November 15, 2024

Super sunny Grenada!

Above is the view from my balcony today. Downtown St George's was just outside the port. We were the only ship in town today, so we had an easy walk from the ship to the terminal to the the downtown. The sun was scorching so I waited till after lunch, to go for a stroll around the downtown. Grenada is a volcanic island and you are greeted by the rising hills as soon as you step out of the port.

As soon as I walked into the terminal building I saw the Christmas decorations and heard the carols playing. It is so odd, when it is so warm here! I also have no perspective on month and season. Just feels like a really long summer vacation has been going on! I walked up some of the hills of St George's to get the view from the top. Schools were letting out, so the streets were busy with everyone walking home. I love the motto " No Success without Effort" ! Oh so true! I wandered into a few shops had some conversations with locals, bought a pool noodle to use on the ship and tried Soursop fruit for first time - was good - tasted like watermelon even though it is small and white flesh, with a pit inside each section, inside green spiny exterior.

MARBLE HILLS, DA NANG, VIETNAM

By Pat Patrick • August 23, 2026
Just about a half hour outside downtown Da Nang are Marble Hills .These five stone hills produce a huge amount of various colored marble that have been made into all kinds of statues, furniture, jewelry and knick knacks. Inside the cavernous spaces of the Hills, lots of temples and shrines have developed. Before getting to the base of the Hills, our driver asked us if we wanted to stop at a Marble Shop, bearing the wares of this marble. The place was huge - with soo many choices! And guess what their prices all have an option to ship to the USA! or I figure any where else in the world! A sales person escorted us through out the spaces. No heavy stones for me despite how pretty!

DA NANG, VIETNAM

By Pat Patrick • August 23, 2026
On our fourth port day in Nha Trang , Bosco, Terri and I took a quick 50 minute flight north to Da Nang, Vietnam to do some deeper exploring inland. Downtown Da Nang spans the Hans River, that opens out to the Da Nang Bay and the East Vietnam Sea. Today, Da Nang is one of the quickest growing cities in Vietnam, known for it's youth (median age is just 35) and dynamic environment.

NHA TRANG, VIETNAM

By Pat Patrick • August 23, 2026
Nha Trang was our first port in Vietnam , back on the 12th of August. My first impression, was OMG it's HOT here! I have been saying that a lot in Southeast Asia, but it was over 100 degrees that first afternoon. NhaTrang does not get many cruise ship visitors, because they have no docking facilites, we had to tender into a resort marina, about 15km, North of the City. It is however, a popular beach town, and was bustling with tons of Russian visitors. The beaches and cheap prices are probably the biggest appeal, besides the fact that Vietnam is also a communist country. There are flags and communist markings all around.