On our last trip to Grenada, pretty much all the shops were closed due to COVID, and although we visited the small spice market on Grand Anse beach, I always wanted to visit the main market in St. George’s. So on my 60th birthday, I set out with my daughter and son-in-law to explore downtown.
We started out at the St. George’s Spice Market at Young and Grandby. There were a variety of spices and fruit, as well as crafts. My favorite vendor was the gentleman pictured below who customized a carving for a friend back home.
We then walked west on Granby toward the Esplanade Shopping Complex. This is a nice collection of shops where you can purchase souvenirs. I picked up a small painting which caught my eye and a few ornaments for our Christmas tree. This is where you will see the colorful “GRENADA” sign. If you want a shot for Instagram, you will see it marked on the map below with the dark yellow marker at Granby and Melville.
We then headed back to Young Street with the plan to walk it all the way down to the harbor. You do have to go up a short steep hill as you approach Grand Etang (I took a photo looking backward to see exactly how far up we traveled). Once you get past Grand Etang, the road slopes down toward the harbor. If you have mobility issues, you may want to walk the area on Google Streetview to plan your route.
Once we got over the hill, there were more shops along Young Street, as well as two museums, the Grenada National Museum and the House of Chocolate Museum. The House of Chocolate Museum was a great stop. You can learn about the history of chocolate, and then pick up some ice cream or another chocolate treat. After you’ve had your fill, a short walk down Young Street, and you can see the archway that leads to the Grenada National Museum. Atop the arch is a wind vane which reads, “Matre dea monstrante vian,” which means, “My mother the goddess showing the way.”
Next, we walked farther down Young Street until it met with Wharf Road. I love looking at boats in a harbor, especially all the colorful ones. We walked until we reached the Christ of the Deep Statue. This statue was dedicated to the people of Grenada by the Costa Line of Genoa, Italy, in appreciation for the hospitality shown by the people of Grenada for the passengers and crew of the Costa Line’s ship, the Bianca C, dubbed “The Titanic of the Caribbean.” The Bianca C was a passenger ship on its way to Venezuela when it docked in Grenada. On October 22, 1961, there was an explosion in the engine room of the vessel. One crewman died and 700 crew members and passengers were displaced. The fire consumed the vessel and while being towed out, sank just off Grand Anse beach. The statue was placed to honor the Grenadian people who rescued crew and passengers, set up a makeshift hospital to treat the injured, and welcomed displaced persons into their homes. The statue by sculptor, Guido Galletti, was produced from the mold of his original 1954 bronze sculpture, Christ of the Abyss, in San Fruttuoso, Italy.
It was just a short walk, but a great morning, and a great way to spend my 60th birthday.
