Grenada is hidden under a shroud of rain. Weather-wise, it felt like I had been dropped back In Saba, where we had spent the second year of our marriage. I waited for the warm Caribbean sun to burn through and help melt the humidity away. I would feel silly disembarking the ship with all the other tourist invaders armed with cameras, bottled waters and cheesy cruise-wear. After my year of Island living, I knew islanders laughed at this. I walked off the boat into a bustling rush hour commute. Everyone was walking up and down steep hills trying to get to one place or another. Crushing poverty infused the land making me feel worst off for the gluttony I had experienced in my immediate past. I walked alone for two hours as Chris exercised and the kids slept in. In a chaotic fashion, cars swerved through narrow roads beeping at every passerby. Young children in yellow walked to school with parents. Older children in uniform walked in large groups up steep hills to their academic institutions. The hope here seems to be found in the children as you can feel their energy as you pass them by. Alcohol has ruined this population in more ways than you can imagine. Distorted faces marred from years of alcohol infused living mixed with the suns harsh effects were everywhere. Walking by them would be akin to being in a zombie movie. Despite this, people were friendly. I love to chat with strangers and get some insight even if it’s just a small nugget of knowledge. I would talk with a banker, a businessman, a school girl and a check out lady. People like this would be the glue that holds this place together. Trying to piece together some understanding of their culture, I would use my camera for the research. Many of buildings were shells of their former self as they showed their age with roots and greenery ebbing through cracks. If any danger lurked, the camera could also serve as a blunt weapon if necessary. In reality, the biggest danger would have been to fall off the island’s narrow sidewalks into the bay. The kids would join me later and we would sit on the beach that seemed like a perfect way to enjoy our first day in the Caribbean. Next stop …Dominica.
3 Comments
Kim Dietel
12/20/2011 06:28:49 am
Once again very nice
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jen Schulten
12/20/2011 09:03:20 am
Thanks Kim!
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12/27/2011 12:22:14 am
Telling the double-edged story of Grenada through photography - nicely done.
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