Posts Tagged With: Female Traveller

Grenada – The Isle of Spice

Posted on May 9, 2024 by crystalburney

Grenada is a hidden gem in the Caribbean. Compared to many other islands, Grenada has just a fraction of the visitors, yet the island has so much to offer. From white sand beaches, lush rainforest, waterfalls, crystal clear waters to snorkel as well as hiking and sailing.

Grenada is found among the Caribbean islands located in the Lesser Antilles. Known as the “Spice Isle,” due to the abundance of spices it grows and exports, this green, hilly island is especially known for its nutmeg. The island itself is quite small, only 21 miles long (34km) and 12 miles wide (18km), but is home to 45 beaches, mountainous rainforest and coastal mangroves. It’s a perfect choice for those who love the beach, but also want to get out and explore.

Grenada is divided into 6 parishes plus the smaller islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique

This year, Grenada is celebrating its 50th year of independence after it transitioned from UK rule in February 1974 and there are a number of activities scheduled throughout the year to celebrate.

Carnival in Grenada, better known as ‘Spicemas’ takes place every year in August and is a huge celebration

If, like us, you aren’t here during Carnival, there are still plenty of things to do on Spice Isle. 

Some of our favourites include:

Grand Anse Beach

A must visit spot while in Grenada. In 2019, Grand Anse Beach was rated the best beach in the world by Condé Nast Traveller UK. Famous for its two-mile-long stretch, this sandy white beach offers panoramic views of the capital and lush hills in the background. The crystal clear turquoise waters are perfect for swimming and snorkelling.

There is also a Craft and Spice Market nestled in the middle and beach bars to grab a rum punch.

St George

The island’s capital is filled with colourful homes, Georgian buildings and a picturesque harbour, where you can find the ferry to Carriacou as well as the nightly booze cruise party boats.

Looking for more info about the history of the island? Be sure to check out the Grenada National Museum.

You can also find duty free and souvenir shopping by the ferry docks and no trip to Grenada would be complete without visiting St George’s Market, filled with colourful stands of produce, souvenirs and of course spices!

Grenada used to be the second largest supplier of nutmeg in the world behind Indonesia, but after being hit by several tropical storms in 2004/2005, which caused widespread damage, Grenada’s agricultural industries took a big hit. The island is currently the 9th largest supplier of nutmeg as they work to rebuild.

Near the cruise ship docks is the Sendall Tunnel, a unique historical site opened in 1894.

The tunnel is 350 feet long, 9 feet high and connects the east and west sides of town. It was deemed an engineering milestone on the island in the 19th century.  There are no sidewalks and you walk through as the cars are whizzing by, but it is neat to see.

My favourite stop in St. George was House of Chocolate, a unique mini-museum portraying the history of chocolate in Grenada.

The island has one of the strongest, richest cocoas in the world partially due to the rich volcanic soil and the hot sun found here. This small island is home to five chocolate factories and is known for its delicious, organic chocolate. At House of Chocolate, we got a demonstration on how chocolate is made here and got to taste some of the local chocolate.

There is also a cafe and shop filled with various chocolate and cocoa products as well as drinks, baked goods and ice cream. The island is known for its nutmeg ice cream, so of course we had to try a scoop of it, along with a scoop of chocolate nibs straight from the House of Chocolate. Both flavours were delicious!

Tours are free and there is no entry fee.

If chocolate isn’t your thing, there are also several rum distilleries on the island, including Clarke’s Court Rum Distillery, the largest rum distillery in Grenada and River Antoine Estate Rum Distillery, the oldest rum distillery in Grenada, established in 1785. Rum is still manufactured and produced here using the oldest functioning waterwheel in the Caribbean exactly how it was made back then.  

Grand Etang National Park

This 36 acre park is a popular stop on many of Grenada’s excursions and is a must visit for any nature lover. At the top, is Grand Etang Crater Lake, a freshwater lake set in the crater of an extinct volcano 530m above sea level.

This lake is home to a variety of fish that range from black to coppery gold.  Most people make a short stop here and then continue out of the park, but you can easily spend at least half a day exploring all Grand Etang has to offer. There are numerous hiking trails that vary in length and difficulty. Seven Sisters Waterfall, one of Grenada’s most iconic falls, is also located within the park.

While checking out the local flora and fauna, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the adorable white-faced Mona monkeys found within the park. Grenada is the only country outside of Western Africa where these monkeys can be found as they were transported to the island aboard slave ships in the 18th century.

Fort Frederick

Located 244m above sea level overlooking St. George’s harbour is Fort Frederick, one of the best preserved bastions in the Caribbean. This fort was started by the French in 1779 and finished by the British in 1783 and was part of the struggle between the French and British for control of the island. It was built to protect the harbour’s eastern entrance, however, the fort never fired a single cannon in anger. Locally, Fort Frederick is referred to as a backward facing fort as the guns were positioned to face the inland hills, instead of out towards the sea.

Today, the Fort offers beautiful panoramic views of the island, making it the perfect stop to learn some of the island’s history and get some great photos!

There is a small fee to enter and there are guides on hand to give you more info. Visitors – XCD $5.34 or USD $2.00

Visit Annandale Falls

While there are numerous waterfalls in Grenada, Annandale Falls are the only ones easily accessible by road, as the others require a hike. Surrounded by lush foliage and colourful flowers, Annandale stands 30 feet high with water from the surrounding mountainous streams, plunging into the clear pool beneath.

A perfect spot to cool off and get some great photos. There is also a bar and restaurant nearby.

Go Snorkelling

The water here is crystal clear and fairly calm, making for excellent snorkelling around the island. As Grenada is the southernmost island in the Antilles archipelago, bordering the eastern Caribbean Sea and the western Atlantic Ocean, it features a diverse marine environment and in most snorkelling spots, in both Grenada and its sister island, Carriacou, snorkelers will enjoy observing colourful reef fish, eels, sting rays, octopus and more.

A great spot is Magazine Beach, found on the southwest coast, near the airport. Much of the beach is located in front of the Royalton Grenada Resort,(where we were staying) but access to the beach is open to all. It can be a bit tricky getting into the water in places due to the shallow water reef, but definitely worth checking out as we found lots of sea life here.

At one end of the beach, you’ll find The Aquarium, an open air restaurant right on the beach. Enjoy a fresh cooked meal or just grab a drink at La Sirena Beach Bar.

And if, like me, you can’t get enough of sunsets, Grenada doesn’t disappoint.

Be sure to enjoy the colourful sunsets over the turquoise waters after a day of exploring this beautiful island!

  • Official language in Grenada is English.
  • Local currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar. But USD is also accepted in most places
  • Right hand traffic. Just be aware that the roads are narrow and very hilly if you plan to drive yourself
  • Airport Maurice Bishop Airport, located in St. George Parish.

Categories: Blog, Caribbean, Photo, Where in the World | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Beautiful Brasov

Posted on March 13, 2024 by crystalburney

As a huge Halloween fan, Bran Castle and Romania’s Transylvania region has been on my travel list for years.

Arriving in Brasov’s Old Town, I immediately fell in love. This, to me, is exactly what a medieval European city should look like. Ringed by the Carpathian Mountains and filled with cobblestoned streets, medieval walls and colourful baroque buildings, Old Town looks like something out of a fairy tale.

Brasov was founded by the Teutonic Knights in 1211 and was settled by the Saxons in the 13th century, becoming one of Transylvania’s seven walled citadels. Brasov’s location became an important intersection, linking trade routes between the Ottoman Empire and Western Europe.

Our hotel, Casa Wagner, was located in Brasov’s main square, Piaţa Sfatului (Council Square), a large open area where medieval markets were held.

The hotel was originally built in 1477 and is the third oldest building located in the square that is also filled with shops, restaurants, and cafes, with Brasov Old Town Hall found in the centre.


Built in 1420, Casa Sfatului was the meeting place for the town’s council members for several centuries. Today, it is home to Brasov’s History Museum.

Just south of Council Square is the Black Church, the largest gothic structure in Romania and one of Brasov’s most famous sites. The church got its name after the flames and smoke of the ‘Great Fire’ in 1689 darkened its exterior walls. The church was originally built between 1385 and 1477. After the fire, restoration took 100 years.

Today, the church is a massive structure, with beautiful stained glass and statues located all around it. The bell tower stands 65m high and is home to the largest and heaviest church bell in Romania.

The Black Church’s massive pipe organ dates from 1839. It was built by Carl August Buchholz and takes up three floors and contains 3993 pipes! This massive organ still functions and concerts are performed several times a week.

Most of the original statues have been removed from the outer walls to preserve them and replicas have been put up in their place. You can find many of the originals inside the church. Entrance tickets can be purchased for 20 lei at the gift shop across from the church. It looks big from the outside, but once you walk through the large wooden doors, you see how truly big this church is.

Another interesting historical piece in this church are the pews. When people first started to attend, they sat within their guilds. The more important your guild (teachers, town councillors, etc.), the closer you sat to the pulpit.

These pews were also more ornately decorated. Each guild could add carvings, paintings, ornamental elements, and symbols to represent their guild on the panel of the pew. The pews themselves were all fairly standard, except for the carpenter’s guild, who made sure to carve theirs more ornately when making all the pews. It was neat to walk around and see all the differences.

There was a small section containing tombstones with elaborate carvings of the person’s face. Apparently, this was a common thing to do among the wealthy, so they could be depicted in all their grandeur for eternity!

The various murals, paintings, and statues found throughout the church are also worth a look.

As I often do when exploring a new city, I joined up with a free walking tour to learn more about Brasov and all there was to see. We set out with our guide on a 2.5-hour walk around Old Town, where he told us lots of historic facts and local legends and pointed out the house where Vlad the Impaler’s mistress lived.

As we came to the Black Church, he pointed out one of the statues on the roof and told us how Brasov and a neighbouring city were competing to build the biggest and best church. They took this very seriously and only the master builder knew the full plan. One day, he found a little boy up on the roof looking at all they were doing. No one knew who this boy was, so they figured he must be a spy sent from the other town and he was pushed off the roof!

Now, a statue of a little boy looking over the edge can be found on the roof. Some say it was put there as a memorial; others say it’s a warning.

Rope Street, Strada Sforii, is one of the narrowest streets in Europe at 3.6 to 4 feet wide. As the houses were all connected, there was no quick way to get from one street to another, so Rope Street was used as an access route for firefighters. There is a statue of a Rope Lady at one end, pointing the way to the passage.


One legend says that Rope Street was a meeting place for lovers whose parents did not approve of their relationship, and that couples who kissed on Rope Street will forever be tied together.

High above Brasov, in the Carpathian Mountains, is Mount Tampa. There are several different trails you can hike up the mountain or take the cable car (30 lei RT, Hours: 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.) to the top for a great view of the city and surrounding area.

From the upper cable car station, it’s a short walk along the path to the famous Brasov sign, where you will get the best views of the town from 955m above!

The cable car takes about 2.5 minutes to ascend to the top, and at less than $9 CAD ($6.50 USD) return, it’s definitely worth it. At the top, you will also find a small cafe and some more walking trails.

As we were there in October, all the leaves had begun to change colour, making the view even more spectacular. You could see all of Old Town, including a great view of the Black Church from above.

When Vlad Tepes (the Impaler) attacked Brasov in 1458, the citadel was destroyed and 40 merchants who refused to pay trade taxes were impaled, and displayed on top of the mountain. I much preferred the view of the fall foliage!

Catherine’s Gate, erected in 1559 by the Tailors’ Guild, is the only original gate to have survived from medieval times. During Saxon rule, Romanians weren’t allowed to own property inside the fortress and were only allowed to enter at certain times to sell their goods. They would be required to pay a toll before entering. At the time, these gates were the only way in and out of Brasov. Above the entrance, the tower bears the city’s coat of arms: a crown on a tree trunk.

Black Tower stands atop a rock on Starja Hill and is one of four defensive towers in Brasov built in the 15th century, and offers great views of the city.

Hunter’s Tower is another defensive tower in the citadel used for storing power during the Middle Ages.

Once you’re done exploring for the day, enjoy a traditional Transylvanian dinner at Sergiana. Head down into the basement, where you will find cave-like dining rooms, servers in traditional Romanian attire, and a delicious variety of local Transylvanian dishes.

After dinner, check out Beraria Mustata for some local craft beer.

While the Council Square is great by day, be sure to check it out at night when it’s all lit up and the Hollywood style BRASOV sign is shining high up on Mt. Tampa.

And while you are in the area, a trip to Bran to see Bran Castle is a must! We spent half a day exploring Dracula’s Castle and the small town of Bran. More on that here.

Brasov is about 30 minutes from Bran. There are buses that will take you, but we found taking a Bolt or an Uber far more convenient.

Before catching our train back to Bucharest, we had to stop for one more delicious Papanași (traditional Romanian fried doughnuts made with cottage cheese and topped with smetana and jam) at La Ceaun in the main square.

Whether you are exploring Transylvania or just making your way to see Dracula’s Bran Castle, be sure to stop and explore Brasov on the way. You won’t be disappointed!

Categories: Blog, Europe, Photo, Where in the World | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, Disney’s Tiki Hideaway

Posted on February 19, 2024 by crystalburney

I’ve heard about Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto for years, but never made it there on any previous Disney trips. So, since we were there to celebrate my 40th birthday, I figured this was the perfect time to finally check out this Tiki hideaway.

This tropical Tiki bar is found in Disney World’s Polynesian Resort, just around the corner from the lobby.

Through a plain-looking wooden door, you step into the enchanting world of the South Seas. The lounge itself is small and packed with ancient artefacts, hidden treasures, an erupting volcano, an angry Tiki god, and more covering the walls and ceiling.

The line starts around 2pm and it fills up fast, so be sure to get your name on the list right away.

When it was finally our turn, we got seats at the bar just as a thunderstorm began. The volcano erupted and everyone around us started chanting “Uh-Oa.” I immediately liked this place!

We started off with two of the drinks where you can also purchase the Tiki mug as a souvenir—the HippopotoMai-Tai and the Zombie.

The bartender, Alyssa, was amazing. She spent the next couple hours bringing great drinks and delivering bad jokes that had us laughing away. We soon learned that many of the drinks have some kind of action associated with them, from a thunderstorm, to everyone ‘swimming,’ to a little hippo coming out to visit when you order the HippopotoMai-Tai. The whole experience becomes very interactive, which only adds to the charm of this place. 

The best one, however, in my opinion, is when you order the Uh-Oa, which is one you can share, and the whole bar starts chanting ‘Uh-Oa.’ Alyssa brought ours out and told us that we had angered ‘Uh-Oa’ by ordering this beverage and now we had to sacrifice it to appease her. She then lit our drink on fire and had us throw the cinnamon onto the flame to make it grow larger as we chanted her name. As this is happening, we are being sprayed with water as our sacrifice is ‘horrible’ and Uh-Oa comes out to curse us and then Alyssa stabs our drink to finalize the sacrifice. It is quite the little presentation and just made this drink even more enjoyable!

As I was looking around, I noticed a Tiki that looked like an octopus and found out it is the new limited edition blue Ursula Tiki mug that comes with a drink called Sign the Scroll (Kraken Black Spiced Rum, Royal Blue Curacao Liqueur, red passion fruit, and pomegranate juice and topped with an edible flower). 

As The Little Mermaid is my favourite Disney movie, I of course needed to add this to the collection of Tiki mugs we were now taking home! The drink was delicious, probably my favourite of the night and so pretty to look at!

They have a great selection of drinks on the menu, but be sure to ask about the selection of drinks they have off the menu, like the TK-421 from Star Wars.

While it is mainly a bar, you will find a small selection of appetizers as well, like the Thai Chicken Flatbread, which was very tasty.

If, like me, you’ve missed the little spot of paradise on your previous Disney trips, I would highly recommend putting it on your must-do list on your next Disney adventure!

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