Located beneath the hurricane belt and 12 degrees north of the equator, Grenada is part of the southern Caribbean. Typhoons are not frequent. It’s a sloping volcanic island with a bountiful jungle and ten spectacular waterfalls. The island’s rocky coastline and reefs shield a sizable portion of the island’s Atlantic side from powerful waves, while the Caribbean side is serene. The backwoods cover more than half of the island, and the remaining forested area is sparsely populated. There are breathtaking views everywhere you look because of the steep terrain. Beautiful mountains, lush valleys, and an abundance of brilliant ocean views unexpectedly appear as the roadways wind around the varying topography. Despite the typical wild environment, Grenada is an important Caribbean location for leatherback sea turtle colonization. The fourth-largest reptile in the world, the leatherback sea turtle, may reach a length of 6 feet and a weight of 2,000 pounds. In the northern portion of the island, between 700 and 1,000 new homes are built each year. People from all around the world, as well as locals, converge to see this unique occasion and to choose to tag, research, and collect vital data about this endangered animal.
This island is governed by nature, but there are also many things to do and places to explore. Events such as music, sailing races, the National Museum, a historic yet operational rum distillery, beautiful gardens, and active plantations that grow cocoa, nutmeg, and a variety of other flavors, organic goods, and vegetables all entice visitors and residents alike. The greatest places to swim and dive, including the site of the Bianca C disaster—also known as the Caribbean Titanic—are perhaps in Grenada. The world’s largest submerged model park is also located there. One of the few small groups of Caribbean islands where it is possible to buy boat protection from tropical storms is Grenada. In Grenada, many people anchor their boats during the season of tropical storms. A vast, organized yachting and cruising network exists. Eight marinas provide maintenance, provisioning, and overhaul and repair services for small boats up to 300-foot superyachts.
Gaining trade breezes maintain temperatures between 70 and 88 degrees (average 77 to 81 degrees), and the windy season is also referred to as the “green season.” Even though it rains every day from April through November, the average length of a shower is less than fifteen minutes. The majority of Grenadians find a building to hide out for a short while, catch up on the local news, and then carry on when the sun comes back up. It rains more heavily and more often as you get closer to the rainforest.
St. George’s, the capital city, is the hub of all major commerce and shopping, and afterward, it’s just a quick trip back to nature. Grenville, the island’s other major “city,” and St. Georges are home to 58% of the population. The majority of people, including foreigners, reside on or near the coast. Grenadians have an alluring glow and are gregarious and kind. As they go about their daily lives, everyone gets to know each other properly. When they say “great morning,” everyone in line responds, “Great morning,” acknowledging the missed opportunity for success and the refreshed individual approach. When everyone is wishing you well wherever you go, it’s hard to stay feeling awful. One Sunday, I gave a nearby restaurant a call to see if we could eat there. In response, the business owner said, “We’re closed today, but in the unlikely event that you’re hungry, I’ll feed you.” In Grenada, this kind of affiliation is typical. People try really hard to assist. As we pulled off into a narrow lane, we unintentionally dumped our front tire into a deep, open box channel. The car’s skeleton lay on the pavement. Four Grenadian men staggered over while we were trying to figure out what to do immediately, grabbed our car, put it back in motion, tapped the hood, and waved us on our way.
There was also the time I suggested taking a different route through the rainforest, and we ended up getting lost. The handbook claimed that the roadway led straight into town. The course proved to be so narrow as we were driving that we could not go on. On the left was the sheer bulk of the mountain; on the right was a crumbling bluff. A man of his word emerged from the thicket and asked, “Sweetheart, what are you doing in this God-spurned spot?” as we debated whether or not to crawl along the street. He took us back to progress while giggling and telling us that the street hadn’t been safe in a very long time. This sense of support and network afflicts the island.
Grenadians are often very strict, yet it’s a loving, gentle way of handling things. They ask God to help them, acknowledging that life is difficult. They have a personal relationship with God that is very easy to approach. They have no intention of changing anyone else. The acceptable response to a question about whether they will arrive tomorrow is always “Yes, please God” or “God willing.”
Customs and legacy have important implications. Calypso melodies that offer commentary on current events, carnivals, pageantry, traditional artworks, pan music, African dancing, and drumming are all widely appreciated as Grenadians strive to preserve the best aspects of this island’s unique character while embracing the tourism sector, advancement, and innovation.
Grenadians are happy with the local culinary customs, especially the delicious public dish called Oil Down. It is made with ground coconut, chicken, fish, callaloo, dumplings, and aromatic spices. The coconut gives it its name when it is reduced to a sauce. It is but one of several worthy and impressive dishes. The neighborhood food is flavored with African, French, and Indian cooking techniques and ingredients.
Grenada’s abundance of developed flavors has earned it the nickname “Spice Island.” It provides 33% of the world’s nutmeg, and because of its moist surface and aromatic flavor, many people think it’s the greatest. Grenada considers nutmeg to be so important that it is mentioned in both the public banner and the blueprint for the legislative building.
