Eric's Visit

Our son Eric arrived at Grenada's Maurice Bishop International Airport nearly ten months after our tearful parting on the main dock at Magothy Marina, as we prepared to cast off the dock lines for the last time and set off on the ventured in these pages.

On a plane-load of heavily laden medical students from the U.S. preparing for the start of classes -- and seemingly bringing complete dorm rooms with them, Eric, toting just two carry-on bags, looked a little out of place.

To be sure, Eric always looks a little out of place. It's a hereditary trait.

The day after he arrived, we had planned to go snorkeling, but pushed it back a day due to overcast conditions and rain that would have reduced "viz." The next day, however, we went out in a glass-bottomed boat to visit a set of sunken statues at Grand Mal Bay, just north of St. George's Harbour. The story here is that about 15 years ago an artist got permission to drop his sculptures in this small bay as a work of art -- something like an undersea Christo project, I suppose. I believe he's the same artist responsible for similar pieces in Mexico and the Bahamas.

Our next big adventure was an all-day island tour. Noi and I had been saving this trip (and the snorkeling) until Eric showed up. We were accompanied by our friends on M/V Tropical Blend, Debbie and Larry.

Water wheel the still turns the sugar-cane press at Rivers Rum Distillery.

Eric makes the leap at Annandale Falls.

Raw cocoa.

Nutmeg. The red part is mace. The outer shell is used in cosmetics.

Nutmeg drying out at the processing facility.

Later in the week, we also hiked up to Mt. Carmel Falls, which was even more stunning than Annandale.

And, of course, there was the unfortunate incident of a boat burglary, which you can read about here.

It was sad to see Eric leaving again on the 22nd, jetting off for his school, his jobs, his life. 

We wish he could stay!