It is Wednesday, and we're still in Prickly Bay, Grenada. The flat water has allowed us to track down and fix leaks, as well as do other general boat maintenance. A biggie was the complete cleaning of the two Racor 500 fuel filter housings. They were rather dirty so it was time. It took almost all day, with me feeling rather beat at the end. I work in the engine rooms at about 40 degrees, in a puddle of sweat, trying to keep the sweat from dripping into the fuel and filter systems.
We have had time for socializing as well, with new friends from s/v "Just Imagine..." and "Quicksilver". With these friends, we have enjoyed callaloo pizza at De Big Fish, and have had a full day historical tour of Grenada. While at de Big Fish, we enjoyed an awesome band, Quiet Fire. The two lead guitarists effortlessly caressed their guitars playing Santana, Van Morrison and other favourites! Sitting in the balmy Caribbean breeze, we thought we were in heaven!
Through the historical tour, I have finally straightened out the rebellions and 1983 US invasion of Grenada. In 1979, with the help of Fidel Castro, Maurice Bishop and the public overthrew a Prime Minister who rigged elections and made his critics disappear. He and his supporters worked hard with Cuban and Kremlin assistance for 4 years, improving health care, getting a new hospital, roads, and an airport, and making plans for the betterment of the common man. However, by 1983, hard-line local communists got the word from Castro and the Kremlin that Bishop's transition to full communism was moving too slow. They killed him and others by firing squad in the fort at St Georges, after chasing the public away with guns.
Members of the Grenadian public, and the Caribbean community petitioned the democracies of the Atlantic basin for help, and Regan offered to show up, clear out the communists, and simply leave, if others would assist in moving Grenada to a democratic state. And, amazingly to many of us who would be critical of past US interventions, the US did just that - they arrived, shot a few Cubans, destroyed anything of military value, locked some people up, tidied up the mess a bit, and left. There are still "thank yous" in the graffiti around the island. Bishop, who probably would not have moved to a full democracy either, is still a hero in the Grenadian past.
Here is a picture of a view we had from the van yesterday while on the historical tour. Breathtaking!
The nutmeg crop is coming back after hurrican Ivan in 2004. Here it is drying before they sort it and send it to companies like McCormicks for processing.
We have a friend bringing a part up from Trinidad for our watermaker, but are still making plans to move up island before or during the weekend. Today, we are moving the boat to St. George's Harbour in search of a case of rum. We hope to get 12 litres of Cruzan, made in St. Thomas, USVI, our present favourite. We will also load up with groceries, never an easy chore lugging and transferring from dock to dinghy, from dinghy to Cat Tales. But it's what we do while living on a boat!
Laurie checking out the chart we had laminated and brought with us (in 2 pieces) through 5 flights towards Cat Tales!
