Grenada
Grenada
We anchored in Prickly Bay, Grenada at 4 am on the morning on January 14, 2013. Needless to say, it was dark, so we couldnt see anything. In the morning, we woke up and realized we were in an incredibly beautiful place…at least from where we were floating.
Taken from the Prickly Bay, Grenada Immigration and Customs Office
We dinghy’d in to clear customs and immigration, where they charge a $25 usd fee for a “Cruising Permit” which is what allows you to anchor here. The currency in the Eastern Caribbean is called the “EC” or the Eastern Caribbean Dollar. Currently the exchange rate is about $6.25 or so, to $1 usd. The immigration and customs officers were very nice and it was a pretty easy process. Although I should point out, that when sailing like this, from country to country, be prepared to fill out a a lot of forms. Once we’d used up all the ink in our pens, we were free to go.
My passport is full. Very full, and i’ve already added pages, so I wasnt optimistic when I approached the US embassy yesterday to inquire about adding more. It was a beautiful walk to the embassy from Prickly Bay Marina, so I was happy enough to try and find out, so I walked there. The walk was on a paved road with very little shoulder, and they drive on the “other” side of the road, Britain style, so I was always surprised when a car whizzed past me, but they gave me room, which was a nice welcome change from Belize where I believe they make an attempt to see exactly how close they can come to you and mow you down.
On the walk there, I asked someone where the embassy was (she was collected shrubbery to feed her goats) and she graciously offered me a ride. It wasnt far, but it was hot to the ride was welcome. But before the ride, I was struck by how beautiful the road was and the homes. Simple, clean, well maintained and FLORAL. Flowers everywhere.
The embassy people were very nice, and for an $82 usd fee, they check my clearance and told me to come back the next day at 1130 to pick it up. Easy Peasy.
On the walk back to the marina to get picked up to go back to “Living the Dream”, I was hailed and greeted by every person I saw, and even some I didnt. Men and women, young and old, say “good afternoon” and a brief comment about the weather. As any woman who has ever traveled Latin America knows, you cant walk 5 feet without someone hissing, whistling, calling, and generally being a nusance. It was a very welcome surprise to find the men here just say “Hello” and wish you a nice day. Even the men in the cars arent gross or vulgar.
Although I know one shouldnt judge an entire country or it’s people by 24 hours of exposure to one town, but I have to say I love Grenada. I loved the feel of it the minute I woke up at 6 am on our morning of arrival, and am very happy to discover more of this lovely country.