DOVER HEIGHTS  DEVELOPMENT

 

Dover Heights is a seventeen acre estate situated on the northeastern slope of Carriacou.  550 above sea level, it overlooks the village of Windward. It commands a panoramic view of the Caribbean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, and many of the beautiful islands of the Grenadines. Such a unique bit of unspoiled paradise

 





Carriacou is part of the tri-island state of Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique.

 



• A Carriacou Story

  I didn’t have to do much preparation for my two day trip to Carriacou from Grenada.  I’d been there on day trips before, so I thought I knew what I would find…but  there was so much more.

   

  The Osprey Ferry left St. George’s precisely at 9:00 in the morning. We skirted Grenada’s west coast, braved the rolling of Kick’em Jenny (an under water volcano that is still slightly active) and eased into Hillsborough at about 10:30.    We quickly cleared the friendly, bustling crowd at the jetty, and made our way on foot to Grammas Restaurant for a cup of coffee and a local treat—fish cakes and bakes.  The savory fried fritter with just a touch of pepper was just a teaser for the other great local food we would eat in the next two days.

  A few steps around the corner we found the Carriacou Museum.  The building was fascinating—an old cotton ginnery, housing a collection of Amerindian artifacts, as well as European and African items portraying the history of the island. We chatted with Clemencia Alexander, daughter of Carrriacou’s most noted artist, Canute Caliste.                She graciously took us upstairs to see his work.        

  Another few steps took us to the Esplanade to catch a bus to Windward—the village on the north east side of the island.    A short bus ride on the winding, narrow roads with magnificent views, past Mt. Pleasant, past Dover, and we were there.  (The fare was about $1 US—beat that!)  Part of the charm of Windward is its old fashioned wooden houses, with the fancy wooden fretwork on the eves showing the French influence.   A painter’s palette of  wild swipes of blues, greens, and purples leads the eye across the channel to Petit Martinique, Petit St. Vincent, and the other Grenadine islands beyond.  The Jetty for going to Petit Martinique is in the heart of Windward, and power boats await travelers to the smaller islands.  Walking up the road we found traditional boat building in progress, as well as repairs where the boats were actually put on their sides in the water and careened. 

       

    A bit of walking, another bus ride, and we were back to town for lunch.  Turtle was the catch of the day—a pungent delight served with rice and local vegetables.  We picked up a few groceries at Vena Bullen’s Supermarket, and made our way to our guesthouse—the Carriacou Yacht and Beach Club.  Located at the far southern end of Tyrell Bay, the proprietors of this fairly new small guest house seemed like they were seasoned hoteliers in the way they made us feel welcome and comfortable.

    Trevor Stanislaus and his brother Earl are businessmen who wanted to make an investment in their home, Carriacou.  In co-operation with the Tyrell Bay Haul Out services right next door, they provide yachts with excellent service.  Not limiting themselves to sailing traffic, the stay over guest feels equally at ease.  A fully stocked bar, restaurant, a lit tennis court and the beach at your doorstep—what more could you ask for?  How about a display of local art in the restaurant, the efforts of school children participating in an art contest; or watching yet another boat being built below, while you sip on a long cool one.   Entertainment at an essential level!

              

    After a sea-bath and a rest we were ready for the evening’s activities.   We strolled in the moonlight down the beach to a little internet café, The Turtle-Dove.  Besides checking our e-mail, we dined on a delightful pizza baked in a stone oven by a beautiful young Italian chef.  We chatted with friendly yacht people from South Africa, New York, and England—who knew that Carriacou is such a crossroads!

  The sea air, the sun, the walking, and the good food all contributed to an early turn in.  And we didn’t feel we were missing a thing.

    Next day—lots to do—lots of choices of places to visit—maybe the Kido Project Ecological Research Station, maybe snorkeling around Sandy Island, maybe a quick trip to Petit Martinique—all enticing adventures.  The final decision—White Island for a morning of sun and sea.  This huge rock jutting up from the sea just south of Carriacou is flanked by a row of palm trees and surrounded by white sand and crystal clear water.  After a 15 minute power boat ride Captain Angus deposited us on the beach and assured us he would be back promptly at 1:00 o’clock. 

         

  There we were on a totally uninhabited Caribbean island.   We were the only people there.  It was the sand and sea and us.  Let me not say more, save that  sunbathing in the all together is highly overrated.  I paid the piper for over a week, peeling in places that usually do not see the light of day.

  And at 1:00, there was the hum of a motor, and the Captain was there to collect us.  We could hardly believe the morning was gone.  He asked us if we would like to see the mangroves, and we said, “What?”

  “I’ll show you,” he smiled.

  He sped across Tyrell Bay, and at the north slipped in a narrow channel between two clumps of Mangrove trees.  For the next 20 minutes he tooled in and out of a maze of green--natural channels that the trees formed.  He pointed out the oysters secured to the roots of the tree, and showed us the sign saying that it was illegal to gather them.  

  “A pity you aren’t here in the evening,” he said. “You would see such a display of fish jumping in here. During a storm all of the yachts move in and be totally protected inside here.“

  Our Osprey ride back to Grenada was slated for 3:30, so we hurried back to the guest house, packed our back pack, and made our way to Hillsborough.  As we pulled away from the jetty I had that familiar ache that told me I must find a reason to return to Carriacou once again…and soon.

        

  End...(or beginning)

   

  Imagine Yourself at Dover Heights--

                               and smile.

  Grenada Carriacou Investments Ltd.

  P.O.Box 857 NCB House LB41

  St. George's, Grenada, West Indies

  Telephone

    473-444-0455, 473-440-3117

   

  FAX    

   

  E-mail           winstond@caribsurf.com