3 December Cuban planes, more chocolate, Leapers hill and monster lobsters

If it's Friday the schedule says it's the east coast today.

Climbing up from St Georges we pass Grand Etang lake, the monkeys (which we saw before) and drop down to the east coast town of Grenville, the second largest town and port in Grenada.

A mile north of Grenville is one of the more unusual tourist attractions – the remains of three Cuban military planes which date back to the early 80s. I won't go into a lengthy explanation here in the blog. If you're interested in history and the US invasion of Grenada in 1983 Wikipedia has an account https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_invasion_of_Grenada

I was interested the images of planes as they age with plants growing through them. The former airstrip is home to several grazing cattle and goats and occasionally used as a drag racing track.

I liked riding up the east coast. It feels more open which it is as you gaze over the Atlantic, next landfall Africa. The roads are quiet. The houses older, and prettier, more widely spaced than the west coast.

The next stop of our tour was the highlight of the day for me. It was a visit to Belmont Estate which produces fine chocolate and is open for tours (only fully vaccinated people are employed). Our enthusiastic and charming guide showed us the process from cocoa nut to chocolate bar, allowed us to taste each stage and let us turn the drying pods by foot.

drying beans

cocoa pod

Our final destination was the town of Sauteurs at the north of the island. I could see Carriacou from the graveyard and cliff known as Leapers Hill where it is told the local people through themselves to their death rather than be captured by invading French soldiers.

north to Carriacou

In the late afternoon sun we rode the west coast back to Port Louis marina to get ready for dinner. On Tuesday we came first in the trivia quiz and bagged dinner for two (drinks not included). It was a quick shower, best clothes for riding on the back of a bike and off out.

There was a steel pan band playing and the bar was busy. We saw a few friends to say hello to before sitting down to choose. With lobster as one of the barbecue options we thought why not? When they came they were super size, monsters that filled our plates. So big I forgot to take a picture. Alas our monster lobsters were more notable for their size than their flavour being overcooked (imho) and tasteless. No sauce, no butter, no claw crackers, no napkins added up to a disappointing experience. Lesson learned; you can't be a winner every day.  Should have stuck with a burger!