Prickly Bay, Grenada -- Mall Rats

Today we took the local minibus to the shopping centers in Grand Anse. Riding the bus in the Caribbean is always interesting. It's not really a bus, it's more of a van into which they cram as many people as possible. Then, once the bus is good and full, everyone gets to sit and sweat (no AC) while the driver slows down to honk and say "hi" to all his friends on the street. Sometimes they even stop the bus and chat and the passengers either sit and wait patiently or join in the conversation. No one seems to mind or be in a hurry; everyone here is on island time. But the drivers are pretty friendly and they will usually let you off and pick you up anywhere along the route even if it's not a bus stop. Plus it only costs 2.00 EC (1 Eastern Caribbean Dollar = about $2.70) so it's a good deal.

Spiceland Mall is tiny compared with malls back in America, but it's incredibly nice -- they have flat screen TV's throughout advertising their shops and, of course, showing soccer and cricket matches. (Cricket is a huge deal here -- they just completed an enormous new stadium). We hit the IGA grocery store (this is the mall's "anchor store" instead of Dillards or Macy's) and also the food court for roti, which is like an East Indian-style burrito wrap filled with curried chicken, potatoes and other yummy vegetables. About halfway through our shopping the power went out in the entire mall, which served as a reminder that we were in Grenada and not the US.