Granada, the Country of the Six Islands, Cultures and Spices
September 1, 2010
Granada or Grenada, is a country made up of six islands in the Caribbean Sea. The country is known for its mix of cultures and traditions and their unspoiled natural landscapes.
Granada is one of Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela. The country is known as the spice island, since for centuries are one of the leading producers of nutmeg.
The country of 334 square kilometers has about 110,000 inhabitants. The Spanish and the British failed to conquer the island, but by the year 1650, the island was colonized by the French. The capital is St. George’s and the official bird is the dove of Granada, which is in danger of extinction.
Granada is the country’s largest island, and the other islands Carriacou, Caille Island, Diamond Island, Frigate Island, Long Island, Ronde Island, Saline Island and Petit Martinique. Ronde Island is part of Granada, and is currently the most expensive private island in the world. The most prominent cities are St. George’s, Grenville and Gouyave.
The islands are of volcanic origin and have a fantastic panorama. Several rivers originate in the mountains before emptying into the sea, and there are many waterfalls around the island.
For centuries, the spice island has specialized in the production of cinnamon, cloves, ginger and nutmeg. Even the flag of Granada highlights the importance of these exports, since one of the shields of the flag represents a nutmeg.
Tourism forms an important part of the country’s economy. The islands offer many possibilities to practice various water sports such as snorkeling, diving or fishing, and beaches are among the best in the world.
Carriacou is the largest island in the country. The territory of the island is full of mountains and beaches, so it attracts the tourists most active. You can do trekking, water sports and fishing. There are many natural bays across the island, in addition to beautiful coral reefs that attract divers. The Carriacou Regatta is held the first weekend of August. During the Parang, the islanders celebrate Christmas.
Hillsborough is the capital of the island of Carriacou. This city is the Museum of Carriacou, in a building that was once a mill.
The island has many festivals. In the small town of Victoria, located in the municipality of St. Mark’s, we celebrate the Feast of San Marcos, and the streets are filled with stalls offering the best local dishes, shops and galleries and outdoor music and entertainment. In Victoria also hosts the Sunset City Food Fest. The last Saturday of each month, both visitors and locals can enjoy a variety of local dishes while enjoying the company of the Caribbean. Here you can taste the oil down, the most typical of Granada. This dish is based on several types of meat and other products made with milk and coconut oil.
Near Victoria is the country’s highest point, Mount St. Catherine, which reaches 840 meters and is among the many mountains of the interior. Next door is a true wonder of nature, the Tufton Hall Waterfall.
Grenadian culture is a curious mixture. Since both the British and the French were on this island, two cultures left their mark. However, the majority of the population is descended from former African slaves and Indian immigrants, and therefore culture is a fusion between these two streams. The official language is English, but most of the population uses the Creole language French.
Since the French spent many years in the islands, even today its influence can be seen in buildings in many cities. Many of the names of the spices also have French roots, although many other aspects of culture are mixed with African or Indian roots.
During the carnival dance and music are the obvious protagonists. The dances of soca, reggae and calypso come from several different cultures, but fail to harmonize in this island, creating a unique atmosphere.
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