Grenada
Isle of Spice
Spice is a way of life in Grenada. One of the most southerly-and some say the most beautiful-of the Caribbean chain, it produces a quarter of the world's supply of nutmeg, as well as cinnamon, cloves, bay leaves, saffron and mace. Even the breeze is heady with their fragrance.
In prehistoric times, Grenada rose from the sea in volcanic eruption to take its place near the end of the island chain that links the tip of Florida to the Venezuelan coast. Its largest neighbours are Trinidad and Tobago, 145 km (90 miles) to the south. To the north lie the tiny Grenadines, of which Carriacou, Petit-Martinique and several islets belong to Grenada. The rest come under the domain of St Vincent.
Built on hills surrounding the blue lagoon of its inner harbour, St George's, Grenada's tiny capital and chief port, is often acclaimed as the world's most picturesque. The mellowed bricks, wrought-iron balconies and red-tiled roofs of English Georgian and French provincial houses preserve the flavour of its colonial past.Grenada bases its economy almost entirely on the export of nutmeg and cocoa. Long years of British rule left the island with little but the English language; the lavish carnival costumes, exuberant style of painting and sinuous rhythms of music and dance are the colourful bequest of Africa. Most of Grenada's population of 98,000 are black or mulatto descendants of African slaves.
The vibrant lifestyle of Grenada's inhabitants matches the luxuriance of the island's natural assets. Dense carpets of tropical rainforest drape the volcanic mountains in a tangle of coconut palms, lianas and flowering shrubs. Waterfalls cascade down the hillsides to groves of nutmeg nestling in the valleys.Tourism is a potential not yet fully exploited. The island's relative remoteness has kept it off the beaten track, but those who have been there rank its rugged volcanic beauty supreme among the enchanting islands of the Caribbean. Grenada is perfect for escapists-who don't want to escape too far.
