St. George's is considered the "prettiest harbor in the West Indies" and we experienced it firsthand today: A lively spice market where we bought fresh nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, peppercorns, and basil; treacherously steep and narrow streets filled with colonial Caribbean buildings in various states of decay; a waterfront bay lined with colorful storefronts and beautifully restored old government buildings. But the crown overlooking it all is Fort St. George.
It was built in the 1700's with cannons like the one you see here, now aimed at the gigantic cruise ships docked at the promenade far below. Strange to have 1983 described in historic terms when Marxist rebels who attempted a government takeover were executed in the courtyard now serving as a basketball court for the troops. The guide proudly pointed out machine gun bullet holes in the old stone walls...and in the metal posts of the basketball hoop. It is still a military base and houses the tailors and cobblers that make the uniforms and other clothing for the army and high government officials.
We ate our first Caribbean meal at Creole Shack which was another learning experience...and much less gruesome.
LESSON FIVE: We are learning to let go in many ways. Food choices, for example. Be adventurous when it comes to the local juices. The varieties are endless! I had golden apple today which tastes like, well, green wood with sugar. Sour orange is different and there's sorrel, starfruit, and many others. Were collecting new flavors in our brain! We have now tried callaloo soup (looks like spinach), dasheen (boiled taro root), and banana salad (which is a lot like potato salad), all for the first time. There is much more to come.
We spent the remainder of the day at Le Phare Bleu, a yacht club with a small lap pool where, for the price of a rum punch, we could hang out for the day and watch the sun set behind bobbing sailboats moored at the marina. Perhaps one of them is in our future.
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