Snorkling in Granada

We’re in Grenada today, an island, volcanic in origin, endowed with lush green mountains and 43 spectacular white sand beaches. It was discovered by Columbus on his third voyage. It’s ironic that he was put-off by the fierce Carib Indians and missed his goal of finding a source of spices for Europe by sailing west instead of east, because this is known as the Isle of Spice. The nutmeg tree was introduce here in 1843 and today they cultivate and export nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, mace, ginger, cocoa and more.
After the usual Caribbean battles, Britain got control in 1783 by the Treaty of Versailles and Grenada got full independence in 1974. The island is 21miles long and 12 wide with 90,000 population. We docked in the capital of St. George in, another extinct volcano crater harbour, where houses of every pastel color rise up into the green hills. They are built of lava rock due to disastrous fires in the past, so wood is forbidden for building now.
As we stepped onto the dock, the local band was playing great music and Ron joined in. Next we sailed on a 60’ catamaran to Flamingo Bay, where I snorkeled for an hour in 14’ of incredibly clear water. I saw about 20 different fish and 100’s of plants and coral. Ron took pictures and it was magical. Then we sailed off to another beach and swam in the beautiful blue water with 4’ gentle swells carrying you onto the white sand. It is so buoyant that your feet rise up out of the water.
Patois is spoken here and the local dish is ‘oil down’ made of breadfruit, calaloo and meat.