Rosemary Parkinson, Gleaner Writer

One of the colourful carnival costumes, compliments of the Grenada Tourist Board.

Summer has truly begun. Children now out of school must be occupied. What better way to educate them than to visit another island? And where better than we own backyard, eeh?

Now, travelling entails booking a flight. But strange tings 'ah gwaan' right now in the airline industry. Book now by phone, go down to the office to pay, the fare 'gawn up'. Why? Don't even ask. I did.

"What, oil rise up since me left me yard?" No. "Airline pilots dem want more pay?" No. "You giving away a five-star three-course gourmet meal?"

To maintain your sanity, shop around, book early, pay instantly. All should be well, unless you get to the airport five minutes late and de people dem sell you ticket.

Options? Check out rates with charter airlines. For group travel, it can be cheaper; it's yours to board whenever an de price fixed at booking. And you can take your basket of food, yuh patty, yuh perfume, even de cooler dem!

Carnival in Grenada

So this week, we are going to Grenada. That is, once you've jumped up through the Kadooment, in Barbados, on August 2. Grenada, isle of spice.

Thank God this never changes. Not even Hurricane Ivan was able to do it. With its picturesque port capital, St. George's, this three-island state, comprising Petit Martinique, Carriacou and Grenada is well worth a visit.

With its incredible mountainous spine (Mount St. Catherine); its other peak, Mount Qua Qua, the Grand Etang crater with its rainforests, mangroves, rivers, waterfalls, white beaches, clear blue seas and captivating coral reefs, Grenada has much to offer.

That includes a great creole cuisine oozing with the aromas of spices and herbs.

And then there's carnival. 'Spice Mas 2007 - Excitement 24/7' is the theme used for this year's celebrations of the "reign of the Merry Monarch" the parties have long begun, the National Soca Monarch semi-finals on (Friday) July 27 begins the true carnival mania.

Grenadians are very much into who sings de best, have de best lyrics; which bands going to be a bomb, what j'ouvert party, what mas you playing. This is serious business.

The National Soca Monarch finals on August 10, the clash of steelbands at Panorama on the 11th, J'Ouvert, Parade of the Bands and Last Lap Jump Up on the 14th culminating a month of soca and calypso compositions belted out over the air with topics such as Cricket World Cup, the freeing of prisoners, global warming and more. Carnival will be a mass of colour, jump up and partying in the streets of this beautiful isle.

Carnival Cuisine Offerings

Left: Ripened nutmeg - the outside carp is used for liqueurs, the mace for cooking. Right: Processing nutmegs.

Oh! Yes! This is one island that will not utter the words "food is not on our radar".

For food here is tourism, and during carnival, there will be plenty of it. From street foods to restaurants, the emphasis is: Taste of Grenada.

Westerhall rum will make its rounds like no tomorrow with the smooth De La Grenada Liqueurs savoured sweetly after meals.

Edwin Frank at the Grenada Tourist Board (473) 440 2279 is always helpful. Roger Constantine, who 'hangs' there, too, can tell a crab back whether it good or not from a mile away!

Kennedy Jawahir is tops for touring - talk about knowing every little ting - and his fares do not change from minute to minute. A price is a price with Kennedy. My choice of abode: Maca Bana Villas overlooking the magnificent Magazine Bay.

Local breakfast can be had in the market doused with a cup of spiced hot cocoa tea and delightful black pudding and souse - the black pudding filled with pepper, spices and herbs.

Find a place that serves Grenadine caviar - the roe of the white sea egg that's on my list of divine interventions. The ladies at Wall Street in the centre of the pasture serve up everyt'ing home-made, everyt'ing tasty and sweet. Across the road, grills sizzle with chicken and fish and cold freshly squeezed cane juice.

Restaurants there are many. I highly recommend Aquarium, True Blue Bay and Rhodes. Creole Shak for traditional dishes. And if you want to venture out of the capital, Gouyave jumps with their Friday night Fish Fry; Ebony restaurant in the fishing village of Granville is a must.One thing will never happen in Grenada - hunger! If you just want to grab a quick little something, put your nose up in the air and march forward towards the many bakeries that start early.

Blue Danube in the capital comes to mind with their coconut, jam or cinnamon rolls, croissants island style, muffins, bagels, the lot! So go pack your bags and do Grenada for carnival! It hot, hot, hot! So why not, not, not?

Rosemary Parkinson was last seen in a costume too small for her huge body, looking fi a party and a crab back in de hills of Grenada.