Grenada-Carnival

Carnival in Grenada is about music and food and people.  Carnival actually starts in June and runs through the beginning of August with Soca and Calypso competitions even a Queen's competition.  With the culmination of events during Dimanche Gras on Sunday.  Here the Soca and Calypso Monarchs are crowned and the beginning of J'Ouvert. J'ouvert is the contraction of the french jour ouvert, roughly translated means "the day has begun", in Grenada perhaps "dusk till dawn" is more appropriate.  As the Jab-Jabs or Devil Mas Bands emerge from the darkness of night and parade through town dancing to the steel drums, soca and calypso music.
Our J'Ouvert begins at 0400, although many of the revelers have been going full bore since Sunday evening.
 Historically, when the plantation owners would have a costum party the slaves would have a party of their own, often mocking the masters.  During these parties they would cover themselves with molasses or oil in order to conceal their identity.  In modern times the devils have taken on a more colorful and playful nature, using bright paints as much as the darker molasses and oil.  J'Ouvert may speak to the darker side of our natures,  however, everyone seems to make a good time of it.
The dazed look on some faces tells how many hours they have been cavorting through the night.  Now is time for some clean up and perhaps a quick nap as the Pageant Mas will begin shortly with the rising of the sun.
With the sun shining overhead and the last few devils giving way to the light, the fancy mas bands take to the streets for the Pageant Mas.  The vibrant and brillant colors are a severe contrast to the demon darkness of the night.

 As the Shortknees make there way ahead of the pack the bands representing all of the islands parishes begin to assemble for the march into St. Georges, the capitol of Grenada.  The beautiful costumes and plumege combine with the most popular calypso and soca songs to make for a very festive afternoon.   

 

 

 As the sun fades so to do the vibrent colors of Pageant Mas.  Carnival Monday is coming to an end although the day will not be going out like a lamb. As the Monday Night Mas bands dance through the streets into the early morning hours of Tuesday, the night will display its own colors as the bands wave their magic wands and the revelers are alight and aglow.  As you can see from the glowing smile that adorns Vicky's face.

Once again it's time to share some time with fellow cruisers.  There's Vicky with Mike of "Happy Times"; Mike and Rebbeca of "Zero to Cruising" with Dena of "Sabbaticus" and of course our fellow Texans John and Sonny.

 

    Now that Carnival has passed us by it is time to return to a more normal life.  We set to our chores of cleaning and maintaing Boto.  Our trips to market for produce and fish.  Couldn't pass up the chance for a huge slab of fresh tuna, 5 lbs $10, we'll be having guests for dinner.  Vicky heads back to MN for a visit and to collect a number of items we need amoung them a new alternator.  We leave the civilized world of the marina behind us and return to anchor in Mt. Hartmna Bay and begin to plan for the next leg once Vicky returns.  Hey we're almost current with this thing!

Grenada, an Island Tour

St. Georges, Grenada

After dancing and singing our National Anthems, the Americans and Canadians are resting.  We decide to take off on an island tour care of Cutty.  We get together again with Peter and Martha of "Light Heart" as well as Keith and Jamie of "Kookaburra" to see the sights.



Cutty, Keith, Vicky, Jamie
What are we looking at?



Jamie, Martha, Vicky

On our tour we see where the Americans came ashore to topple the socialist government in the 80's, as remembered in Clint Eastwood's movie "Heartbreak Ridge".

Onto the countryside, Grenada is a mountainous country with wonderful foliage.  Of course there are always the tropical rains to worry about as well so an umbrella is recommended.

What else could you expect to find in the highlands other than a rum distillary that has been operating since 1785.  The current production is carried on the same as it has been for the past 225 years.  With a crew of 90 people to harvest and process the sugar cane, the facility still uses a water wheel to mash the cane.  The concrete vats for boling the mash and the copper still for distilling the 100 proof rum (ouch!).  The daily production is 700 bottles, and we are invited to have a taste, the group manages to knock back the premixed rum punches as well as a taste of the milder 70 proof, but we all pass on the 100+ octane.


waterwheel, powers grist mill



grist mill, grinds sugar cane



cane husks are used to fire the furnace

 As our day draws to an end we sit back and relax.  After touring one of the older rum distillaries we are in the appropriate state of mind for Carnival which is just around the corner.

the "mash" in the kettles pre-fermentation



To Grenada

 

Our summer plans went through several revisions before we settled on waiting out the hurricane season in Grenada.  This gave us a chance to travel back to the states as well as to put into a boat yard to have some work done. In addition our insurance wants us further south.  So as the end of June 2011 approaches we are on our way to Grenada.  With the wind ESE at 15k we once again have a great sail taking seven hours to reach Prickly Bay and our anchorage for the night.  A word about Prickly Bay, ROLLY!  If you can avoid it, do so.  We picked up and moved to Mt. Hartman the next morning after spending a night in the washer.  Now to get ready for the boat yard.

Grenada's east coast

Upon our arrival in Grenada we tune into the Cruisers Net on VHF 68 and find that there is no end to the activities available to us.  There are BBQ's and Happy Hours, Dominoes, Yoga, Potluck Dinners and Burger Nights, Cricket and Movie Night's, the list goes on and on.  Our first night in Mt. Hartman we settle for a beer with the crew of "Freya" Peter and Jutte.  They have been in Grenada for a while and will be leaving soon, they are fun folks, we'll see them later down the road.  Of course there are old friends here as well, Rob and Lauren of "Arita" are just back from Trinidad and we hoist a sundowner.

Vicky makes our arraingments with Spice Island Marine Services to haul BOTO on Tuesday June 28th and we are set for a weeks worth of work.  The main job is to repaint the bottom, then we'll wax and compound the hull above the waterline plus several other smaller jobs.

primer coat, the yellowbelly



on the hard, stairway to heaven



a HI gloss shine

The yard did the bottom for us so we could concentrate on the topsides, WOW what a workout standing on a ladder working the polisher.


one of the dedicated yard workers



Hey! Where's the water

 It was a bit warm in the yard without a nice sea breeze nor AC.  But Chula had the chance to play on terra firma for a week.  Meanwhile, the ladder gave us a wonderful workout, up the seven rungs, down the seven rungs, oops forgot something up again.  Notice the spacing between the boats.  Many of these boats are being stored for the summer, and in addition to the steel supports they are tied to the ground with straps and steel cable.  Normally this would suffice for a small storm, however a number of years ago a hurricane blew through Grenada and knocked all of the boats down, remeber we mentioned dominoes.



new bottom paint to last a lifetime (?)

 Well our work here is through, turns out we only needed four days to get things done, and what you ask did we do?  Well the bottom paint is obvious and the crew at Spice Island did a great job.  Vicky and I waxed and compunded the topsides, we had the cockpit canvas, dodger and bimini restiched, we repaired the "small" leak we had in the stern (while under way we would normally collect a few gallons of seawater, no big deal, yeah right), pulled the galley sink and cleaned rust, reset and recaulked, installed two new DC fans (may not sound like much, but try running wires while hanging upside down in the heat), replaced zincs, polished stainless steel on deck, cleaned below decks removing mildew (yuck), and etc......  Oh one other thing important item.  Boats have thru hulls, these are holes in the boat that allow water to come in, such as to cool the diesel engine.  They also allow for water to go out, such as to drain a sink our a toilet.  When on the hard and workers are about DO NOT us a thru hull, someone will get wet and annoyed.  Well by the end of the week we're ready to get wet again.
We splash Boto on Friday the 1st of July, this is not technically the beginning of a voyage so we should be ok.  We're heading to the Port Louis Marina, where we hope to have airconditioning and unlimited showers.  We will be disappointed as we will not have AC, but the showers are World Class.  Oh well, can't have it all.


that's a back on the water smile



dreamin' of land

We make our way into the marina just in time for the 4th of July and Canada Day Celebrations compliements of the staff.  We reunite with old friends and make new, such is life.


 

"Zero to Cruising"



"Happy Times"

 

"Song" and "Boto"



Ron "Molly Bloom" (l), Steve "Celebration" (c), John "Oceana" (r)

 Festivities behind us, and Carnival just around the corner we take off for a day trip around the island, with Cutty.  Next up, Grenada, an Island Tour.