*roung de islan'

One of the advantages of living on a small island such as Grenada or St. Lucia, is that you can almost literally plan to spend a day driving around literally the entire island, stopping for sightseeing, lunch, and a "sea bath". This is best done with a bunch of like minded friends, not to mention coolers full of beer, soft drinks and other refreshments (some of Karen's rum punch for example). If possible, lunch should be a cook out on a beach somewhere (think curry goat, oil down or crab and callaloo), usually courtesy of the male members of the party.

I have done this countless times in Grenada, it's practically required whenever we had "foreigners" visiting. A day like this that sticks out in my memory was in August 1993. Both my sister and I were "back home" for a few weeks visiting family, and some friends had visitors from the UK, then 2 of my friends flew down for a few days. It was inevitable, we had to go 'roung de islan'.

We packed up food and drinks, and around 15 people in 4 cars and headed off along the western coast of the island towards Gouyave. The first stop was to the Concord waterfalls, shown here. I'd never seen it before that day and it was breathtaking! We also made a stop at Carib's Leap, visited a famous church in Sauteurs, and then had lunch at Bathway beach to the north. If I'm not mistaken instead of cutting across the hills to head back to St. George's, we took the longer route along the west coast.

What I remember even more than the sightseeing was all the fun and laughter. Lots of Ole Talk as we call it - basically cracking jokes all the way. This is a very different look at the island as compared to the official tours or renting a car and doing it yourself. Typically, especially when there is a cook out involved, the itinerary will include one or more beaches that are well off the beaten track (as in you need a four wheel drive to get to it). Promise me if you're ever in Grenada and connect with any Grenadians tell them Francine says they have to take you roung de islan'.

* around the island

Comments

[Vernell]

Ah the memories that your post just brought back. I need to dig those pictures out and scrap them LOL!!!

[arubagirl]

Beautiful, Francine! I had forgotten how green the island is.