ONE ISSUE FOR us cruisers volunteering at the Mt. Airy Young Readers Program has been remembering and pronouncing the students’ names. It was decided a few weeks ago that name tags would really help not only us to connect better with the kids, and Grenadian names and spellings, but also, so that the kids connect our faces with our names and our spellings. (I mean Susea is a weird way to spell Susie/Suzi/Susi/whatever!)

So I asked Deborah Sarlo if she could find some good name tags for us (the masking tape worked but . . . ) and bring them from L.A. to Moody Blues here in Grenada, and that she did. Forty-eight name “badges” arrived and it became a project to write your name clearly on the badge as it will be worn weekly.

Doesn’t Ronelle’s (above, he’s 8 years old) look good on him? This name badge task, although very fun and artsy in away (what’s up my alley), was educational too because it involved penmanship! Thanks, Deb.

How this volunteering works is that Keith of K & J Tours (who also volunteers his time, nice van and gas) goes to De Big Fish Restaurant in Prickly Bay first where he meets our fearless leader, Hope, s/v Starshine, and the volunteers from that bay. Then he drives over the hill to Clarke’s Court Bay Marina and picks up the rest of the volunteers and drives us up beautiful Mt. Airy. Sometimes Keith picks up volunteers from downtown in the Lagoon area—St. George’s Bay, Pt. Louis Marina or the Grenada Yacht Club. It’s a lot of driving for him so we often pass a hat and chip in for gas.  

The tables and chairs are set up and work begins. Above you see how serious the classroom studies are.

Volunteers are placed with various age groups and work on the areas of study that they need.

Here are two of the youngest students, and the Volunteer Ali who isn’t a cruiser but a “Couch Surfer.” I had never heard of “Couch Surfer” before, but there’s something like 12 million people who belong to this organization and they surf for a couch to sleep on in the various countries they visit. Apparently couches are screened and it’s safer than it seems. Ali loves it.

Cute boy, too bad I can’t read his name badge, but he’s listening to Steve, s/v Starshine—Hope’s husband, read the article about the Mt. Airy Young Readers’ Program that came out in the Caribbean Compass (a free monthly magazine covering “The Caribbean’s Monthly Look at Sea & Shine”) by Chris Doyle, a cruiser famous for his numerous, accurate, cruising guides of the Caribbean. It was called, A Morning at Mt. Airy Young Readers’ Program and had two cute photos. 

This is Jeanne pascal, who started the program, with her husband Everest. She is showing the kids the article and its pictures.

At the end a few students raised their hands to recite their multiplication tables. (What is 8 x 9 again?)

And here is Ninna, s/v Embla, having poured drinks and arranging treats for the kids as a treat at the end of their study time. 

Now you know what it’s like to volunteer at the Mt. Airy Young Readers’ Program. Why do I love it? Because it’s a challenge. How can I make reading or writing or math more fun? Well last week counting in Spanish peaked these three boys’ interest, of course that song: Uno, dos, one, two, tres cuatro—Wooley Bulley? (Did I spell that right?) helped.

Hasta la vista babies.    

WHEN ASKED WHERE to go for the “last lunch,” the answer was to the “unique tropical setting,” The Aquarium Restaurant.  It is on Magazine Beach. You get the picture.

Enticing entry. As this is also Maca Bana, “an intimate collection of seven solar powered, artistically designed ‘banas’.”

Ah, La Sirena.                                           Chilled wine cellar greeted us as we entered.

Saucy artwork set the mood.

It sits right on the beach. St. George’s is in the background.

Lovely bar.

Warnings of demon rum . . . or something.

Bernard, a craftsman on the beach, sold us the bracelets Deborah is wearing as earrings.

La Sirena, the mermaid in Spanish. Deb mermaided up onto Gene’s lap. Cute.

The food was delicious at The Aquarium, and the ambiance very mellow and classy. But alas we had to leave and head back to Moody Blues.

We know Deborah had a good time as we did with her. She is now a seasoned sailor having beat into 20–25 knots of wind, sailed with a reefed main, rocked and rolled all night long and dinghied all over the place. We hate to see her go. But like she said,” I’lllll be back!”

Two duckies in the Tobago Cays.

OUR SENSATION TOUR had Gene, Deborah and I into Moody Blues’ dinghy at 8:45 a.m. on Wednesday, 02–24–2010, and over to De Big Fish restaurant dock to meet up with K & J Tours.

Cosmos was our driver and also “aboard” the tour van were Bob and Barbara of the s/v Restless Soul.

Cosmos took us high up onto South East Mountain, in the providence of St. Andrew’s into the Grand Etang Forest Reserve. The drive was an experience in itself as it was so beautiful. Our destination was to hike into the Seven Sisters Falls. 

As usual the roads are narrow and get jammed up a bit, but Cosmos stopped to let us out then parked.

Walking sticks were available and highly encouraged, even for the little guy. Gene when later carrying my walking stick (it conflicted with focusing the camera) decided that using two sticks was a terrific way to go. Like a dog with four legs!

I don’t know why I thought we’d be the only ones going to look at the falls.

The hike was arduous. They say it was good it was dry, for when wet it’s slippery.

Helonconia (sp) was everywhere and beyond along the trail.

I don’t know what this is but thought pretty.

Ditto.                                            Much of the trail along the hillside was overgrown like this.

Hibuscus. And, and, and . . . Deb knew most of these plants as many grow in California and in Hawaii.

Bamboo stairway to heaven with Deb at the top.       Falls this way. Okay.

First impression.

Gene and Deb checking it out.                      Deb jumped right in.

Susea & Deb, Gene taking the shots. Susea not wanting to get out of the refreshing fresh water.

Lower fall.                                                   Mister Butterfly, the diver you will see.

Okay . . .

No jumping in the falls except for Mister Butterfly. This looks like a head dive or like he was shot. When he came up and moved away all these guys then gals started jumping in to this lower falls too.

You couldn’t go to the upper falls without a tour guide. He’s guarding the path.

Resting on the way back. It was hot.            Gene and Deb crossing a small valley.

This sign was a bit intimadating. With the skull & crossbones it read more like chop [your] head off.

But these gardener guys were nice, they’d never chop your head off! They let me take their picture.

Private residence.                              Bet the above machette comes in handy to cut pineapple.

I think this is a mule or donkey not a horse tethered in one of many gardens.

Cabbage.

Moo!

Back in the van heading down the hill relaxing after the long hike. Our driver, Cosmos was great.

But wait! There was a side-show. Cosmos graciously stopped for us to see the Grenadian women dressed for photos and the wild mono monkey who came out of the Gran Etang National Forest for us.

He was not intimated at all. Yet, we backed off.

He was very pretty strutted his stuff. (And we do know it was a “he”.)

Cosmos stopped so we could admire the view to the SW. That’s Point Saline in the far distance. It is where we were headed next to the famous Aquarium Restaurant for lunch. It is also where the airport is, but like Deborah said to me, “Don’t go there.” Besides we were still touring and and the Hills Are Alive.

Next post The Aquarium Restaurant. Hope you enjoyed the falls. Thank you K & J Tours. We had a great time.