As the wind became light and variable in St. George’s, Grenada, our anchorage suffered. The heat became oppressive with the water of the lagoon too putrid for swimming. Bugs of all sizes found the boat, making us sick on the inside and riddling our bodies with bites on the outside. Fortunately, it was no Riviere Salee, but it was still unpleasant. We found free showers at the yacht club, which proved to be a boon despite the cold water. The nearby Foodland supermarket had dinghy access and a helpful grocery bagger who brought our provisions all the way to the dock, and was probably the best human being we met during our visit.
After trying and rejecting the rum punch we got for a few dollars from the supermarket, the family minus our mother went ashore to catch a movie. On our walk there, we were approached by a young man wearing a LeBron James basketball jersey who said he wanted money for a children’s charity. He followed us into the movie theater, asking then for us to pay his way for the movie. We were disappointed with how much of this kind of thing we encountered in a country with many natural resources, plenty of rebuilding work to be done after a summer hurricane, and a higher standard of living than many other places we’ve visited.
The movie turned out to be a double-feature of “Taxi” and “The Day After Tomorrow”, both opening in U.S. theaters in Spring 2004 and brand new in Grenada at the New Year. “Taxi” was pointless but occassionally amusing, while “The Day After Tomorrow” gave us plenty to discuss and mock on the walk back to the dinghy. Still, it was a pleasant way to pass the evening.
The 5th of January saw us sail ten miles south to Prickley Bay, the most popular anchorage in Grenada and much nicer than St. George’s. The water was fine for swimming and a better breeze. We went ashore for a swim on the beach and got some exercise by swimming back to the boat. After washing and rinsing off, Mom made some tasty mashed potatoes, beans, and a salad, and Aaron grilled up some chicken. We enjoyed the food with the wine we’d been given a few days earlier by the crew of the Italian megayacht, while Mom and Dad recalled some noisesome misdeeds of their high school years.