Hereandthereclaire.com

Julie and I have just been spending the last few days, chilling out and doing locals things; Shopping, visiting boat yards, having lunch at Miss Bernadette’s.

I have tried lots of new things, bread fruit…yummy, a little like potato. Lambie, which is Conch, which I tried at Rena’s a local BBQ stop. local Rotties…delicious. I have drunk beer, I’m normally a wine or cocktails kinda girl!! 😂 I have ridden in the back of an ancient old Land Rover, and Last night I “crossed the bridge” at Seps, the local Rum Shop/Bar this is apparently a tradition and involves drinking a rather large shot of local rum, which is like 150% proof…..or blow your head off strong! I did it, and survived!! 😱

Its been fun just hanging out, which appears to be the local pastime…sitting, contemplating, chilling.

I’ve met more of Julie and Mikes friends, most of whom have lived here for many years and all have fascinating stories to tell.

I have been munched by the bloody mossies and every other biting insect that lives here! Luckily there is an aloe Vera plant just by the apartment, which helps, as does the spray, cream and electric zapper!

Heading out this morning to a place called Whisper Cove to watch the football!

 

 

I have been in Grenada now for 5 days and I love it!

Julie and I have spent our time chilling and doing touristy things.

we went into the capital St George on the bus, the buses are great, little mini vans that run every 10 – 15 mins all over the island. We visited the Grenada Museum, which was interesting but seemed to be filled with lots of unrelated items, the criteria being if it’s old it gets in! Not sure how the bats we saw made the grade but hey ho!

We also visited the Grenada Chocolate Museum, wow! The chocolate is delicious, Julie and I had a slice of chocolate roll and I had a Mocha, the best Mocha ever!

We had a wander round the market, and then got the bus to Grand Anse Beach.

the Beach is gorgeous, the water is crystal clear and the sand is soft and white, the colours of the Caribbean Sea are stunning. We stopped and had lunch at a lovely place called Umbrellas. I had my first Pina Colada! Yum 😋 we didn’t swim in the sea as we had to go to the supermarket.

I bumped into one of the lovely Med Students in the supermarket, she rushed over and gave me a hug, so funny to see someone you know in a new place!

Yesterday Julie and I went on an Island Tour with a local guy called Cutty. It was brilliant, the island is not huge 21 miles long and 12 miles wide, but it is very hilly, being a volcanic island, it also has a large area of rain forest. It is currently the rainy season, and yesterday was certainly rainy!

Cutty was very knowledgeable about the island and its flaura and fauna. In 2004 the island was devastated by hurricane Ivan. The crop of nutmeg was severely damaged, it takes a nutmeg tree up to 10 years to mature, so it was great to see so many coming back.

Nutmeg is one of the largest exports for Grenada, the plant is amazing, they use the fruit that the nut grows in for making jam a preserves, the membrane that surrounds the nut is Mace, the shell that surrounds the nut is used for compost and mulch. We visited a Nutmeg processing plant that looks like it has not changed for hundreds of years, everything is done by hand.

We also visited a Rum distillery, the only one on the island that still uses Sugar Cane. It was unbelievable, they are still using really old processes, the idea of Health & Saftey, food hygiene most certainly do not apply! The Rum is 150 proof!! It’s not aged but bottled straight from the vats, it’s the most popular rum on the island…..it’s bloody strong!

There are so many wonderful things growing here: Avacado, Mango, star fruit, Bread fruit, Jack fruit, grapefruit, Cloves, Nutmeg, cinnamon, Sour Sop, Wax apple (which Cutty picked and its delicious) Bananas, Tumeric, Alo Vera, limes, lemons, cocoa, beautiful plants and flowers. Stunning.

The island is amazing and the tour lasted all day.

When we got back we popped down to another local bar on the jetty called Taffys, unfortunately we missed the Football, which sounded like a bloody exciting game!

There was a fantastic storm with torrential rain, epic!

I made the mistake of trying the Rum Punch again! So, I sang! Made friends, wanted to walk home in the torrential rain and thunder, somehow managed to put on my swimming costume in the middle of the night, which I struggle to do sober, so is a remarkable feat! I have rather large headache this morning, and definitely won’t be having anymore Rum Punches!! 😳😬😃

 

I had a fun flight to Grenada! The plane was  full of 2nd and 3rd year American Medical Students returning to their Campus on Grenada, I sat next to a guy called Johnathan and a guy called Kameron, they were trying to squeeze the last bit of fun from their summer and were happy drinking and chatting. I had a very nice Bloody Mary, just to keep up the tradition! The air hostesses were amazing and kept handing us free mini bottles of Vodka 😁😁 this may account for my singing along very loudly to “This is Me” much to everyones amusement!

Julie and her friend Greg met me at the airport they wisked me straight off to their local Rum stop, Seps, run by it’s namesake! The Rum punches were delicious, but lethal! I had 3 and was home in bed by 8pm!!

A lovely chilled day relaxing with Julie. It’s very hot here, 31c and humid, although there is a nice breeze now and then.

Julie and I just sat around, reading, chatting and just catching up. In the evening julie’s friend, Rosie came and collected us in her dinghy and took us over to the much talked about Rogers Barefoot Bar on Hog Island, it was really fabulous, I got to meet lots of Julie’s friends, most of whom live on boats in Grenada. It was a great meeting and chatting to everyone.

Loving Grenada.

 

A beautiful sunny day In Miami Beach, my hotel is actually closer to the beach than I had thought, so I arrived at the Boardwalk within a few mins, it’s still early, 8am, but there are lots of people out walking, jogging, rollerblading and just strolling along. The beach looks great, and the hotels I’m walking past all look very plush!

The buildings in Miami Beach are fabulous, really cool colours and I absolutely love the Art-Deco style. I stopped for breakfast in a great little place on Collins Avenue, Eggs over easy and a side of bacon! Yum. It’s great sitting watching the world go by, people stating their day, heading to work, or like me on holiday.

Even this early in the day is hot and humid, I’ve walked a fair way but spot a Big Bus, like the ones I used in New York, I think this might be the best way to see as much as possible, as I only have 1 day.

The tour takes me around the whole of the Miami Beach area then across the bay to Bayside, this is where all the huge cruise ships come into, there are a few docked but apparently it’s a little out of season. The buildings in Miami are gorgeous, but I’m struck again by the conspicuous wealth in this area.

When we stopped at Bayside I got chatting to a lovely lady and her son who were selling water and soft drinks, she is trying to get her Masters Degree, and really wants to travel.

I took the Bus back to where I got on and then walked to Ocean Drive, Wow! It’s a little crazy, even at midday, lots of interesting outfits! (the smallest bikinis, with fishnet body stockings seem to be the most popular choice!😳)Great Bars, Huge cocktails, cool music! It’s certainly the place to party, I bet it’s bonkers at night.

Stopped and had the most delicious Cojito (coconut Mojito) my new favourite cocktail, decided to have a normal sized one not a goldfish bowl one!

Strolled along, and came across a Drag Act in a Bar called The Palace, which is party central apparently. Just caught the end of the act, but what I saw was very funny.

Had another Cocktail, it would be rude not to!

Had a wander round the shops in Lincoln Road, then strolled back to my hotel.

Sat out on the terrace with yet another  Cojito!! Despite the cocktails I still managed to download an Uber App on my phone, I impressed myself 😁

I had a fantastic dinner in the hotel, it’s a Cuban restaurant and the food was amazing.

Altogether a fabulous day in Miami, I will be really sad to leave, I will definitely come back.

 

 

 

The rest of my journey on the train was great, peaceful and relaxing. I spent my time watching the world go by, reading a bit, snoozing a bit, having lunch and generally just enjoying the experience.

The lanscape definitely changed the further south we traveled, the vegetation getting increasingly tropical, lots of large trees covered in Spanish Moss or Kudzu as it’s known, which I always think look very Southern! We had a stop in Savannah Georgia, and I was able to get off the train and have a walk and say that I have been to Georgia! (Although it was daytime and there was no rain!😁)

I chatted  to some interesting people at lunch who were as baffled and disturbed as I am about Trump.

I had a very enjoyable Bloody Mary late afternoon, I think when food is not available these make a perfect alternative, It would certainly make dieting a lot more fun!

Finally we arrived in Miami at 9.30pm, 3hrs late but safe and rested.  I took a cab to my hotel, which was further away than I had thought. The hotel is fantastic! My room is gorgeous, very white and clean, huge bed, amazing bathroom and right next to the veranda and a little pool. Possibly one of the nicest hotels I’ve stayed in.

I decided to go out and have a little wander, possibly grab some food (perhaps the Bloody Mary hadn’t quite filled the gap!) it was very quiet on the streets, not many people or cars around, I decided that as I didn’t know my way around and it was dark perhaps the safest thing to do was to go back to the hotel, which is what I did.

I had a lovely Caprioska (just for you Lady of the Night 💕) then headed to bed……the bed! OMG, it is the most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept in, pure bliss!

After an amazing nights sleep, I got up early showered and got dressed, which as it turns out was quite handy as shortly after putting my clothes on all the fire alarms went off! After making my way down the stairs to the lobby it turned out to be a false alarm, it was fun seeing so many bleary eyed, half dressed guest staggering into the lobby.

so I’m now heading out to explore and I will be taking the advice given to me by an interesting lady on on train who said:

Dont talk to strangers, keep your bag close and don’t go anywhere where there are people with Gold Teeth!!! 😍😍😃

 

My final day in New York was lovely, I just strolled around the local area, using the side streets, which are more residential, it was great to see native New Yorkers, walking their dogs, sitting under the trees, grabbing a coffee on the way to work. I also stopped in a trendy coffee shop, and I have to say their coffee, Colombian, was not a patch on Coffee on the Corners!

I called into a hotel for some free WiFi and caught the end of the Germany v South Korea game! Shocker..

then finally off to Penn Station for my Amtrak Silver Meteor to Miami. ❤️

Penn Station, is quite big, very busy, crowded and noisy, I found a waiting room and sat and people watched, fascinating! Some odd people around.

Boarded the train, so exciting, I absolutely love grain journeys, they always feel like the start of an adventure! My little Roomette is fantastic, comfy and large enough as I’m travelling alone.

We had been travelling for approx 90 mins when the train stopped, no worries, then it stayed stopped, they announced that there was Major engine trouble. First we were told that a new engine would come out from Philadelphia, which was approx 15mins away, hook up and off we go, that then changed to us all disembarking across a metal walkway onto a passenger train, which would take us to Philadelphia. All good, this then changed again  to staying on the passenger train till Washington DC, 2 hours away, again, no worries I was sitting next to Cameron a lovely, polite 11 year old on his way to Georgia with his grandparents, we chatted, shared some crisps, I helped him with his homework, he told me about the Greek Gods.

I popped down to the cafe car to get a drink and bumped into the guy who had been in the opposite roomette when we broke down, we chatted and he bought me a rather gorgeous Bloody Mary!! Yum!

We arrived in Washington, waited for a little while and then our wonderful train appeared, we re boarded, managed to grab a burger from the cafe car even though the Conductor had told us all to go back to our rooms, thank you Clay Ettis!

Had a reasonable nights sleep, and then woke to a gorgeous South Carolina Sunrise!

I have chatted to some really lovely people, friendly and interesting, I have also listened to some really whinging people, who are not very polite to the staff, all of whom work bloody hard.

Had a delicious breakfast, tried some Southern “Grits” interesting, weird, a bit like really fine rice pudding but savoury! I’m not sure it’s my thing!

So we are back on track, the scenery is fantastic and ever changing, you get to see possibly the poorer parts of the towns we pass as they are near the railway.

We are delayed by 3hrs so far, but let’s see what today brings!

 

Having had a lovely nights sleep I woke up early and ready for a full day in the Big Apple. Taking the advice of a nice man on my flight I purchased a ticket for the hop on hop off bus, it’s  a great way to cover lots of ground, see lots and have a history lesson. I jumped on at Times Square and did Downtown first. Really interesting, and I can’t believe how much things have changed since my last visit, the Freedom Tower and reflection pools are amazing.

I did the whole route, then walked from Times Square to Bryant Park and the New York Public Library. The Library is wonderful, I would love to explore the parts you don’t see.

Decided to have lunch in Bryant Park, Wow! This is obviously where the well to do Manhattanites come for lunch….very Sex in the City! Sat and had lunch, listening to the live piano recital, then used the poshest public loo I’ve ever seen, not 1 but 3 large fresh flower displays, classical music, automatic loo seat covers and flush! God forbid anyone should have to do something as common as flush away their own pee!

After lunch I took the Uptown bus, again some beautiful sites, and what’s really striking is the conspicuous wealth, and also how much of it was made by immigrants, Carnegie, Friske…

Jumped off again in Times Square and walked back to St Patrick’s Cathedral, lit some candles for those I love.

Decided at the last minute to go up the The Top of the Rock, simply stunning views. Well worth the endless queuing, got slightly lost in the labyrinth under Rockefeller Centre….😬 but eventually made my way back to the street, and fresh air!

Stopped at a Rooftop Bar, had a cocktail, was not the bar I originally wanted to go to, but it was cool, full of the after work crowd, but to be honest the cocktail was a bit Pants!

Then I had dinner at Juniors near Times Square, I sat at the counter, had the biggest burger ever! Got chatting to the guys sitting alongside me, and when they left one of them shook my hand, gave me a hug and palmed me his phone number!!! 😂😂😂

A fun day!

 

I arrived safely in New York at 9am after an pleasant flight, albeit with very little sleep 😴 I took a Yellow cab from JFK to my hotel. My driver was a chatty Russian guy who has lived in New York for 23 years. It is interesting driving into the City through places like Jamaica, Flushing and Queens, my driver was telling me which areas house which people, Flushing is all Russian, Jamaica is African American, some parts are Chinese others Indian, it seemed quite clearly segregated, at least in his opinion and possibly getting more so.

The Manhattan Skyline is amazing!

My hotel is in a great location, it’s basic but clean and cool.

I have spent the last 4 – 5hrs walking around Times Square then down to the Hudson River where I walked the Highline, an inner city park built on an abandoned rail track. It winds its way through an area rife with development, huge high rises, I’m not sure if they are offices or apartments but there are a lot of them! It’s a really interesting part of New York that I have not seen before.

I am now resting my feet in a lovely cafe opposite my hotel, glass of Rose, nibbles, free WiFi! Watching the world go by, trying to ignore how tired I am, as I can’t go to bed for at least another 5hrs……

 

I have finally arrived for my first departure! Thank you Mandy for getting me here safely. X

It is now 3.10 I’m sitting at Gatwick, having checked in and made my first Upgrade request, unfortunately the flight is full, but have been told to ask again at the gate, so fingers crossed. Very impressed that my case only weighed 20kg!

Security was quick and painless, although I feel my itinerary is going to cause some issues in the States, lots of coming and going which they might not like.

It is very strange being in an airport in the early hours, most things are closed, lots of cleaning going on, the lights seem dimmer, it’s quiet and actually pretty peaceful, which may be helping me to feel relatively calm, although this might be a delusion due to extreme sleep deprivation 😳

I’m off to the bar for a nice glass of bubbles……

 

 

 

 

 

well I have managed to survive Book Club, but it was a close call!

Black Beauty, greatest showman, power ballads, phone calls through the speaker and chip butties! So good to be able to see all the beautiful bookies.