Are you busy compiling that Grenadine Island trip report yet?

Phooey.

I am going to have to get off my duff and do this I guess.

I have been basking in the afterglow of the trip and trying to retain my "Irie Island-Time Bliss" for as long as possible before doing anything that remotely resembles work.

I guess it's back to the real world ej, vincey brendandg et al.

(I promise I'll do it before the weekend is over. Thanks for giving me another prod.)

Slacker

By the way how was the Irie???

Don't you scale on a 1-10?

Yes , I'd like to know as well , Diana loves her Irie !!! lol ( me too )

Alya, you are so right! Guilty as charged.

Oooh, yes, the Infamous Irie Scale!

Well, it varies island to island in that area. (But not much.)

Grenada itself is right up there at around an 8 or 9. I'd put Carriacou, PM and the Grenadines at an 8 or 8.5

I may use different criteria than some.

Just a few of what makes the Irieness factor high to me:

friendly people

the availability of some rank, high-octane drink(s) that most tourists never try

funky beach bars (preferably with great food)

a vibrant downtown area with places to lime

live local music

parties to wangle an invitation to

interesting people-watching

retention of cultural individuality

Not a complete list, by any means, but some of the most important factors to me.

What about some of the things that make a vacation Irie for the rest of you?

(Btw, irie is defined on the web as "a strong powerful positive feeling." It's a Jamaican expression that has found its way to many other parts of the Caribbean. I use it to help rate how completely I am able to decompress and relax and enjoy my vacation.)

Diana, I am quite sure that I speak for most folks here when I say that your trip report will be worth waiting for.

Here in MA, our cold weather is just creeping in with a vengeance, but that ain't nothin' compared to the coldness of my adult inlaws whose company I will be sharing next Thursday. Please post your trip report to warm me up!

ejcrowe - Come and play at Plimoth Plantation with me and my in-laws!

The weather is supposed to be in the 50's and clear so 7 of us are going to see the Pilgrims, the Native Americans, the Mayflower and the Rock, and best of all - Someone else is doing the cooking - YEAH!!!!


Thank Goodness they are lovely people because they're here for 10 days. I don't pity you at all.

ej - I'm so sorry. I feel your pain. MY own sister is Satan incarnate.

We are having Christmas at my house this year, and we bought enough "Pappy's Product" on Grenada that I THINK I may be able to get through it without ending up on the 6:00 news.

My DH is an only child with just his (very cool) mother left.

One of the main parts of our Christmas celebration every year is the "Reggae Rasta Luminary Party."

We park our truck in our driveway and BLAST the latest reggae and carnival music we picked up during our travels.

We put champagne on ice hours before (our faves are Moet White Star and Veuve Cliquot) and we light about 200 luminaries that we line our driveway with. (We live out in the country.)

We dance to the music and light the candles.

The candles stay lit untial about 4:00 a.m. and it is an amazing evening.

Anyone who does not want to participate is free to sit in the living room with their mouth pursed into a dissatisfied moue of spoiled-rottenness.

I find that various "imbibements" help me endure the personailty "issues" that some of my family face. (If you get my drift.)

I love that idea. I live in the country too and have a long driveway leading up to the house. What a perfect way to celebrate. I have some Caribbean Christmas carols friends on St.Vincent sent me yrs ago and I also have Yellowman's Christmas album "breadfruit roasting on the open fire" Now about that trip report, this time 2weeks from now I should be on my porch at Tranquility overlooking Indian Bay with Hairoun in hand. YIPPEE ! ! !

Vincygirl, have one for me !

I'll be chilling in Barbados for a short spell in a couple of weeks, but it's only a warm up for the rest of the season to be spent in the Grenadines starting in Jan. Can't wait !

Hi curiousx, I most certainly will have one for you. Less than 2 wks now. Guess I'll start to count days 13 more.YES.
Have a safe and most fun time in Barbados.

Sandy

Diana,
I will be looking for the luminaries this Christmas while riding around looking at Christmas lights..remember I live close to you! Sounds fun!

Christie

Well, shucks, If I hadn't just booked a flight to visit my own family in WI with a late Christmas departure, I would definitely book a flight to RDU to participate in the Reggae Luminary thingamabob.

I just watched the Jimmy Cliff movie, The Harder They Come, last night and it made me long for Jamaica again. And to think that for so many years I thought it was a porno because of the title.

Diana,

Tick tock, tick tock, said the crocodile to Captain Hook. You promised your long awaited trip report by the end of the weekend.

The pirates have been patient...somewhat.

You don't want a mutiny here and you certainly don't want to walk that plank ;-)

Tick tock, tick tock

Marion

Diana,
Didn't I have to bug you for the "Big Cruise" trip report too? That was a great report from a non-cruiser like you. The I will go because it is family trip. The one with the big alcohol bill

vinceygirl, I am jealous! A Yellowman Christmas CD. Wow.

Sounds like you and curiousx have some great plans. I had my first Hairoun this trip. Nice.

Y'all are more than welcome to come to the luminary party. It is always a good time.

Marion, I am posting Part 1 shortly. Thanks for keeping after me to do it!

brendandg... That's right! It's pretty sad when your bar bill is almost as much as it cost to take the cruise.