After hiking on Dominica, we really enjoyed a long and strenuous hike in the rainforest on St. Lucia. One key difference: on St. Lucia there is a lot of commercial (illegal) marijuana being grown. Very important to have a guide, so that you don't accidentally stumble on a ganja plot, and make a Rasta very angry. The trail was beautiful, and we took a side trip down a ravine to visit the en bas Saut waterfall. This whole area was greatly affected by Hurricane Tomas in 2010. The effects of numerous mudslides and severe flooding were still very much visible.
One of the highlights of our season was the Carriacou Maroon and String Band Festival. This is the third year they have run it, and it is attended by an interesting mix of locals and tourists.
Maroons were runaway slaves who formed independent settlements together. On Carriacou, the word is also used to refer to an event that commemorates the Maroon culture and heritage. The Grenadian tourist board has combined this celebration with a music festival that focuses on string bands: guitars, banjos, mandolins, etc. We had not known that string band music was a big thing in the West Indies, but once we saw a lavender violin played with a baby-blue bow, we were convinced.
The first night of the festival was the Maroon event. This took place in the village of Belmont, on the southeast part of Carriacou. It was basically a big community meal. Traditional foods were served in huge quantities to all comers -- and no one would take our money. Lots of people having a good time and enjoying each others company.
The second day featured a series of String Bands playing along the main street in Hillsborough, the largest town on Carriacou. Great music, but played at a typical Caribbean volume level (loud!) In the evening, everyone moved to a park in Belair, north of Hillsborough. There we saw many different groups from around the Caribbean demonstrating traditional dances and traditional music.
The evening continued with more String Bands, but it was after midnight and past our bedtime.
The final day saw more String Bands playing on the fabulous Paradise Beach. Good beer and lots of souvenirs to invest in.
All in all, a great event to mark the closing of our 2012 season.
We are now in Prickly Bay, Grenada, preparing the boat to come out of the water in a few days. Lots of chores, mostly cleaning, and we are very much hampered by an unusual period of rainy days. A bit wistful about leaving the wonderful islands, but excited to be returning to friends and activities in Switzerland.
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