Mid-December, 2009 - We decided to try something completely different this year and spend the
coldest winter months in the Caribbean. We arrived on the island of Grenada, the Spice Isle, to find
the hot, humid air filled with the pungent aroma of tropical flowers and the humorous, incessant
beeping of car horns. A dip in the ocean and a walk into the town of St. George's completed our
introduction to Caribbean life.
Late December, 2009 - We took a short ferry from Grenada to Carriacou, and went from the bustling
chaos of a "big" island to the laid back pace of it's smaller sister. Sheer great luck deposited us in the
most beautiful little beachside apartment, gazing out on a gorgeous bay. Paradise Beach is truly
paradise. We did a few walks, and saw many wondrous things, but the truth is that we spent most of
our time on that beach!
Late December, 2009 - We slowly explored the area around our apartment, walking to further
beaches, checking out the view from a park on a beautiful bluff, and walking down to the docks at
True Blue Bay Resort. Coming across a yacht once used by A-list celebrities was a fun surprise. We
took a hair-raising bus ride up to Gouyave for their weekly Fish Friday event and finally piled onto the
Osprey ferry to travel to the island of Carriacou.
Late December, 2009 - Our days on Carriacou were what Caribbean dreams are made of. Our
apartment on Paradise Beach and our quiet walks along the hilly roads of this island were picture
perfect. The nights, however, were another story, as the loud Christmas music festival of Parang and
a host of mosquitos kept us up every night.
Christmas, 2009 - We took the rickety ferry from Carriacou island in the country of Grenada to Union
Island in the country of St. Vincent & The Grenadines, sharing the boat with a handful of locals, a handful
of tourists and a hold full of cargo. We arrived on Christmas Eve and spent a delightful holiday on this
charming island.
FInal days of 2009 - We hopped on a 10-seater airplane for a 15 minute flight from Union Island to
Bequia. Still basking in the warm, friendly tropical atmosphere of the southernmost Grenadine islands,
we were shocked to find ourselves immersed in hostility as soon as we stepped off the plane in Bequia.
Meeting other tourists was a highlight, but the gentle, welcoming Caribbean spirit of other islands had
been replaced with harsh commercialism.