Saturday, January 29, 2011
Dragon Fruit
For those of you who know Barry, you know he considers chocolate a member of the fruit and vegie food group - but was a good sport about trying a new fruit that we will probably find in Grenada.
It was interesting looking for sure - inside and out - and was very easy to prepare - cut into quarters, peel and then cut in chunks. As for taste, it was much like a kiwi fruit, although a little more bland - and not as soft - more like a not-quite ripe pear. It was okay - and we are anxious to try one at the local farmers' markets in Grenada - we think they will be more flavourful. We'll let you know!!
Friday, January 28, 2011
7 more sleeps...
...until we head for Grenada! I was checking the temperature this morning and it was a comfortable 29 C. Just perfect for relaxing and reading a book -- but not too hot to walk down to one of the many beaches.
How many beaches can there be on an island 34 km long and 19 km wide? 45 - which means we may have to bite the bullet and spend time at two beaches a day for a couple of days. It might be tough - but we are willing to accept the challenge! And we might start with the Morne Rouge Beach, the one pictured above. I think I see my beach chair there....
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Where we are staying...
While we enjoyed our trip to Cuba, both Barry and I decided we really weren't 'all-inclusive, 3000 people in a resort' travellers, which is one of the reasons we started looking at Grenada.
Grenada doesn't have tons of all-inclusive resorts and offers quite a few options if you want to 'self-cater' your vacation. After many emails and online requests for information - we decided to book at Woburn Villas. While the reviews, price, location and ammenities certainly helped with the decision - the time Yvonne (our hostess) took to make a personal phone call to us made all the difference.
While we can't say yet if our accomodations will be just like what we viewed online - the reviews on Woburn say that time and again it exceeds expectations.
Want to check it out yourself? Go to http://www.woburnvillas.com/index.htm and watch for our review once we see our 'home sweet home in Grenada!'
Grenada doesn't have tons of all-inclusive resorts and offers quite a few options if you want to 'self-cater' your vacation. After many emails and online requests for information - we decided to book at Woburn Villas. While the reviews, price, location and ammenities certainly helped with the decision - the time Yvonne (our hostess) took to make a personal phone call to us made all the difference.
While we can't say yet if our accomodations will be just like what we viewed online - the reviews on Woburn say that time and again it exceeds expectations.
Want to check it out yourself? Go to http://www.woburnvillas.com/index.htm and watch for our review once we see our 'home sweet home in Grenada!'
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Currency Exchange
This might be a dull topic to some - but when our loonie is up - it is great news!
Grenada uses Eastern Caribbean dollars (XCD) and we will be picking ours up tomorrow. The XCD is fixed to the US dollar @ $1 US = $2.79 XCD - so with our loonie higher, we will have a great exchange rate - can't always say that!
It is very similar to Canadian $ - coins including a 50 cent piece (no loonies or toonies though) and bills the same denominations as ours. XCD are used throughout the Caribbean as well as Grenada. Grenada also accepts US $ - and prices will often be quoted in both - but don't expect your change to be US - it will be XCD. And members of the British monarchy are featured on the currency.
Once we pick ours up - I will post some pics - I wonder if they are paper like ours, or maybe waterproof like the ones Mom and Dad got when travelling down under?
Grenada uses Eastern Caribbean dollars (XCD) and we will be picking ours up tomorrow. The XCD is fixed to the US dollar @ $1 US = $2.79 XCD - so with our loonie higher, we will have a great exchange rate - can't always say that!
It is very similar to Canadian $ - coins including a 50 cent piece (no loonies or toonies though) and bills the same denominations as ours. XCD are used throughout the Caribbean as well as Grenada. Grenada also accepts US $ - and prices will often be quoted in both - but don't expect your change to be US - it will be XCD. And members of the British monarchy are featured on the currency.
Once we pick ours up - I will post some pics - I wonder if they are paper like ours, or maybe waterproof like the ones Mom and Dad got when travelling down under?
Monday, January 24, 2011
A new chapter so to speak...
Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? Okay, not a really old dog - but sometimes you feel like you need to learn or try something new - and for me in 2011, it is going to be 'blogging'!
Megan started a blog for her book reviews, and during the holidays this year, I racked my brain to think of something I could blog about. No one wants to hear about my day-to-day life at work, or my never-ending task list at home. And really, there are many great scrapbookers out there with blogs I love, so what could I do?
Then it struck me - we are planning a trip - and in the years to come, we plan to travel even more. So what about a blog detailing the 'places we go - near and far'!
And so it begins - we are heading to Grenada this year - and what a place to provide a beginning for my blog! Everything from food to music, culture, sunsets, how to's and more - hopefully you will find it interesting and maybe even inspire some travel for you. And of course, I may occassionaly have a guest blogger - it is only fair that my partner in travel, and in life, can give another point of view - occassionally!
Enjoy!
Megan started a blog for her book reviews, and during the holidays this year, I racked my brain to think of something I could blog about. No one wants to hear about my day-to-day life at work, or my never-ending task list at home. And really, there are many great scrapbookers out there with blogs I love, so what could I do?
Then it struck me - we are planning a trip - and in the years to come, we plan to travel even more. So what about a blog detailing the 'places we go - near and far'!
And so it begins - we are heading to Grenada this year - and what a place to provide a beginning for my blog! Everything from food to music, culture, sunsets, how to's and more - hopefully you will find it interesting and maybe even inspire some travel for you. And of course, I may occassionaly have a guest blogger - it is only fair that my partner in travel, and in life, can give another point of view - occassionally!
Enjoy!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)