The island of Grenada is as far south as we intended to go before battening down and cowardly deserting Ñandú for the hurricane season. Only 75 miles from South America, this is far enough south to be considered outside the hurricane belt, but that doesn’t mean Grenada is entirely free of risk: Hurricane Ivan caused extensive damage in 2004.
Leaving the boat to its own resources for several month meant many days of you-know-what: boat work! Yay! Cleaning, removing all sails, stowing the dinghy inside the cockpit, getting rid of everything that could attract insects, and a long list of miscellaneous tasks left us with no time to explore this beautiful island, except for half a day around the capital, St. George’s. We expect to remedy that when we come back.
Grenada is know as the Spice Island. It is the second largest exporter of nutmeg (after Indonesia), but it grows and exports a variety of other spices as well. Grenada’s history starts with the usual suspects: Arawak and Caribs as first inhabitants, and then Spaniards claiming the island but letting the French and English fight for it. Independence came in 1974, and things got interesting five years later, with a communist revolution led by Maurice Bishop that overthrew an oppressive government. With strong ties to Cuba, Bishop improved medical care and education, but the lack of political freedom led to power struggles. 1983 saw more coups; Bishop arrested, freed by a mob, recaptured and executed; and a U.S.-led military invasion.
Human right violations and political assassinations during that turbulent period left wounds that polarized the public—in a way all too familiar to us, Chileans. In 2000 a high school research project about the fact that Bishop’s body was never found, caught the attention of the Miami Herald and ultimately led to the formation of a Commission for Truth and Reconciliation. Today it seems that Grenadians have found their truth and peace, and enjoy political and economic stability.
Welcome Home!!! So is the boat parked in Granada?
Yup, in Grenada, out of the water and solidly strapped to the ground so that it doesn’t become the first ever flying ñandú.
Are you coming out to the Playa? A little desert Yang to balance all that watery Yin? We’ll be out there all season working with the Commissary Crew! Would love to see you!
Sadly no, no playa for us. But we’d love to see you too, so let’s sync with email.