"Welcome to Grenada" a Grenada Travel Page by seagoingJLW

Although Christopher Columbus discovered Grenada on his third voyage in 1498 it was neglected until 1650 when the Governor of Martinique purchased it.

The French began to colonize and pushed the native population (the Caribs) north to Le Morne des Sauteurs where, rather than surrender, they jumped off a cliff (Leaper's Hill).

The French introduced the cultivation of cocoa, coffee, and cotton.

The island changed hands many times during the wars between France and Great Britain. In 1783 it was finally ceded to Britain by the Treaty of Paris. Slave labor and large plantations brought prosperity to Grenada, which served as the headquarters of the British West Indies from 1885 to 1958.

Grenada assumed the status of Associated State of Britain in 1967 and achieved independent dominion status within the Commonwealth in 1974.

Revolutionary rumblings erupted into a coup in 11983 causing U.S. and Caribbean intervention. Political order was reestablished with an elected representative government.

Personal Experiences

There was heavy cruise ship traffic when we arrive here. We (the Vistafjord) were anchored far out with the Royal Princess and the Victoria. We had to tender in. The first impression is one of aromas. The spices really saturate the air, probably because of all the people trying to sell them at the tender dock. In fact the spice merchants were lined up all along the Carenage.

Miscellaneous Information

The island of Grenada is twelve miles wide and twenty-one miles long. It is a volcanic island, thickly wooded with streams and rivers. Mount St. Catherine is the highest peak at 2,756 feet. Carriacou is thirteen square miles and Petit Matinique is only 486 acres. Grenada itself is one of three islands that comprise the independent nation of Grenada within the British Commonwealth.

The average year round temperature is 80 degrees F.

Electricity is 220/240 volts 50 cycles AC.

the country is on Atlantic Standard Time and does not observe Daylight Saving.