Day 6: St. George

Wednesday, March 31

Kathy and I were up early Wednesday to watch our ship pull into St. George Granada. The cruise ship terminal is just outside the harbor, beneath Fort George perched on a tall cliff. Today, though, instead of heading up hill, we're going to climb on a catamaran for some sailing, snorkeling and beachcombing.

We had a quick breakfast in the buffet and rushed ashore to meet our tour at 8:15 on the docks. It was a little bedlamish because the Princess of the Caribbean, which is really big, was parked right next to us and they were all going on their excursions as well.

When we met our tour guide, he led us single file into the Sendal tunnel, through the mountain capped by Fort George and to the inner harbor named the Carenage where the Carib Cat was moored. The tunnel is just wide enough for a compact car, but in addition to a steady stream of cars there are two lines of people snaking through the tunnel on the shoulder.

We had about 25 people on our trip. You could sit on the cabin under a tarp, or spread out on the hulls or the nets between the hulls. Our boat was actually a trimaran, not a catamaran. As soon as we motored out into the harbor, they raised the mainsail. There was a 15-20 knot breeze that filled the sail, but it wasn't really a large sail for the size of the boat; most of the power was still supplied by the outboards.

We sailed north along the coast and met up with another Carib Cat at Flamingo Bay, where we were given fins, masks and diving vest. For the next hour we got to explore the fish and coral underneath the bay. We both saw a lot of fish, but Kathy saw them a little better than I did.

Once they called us back to the boat, the crew hoisted the sails again, unfurled the jib and headed south to Grand Anse Beach, where they brought the boat ashore. We had about an hour and a half to walk or swim. Kathy and I chose to walk up the beach to the end. It's really beautiful, and the water is so clear.

Finally about 12:00 o'clock we were called back to the boat and we motored back to the harbor. We got back on board ship around 1:30 where we had some lunch, and then a quick shower and nap.

We didn't want to let the rest of the afternoon go to waste, though, so at 3:00 we got off the boat again and hiked up to Fort George. For $2 each, and a tip to the tour guide, we got to explore the Fort. There were several old cannons, plus the courtyard where Prime Minister Bishop and his girlfriend where executed by firing squad right before the US "intervention".

When we left the Fort we climbed down the other side. Hurricane Ivan in 2004 struck Granada really hard. Immediately to the north of the Fort is the clock tower and remains of the Presbyterian church with only the walls still standing. Apparently the hurricane also de-roofed the Anglican and Catholic cathedrals as well.

Climbing down into the city we looked in at the public library and then walked around the bay looking at the boats. We got back to the ship just as they were putting away the gangplank at 4:45. Another shower and dinner in the dining room and then, like the old folks we are, asleep by 8:00.