Ramblin' with Don and Dene  by Don and Dene Dachner

 GRENADA'S HURRICANE COMEBACK

Grenada was just about blown away on September 7 and 8, 2004 by Hurricane Ivan. For an island that had its major industries turn from growing spices like nutmeg, distilling rum and running sugar plantations turn to its major industry becoming tourism, this was a real disaster.

We received a press release about Grenada's comeback in January and a second one on April18 saying that Grenada is continuing to bounce back. Here is what the press release says:

St. Georges, Grenada, April 18, 2005 Grenada continues to rebound from the effects of Hurricane Ivan at a rapid pace. With hotels and attractions reopening every day, new properties scheduled to debut this month, the cruise ports bustling and colorful festivals and events lined up for the
months ahead, the Grenada Board of Tourism is pleased to welcome visitors back to the "Spice Island of the Caribbean."

"It is with great pleasure and excitement for me to announce that Grenada is back in business," said William Joseph, Director of Tourism for the Board of Tourism. "As Grenada continues to rebuild and enhance its tourism product, emphasis will be placed on infra structural development,
improvement in sites and attractions, shopping variety and the introduction of new tourism products."

At present 933 of Grenada's rooms are available for occupancy, which constitutes 59% of the current room stock of the island. Some of the hotels that are open include Allamnda Beach Resort, Bel Air Plantation, Calabash,
Flamboyant, Latuna, Monmo and True Bay Resort & Marina. By the end of 2005, another 400 rooms will become available.

In the meantime, three brand new resorts are slated to open this month.  Maca Bana Villas in Point Salines, will soon become available for occupancy with seven rooms, while Paradise Bay Resort in La Tante, St. David's, will open with nine villas. The South City Plaza Hotel in Grand Arise, St. Georges's, is also stated to join the fold with 25 rooms.

Several highly anticipated hotel re-openings include the Grenadian by Rex Resorts, which plans to be back in business in June 2005, Blue Horizons Garden Resort, which will reopen in July 2005, Spice Island Beach Resort,
scheduled to reopen in December 2005, LaSource, which will reopen in early 2006 and the Coyaba Beach Resort, which is scheduled to reopen in March 2006 as a four-star property.

Most of Grenada's major sites and attractions are open for business.  These include Grand Anse Beach, Morne Rouge Beach, Dougaldston Spice Estate, Gouyave Nutmeg Processing Station, Levera Beach & National Park, Grand Anse Spice Vendors' Market, LaSagesse Nature Center, Morne Fendue Plantation House, River Antonine Rum Distillery, Grand Etang National Forest Reserve,
Grenada National Museum, the Carenage and Forts Frederick and George.   Additionally, Grenada's dive reefs and wrecks were undisturbed by the storm and all dive shops are in full operation.

Visitors will be happy to know that Grenada and Carriacou will host a myriad of special cultural events this year. The Carriacou Regatta, July 24th-August 1st, will celebrate the 40th anniversary this year and is expected to be the island's biggest summer event of 2005. Grenada will celebrate Carnival from August 8th to 9th. Considered by many to be an unforgettable time to visit the island, the joyous event will include exciting calypso and steel band competitions, along with colorful costume parades, street "jump ups" and a traditional "Carnival Queen" beauty pageant.

Getting to Grenada is convenient, as Point Salines International Airport is open for daily operations to both regional and international flights. Air Jamaica offers Monday, Thursday and Saturday non-stop service
from JFK/New York, as well as flights from several major U.S. cities via its Montego Bay hub. BWIA offers flights from New York and Miami via its Trinidad hub.BWIA also offers service via Barbados. American Eagle offers
daily flights from San Juan, Puerto Rico and both LIAT and Caribbean star offer daily flights to Grenada.

For more information on Grenada, please visit www.grenadagrenadines.com