Grenada Board of Tourism E-Newsletter – July/August 2008

Welcome to the latest edition of the Grenada Board of Tourism’s media e-newsletter. This edition looks at the Gouyave Fish Festival, Celebrity ‘to do’ list, Island News, ongoing ‘Spicetivities’ and a delicious barbeque recipe to inspire the summer gourmet.


The Gouyave Fish Festival

The village of Gouyave, home of the annual Fisherman’s Birthday, has enjoyed a long-standing reputation as a fishing village. In recent years, community organizations have looked for a way to increase tourism year-round to the village and as a result, the Fisherman’s Birthday celebrations have been expanded to an on-going festival known as Fish Friday.

>> read more


Celebrity ‘To Do’ List

The beautiful island of Grenada, famous for its abundance of exotic spices, is becoming a hot spot for celebrities. Drawn to the Island for its ‘old Caribbean’ charm and less commercialized developments, celebrities enjoy a host of activities while visiting the ‘Spice of the Caribbean’.

Here is a celebrity ‘To Do’ List for Grenada that all visitors can enjoy:
Visit the St. George’s Spice Market: Martha Stewart visited the market to peruse the Island’s signature spices (nutmeg, clove, vanilla, etc.) as well as the crafts produced and sold by local artisans.

>> read more


Island News

Ocean Spirits Partners with Blue Horizons Garden Resort to Educate Tourists on Marine Life:
Continuing its ecological efforts, Blue Horizons Garden Resort has partnered with Ocean Spirits, a local non-profit organization focused on marine turtle conservation, to hold weekly informative presentations and environmental discussions on the importance of preserving the Island’s sea turtles and vibrant coastal waters.

>> read more


Spicetivities

Grenada is always abundant with activities that offer tourists an opportunity to participate in the enthusiasm of the local culture.

August 1 to 4 – 43rd Annual Carriacou Regatta Festival:
The Carriacou Regatta began in 1965 as a local boat race using the traditional fishing workboats, to continue the indigenous art of Boat Building handed down by Irish and Scottish Ancestors.

>> read more


Summer Barbeque Recipe

With the summer season, it’s refreshing to get outside and enjoy the warm weather. To celebrate, the Grenada Board of Tourism would like to offer up this distinctly Grenadian barbeque recipe. Enjoy with good weather and close friends!

Grenadian Barbeque Spice Rub
(Yield 10 – 15 pounds of meat)

Ingredients:
½ cup ketchup
2 tbsp. brown sugar (or ¼ cup honey)
1 tbsp. mustard
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder (or ¼ cup finely chopped onion)
1 tsp. ground all spice
2 tsp. ground nutmeg
½ tsp. ground mace
1 tbsp. dried thyme
1 tbsp. paprika
¼ tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. salt

Method:
Mix all ingredients together and then rub meat with 1-1½ teaspoons of rub per pound before firing up the grill.


Where to Find the GBT

For information on Grenada, contact the Toronto office at 416-595-1339, e-mail: tourism@grenadaconsulate.com or visit www.grenadagrenadines.com

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How to Get to Grenada from Canada

Air Canada Vacations will operate a non-stop flight from Toronto to Grenada (Sunday departure and easy connections from Halifax, Ottawa, Quebec City, Montreal) from December 2008 to April 2009. Air Canada and Caribbean Airlines operate regularly scheduled flights from Toronto and Montreal to Barbados and Trinidad with connections on LIAT to Grenada. GG Tours and Titan Tours operate seasonal charter services (www.ggtours.ca and www.titantours.com). West Jet will operate a flight from Toronto to Barbados with connections on LIAT to Grenada from November onwards. Air Jamaica offers regularly scheduled non-stop flights to Grenada from JFK in New York.

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The Gouyave Fish Festival

The village of Gouyave, home of the annual Fisherman’s Birthday, has enjoyed a long-standing reputation as a fishing village. In recent years, community organizations have looked for a way to increase tourism year-round to the village and as a result, the Fisherman’s Birthday celebrations have been expanded to an on-going festival known as Fish Friday.

Every Friday from 4 pm to 1 am, the streets of Gouyave swell with arts and crafts stands, food vendors and visitors looking to sample the local culture. Guests can enjoy the freshest catch of the day prepared in sumptuous dishes from shrimp kabobs to spiny lobster. Guests enjoy the musical styling of various local bands that are on hand to keep the festivities in full swing.

The overall goal of Fish Friday is to promote community development in Gouyave and in the Parish of St. John's. As such, a lot of careful consideration has been put into organizing the festival. The evening activities are contained to three poles, St. Francis Street, Chapel Lane and the Jetty area, ensuring the main streets will not be impeded by festival traffic. The poles have also been placed in areas far from existing vendors to prevent their businesses from being displaced or exhausted by festival competition.

Fish Fridays have brought a great sense of pride to the Gouyave community. The festivities have created a popular event for tourists and locals while creating a new revenue opportunity for members of the community.

For more information, visit www.gouyavefishfriday.com

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Celebrity ‘To Do’ List

The beautiful island of Grenada, famous for its abundance of exotic spices, is becoming a hot spot for celebrities. Drawn to the Island for its ‘old Caribbean’ charm and less commercialized developments, celebrities enjoy a host of activities while visiting the ‘Spice of the Caribbean’.

Here is a celebrity ‘To Do’ List for Grenada that all visitors can enjoy:

  • Visit the St. George’s Spice Market: Martha Stewart visited the market to peruse the Island’s signature spices (nutmeg, clove, vanilla, etc.) as well as the crafts produced and sold by local artisans.

  • Catch a Cricket match: As one of the nine hosting countries of the 2007 Cricket World Cup, Grenada saw an influx of 20,000 fans for the games including cricket enthusiast Mick Jagger.

  • Enjoy an afternoon of sailing: Morgan Freeman, who rushed to the aid of the Island after Hurricane Ivan, can often be seen sailing the year-round gentle waters of Grenada.

  • Have a drink with a former Miss World: Stop in at Jenny’s Place owned and hosted by former Miss World Jennifer Hosten, who is always happy to greet a visitor.

  • Stay at a luxury resort: The Spice Island Beach Resort offers a luxurious experience and unparalleled personal service, which is enjoyed by Formula 1 racer Lewis Hamilton, a Grenadian.

  • Laluna, designed by Bernardo Betucci, a former consultant for Armani, Prada and La Perla, offers such distinct luxury that they have been host to a list of star-studded clientele including Oprah Winfrey, Kate Moss and Donatella Versace.

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Island News

Ocean Spirits Partners with Blue Horizons Garden Resort to
Educate Tourists on Marine Life:

Continuing its ecological efforts, Blue Horizons Garden Resort has partnered with Ocean Spirits, a local non-profit organization focused on marine turtle conservation, to hold weekly informative presentations and environmental discussions on the importance of preserving the Island’s sea turtles and vibrant coastal waters.

Hosted by Ocean Spirit’s volunteer staff, this hands-on sea turtle experience provides eco-friendly tourists with a unique way of understanding Grenada’s key species and rich biological diversity. The weekly sessions, which take place in the pool lounge at Blue Horizons, educate tourists on the sea turtles’ environment, habits, nesting, and ways to prevent environmental threats facing nautical animals and ultimately protect Grenada’s rich and vibrant coastline.

Ocean Spirits works closely with local communities, students, governmental departments, international scientific organizations and tourists to reduce the danger of extinction and to continue the nationwide education of Grenada’s most significant creatures. Visit http://www.oceanspirits.org and www.grenadabluehorizons.com

Laluna to Open Spa and Wellness Centre for December 2008:
Laluna has always taken great care to ensure a luxurious escape for its guests, and now they have taken their efforts one step further. Bernardo Bertucci, Laluna’s owner, has paired up with Yoga innovator Neo Moreton to develop ‘Wellness Retreats’. Guests of Laluna can now opt to join a personalized wellness program that encompasses diet, spa treatments, yoga, philosophy and even community outreach. Spa treatments will feature organic products made from daily local produce. Visit www.laluna.com.

Peter De Savary Invests More in Grenada:
Peter de Savary, chairman and founder of Port Louis, Grenada has agreed to an investment development plan with Park Town Capital Plc, London, England, to develop up to 90 luxury villas and apartments, each between 4,000 and 6,000 sq ft. The properties will overlook the vibrant Port Louis village, the Caribbean Sea and The Camper & Nicholsons ‘Super Yacht Marina’. The Marina, set for completion this year, will offers over 300 berths for yachts up to 90m and a draft of 7m.

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Spicetivities

Grenada is always abundant with activities that offer tourists an opportunity to participate in the enthusiasm of the local culture.

August 1 to 4 – 43rd Annual Carriacou Regatta Festival:
The Carriacou Regatta began in 1965 as a local boat race using the traditional fishing workboats, to continue the indigenous art of Boat Building handed down by Irish and Scottish Ancestors. Since that time, it has evolved into a major Caribbean event, held over the Emancipation holiday weekend, with keen competition among sailors from many islands - Grenada, Tobago, Martinique, Antigua and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Visitors and locals admire the skill and captaincy of some of the region's boatmen, as they jostle for supremacy in the different classes of boats, ranging from 14 to 35 feet in length. Visit www.cariacouregatta.com

August 4 – Emancipation Day 2008:
Emancipation Day is a public holiday celebrating the abolition of slavery. Although officially acknowledged worldwide as August 1st, in Grenada Emancipation Day is celebrated on the first Monday of August, with Cultural activities planned for both Grenada and Carriacou.

August 12 – Carnival Tuesday 2008:
Carnival celebrations in Grenada are held during the second week in August, just one week after Emancipation Day festivities. On Carnival Tuesday the fancy or pretty bands parade through the streets, with spectators and masqueraders dancing to the sounds of steel bands and DJs playing the latest carnival melodies. The party continues late into the evening until midnight when the official celebrations end. Visit www.spicemasgrenada.com

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