.m, Monday to Friday, and from 8:00 a.m to 12:00 p.m on Saturdays.