Going to Grenada- Installment 2; Grand Anse Beach

Having just returned from Grenada- for more info see Installment 1- I am still relaxed, and not wanting to mess that up! So, my normal routine of NPR in the morning was replaced with silence. Who wants to hear about ISIS when the rhythms of the sea are still so accessible?

Grenada is known for it's spices, but it's sustained by tourists. That being said, it didn't feel overwhelmed by them. The temperature was amazing; 75-85F. This is their dry season. They don't have winter and summer, they have dry and rainy season. Their beaches are broad and soft and white and uncrowded. Their water is those incredible shades that say you are in paradise. I spent a long time contemplating the water's colors whilst in a beach chair under the shade of a magnolia one afternoon. The water is white from the foam on the sand, then yellow, then citron, then lime green, then light blue, light turquoise, spring green, then darker turquoise, then dove grey, light navy, dark turquoise, darker navy and then the horizon. All these shades blend with their partners as well as shadow and light as the waves roll in. It all seems so permanent and strong and unaware. And yet, high levels of CO2 are changing the pH of the oceans and killing the corals and fishes forever. (This killjoy is what I mean when I say I'm not yet ready for NPR.)

Though I cannot say that in my three days on the island I made a comprehensive comparison of the beaches, I tested out a few!

Huz, ready for his play day!

Grand Anse is the most famous beach on the island. It is a fairly long stretch of beautiful beach, with shade trees and smooth sand right into the water. The water was pretty calm the day we were there, and perfect for floating up and down in warmish water in which you can easily see your feet. I say "warmish" because it wasn't exactly warm unless you're used to the North Sea, or the Pacific off the south coast of Chile, in which case it was delightful. For me, I would term it "refreshing", and lovely to warm up on the beach after a swim.

 We had a taxi -Peter Alexander, who ferried us a few times- take us to the Umbrella Restaurant on Grand Anse Beach midmorning. He arranged to collect us in the afternoon. Much of Grand Anse Beach is edged by hotel resorts, but the Umbrella is on a public beach. Right next to the Umbrella beach is St. George's University Grand Anse Campus. It is an older hotel that is now owned by the University for housing of students. Yes, you can be a college student and live right here. Dangerous!
We tromped up and down the whole beach, and this photo was taken on the south half, looking south towards Quarantine Point. Our resort is down the beach that is located on the other side of this point. 
We tromped, swam, sat and dried, repeat, for a few lazy, wonderful hours until we got hungry and thirsty. Back to the Umbrella for lunch on the deck.

We sat up in the trees overlooking the beach. My Perrier is hiding a fresh mango daquiri, Huz is having the special; an Umbrella Cooler, which was then followed by the drink of Grenada- rum punch. This is fresh fruit juices, excellent local rum, and ground nutmeg on top. We tested these rum punches everywhere we went, and Huz voted Umbrellas as the best. I liked 'em all.
After lunch, what better than strolling back out onto the sand to lie under a tree and digest (or, if you're Huz, take a quick after lunch snooze?)

This is the Grand Anse Beach looking north to St. George's. On the left is an adorable little boy, who amused me by making "sand angels" -front and back.