Another waterfall expedition in Grenada. This one we reached by public bus and hiked in, along muddy trails up and down into the rainforest. This waterfall site is called the Seven Falls, just about smack-dab in the middle of the island. We only went to the first two falls; to see the other five required more hiking and then jumping (!) down each of the falls to get back. We did have a refreshing swim below the falls.

It's Carnival time in Grenada. We attended the steel pan orchestra competition at the National Stadium in St. George's on Saturday night with several busloads of cruisers. It was fun, but a lot of time was spent in set up and tear down of the seven bands. To see these orchestras perform was great - 70 to 100 musicians, with music you won't hear anywhere else. It is reminiscent of calliope music. Steel pans originated in Trinidad, just to the south of us, with musicians making instruments out of discarded fuel drums.
The big costume parade was on Tuesday - with some great costumes, including stilts. One of the steel pans had live music in the parade also.

We visited Father Mallaghan's Home for Boys - an old- fashioned orphanage for boys, ages 8 to 18, with some US Peace Corps volunteers. We had a great day with the Peace Corps, especially Matthew, and the boys were a delight too. We helped them string beads for the afternoon's activity. This home is up in the northwestern corner of Grenada, in a town called Victoria, a bus trip up the coast. Trying to organize volunteer opportunites for cruisers has been a long process, since nothing is in place for volunteering on the island. We've visited two orphanages, the second being Bel Air home for infants and girls, much closer to where we are staying in Prickly Bay. We also met with a social worker in the Ministry for Social Development, which has its hands full with housing, poverty, and all human services on the island. The Ministry is enthusiastic but we still need to work out useful activities, transportation, materials, etc.
Here is Debby in a familiar pose - using the computer with Skype to talk to her mom back in Minnesota.

We are still in Grenada, and just can't seem to tear ourselves away from it. So far it's our favorite island in the eastern Caribbean. Larry has been coordinating volunteer opportunities on the island, trying to find out what agencies or places would need help that other cruisers can offer, and working with the government and non-governmental groups. With no coordination in place, it has been a slow process. We've been visiting orphanages and the Ministry of Social Development, and will meet with the local Lions Club next week.
Carnival is also being celebrated in Grenada this week, and we will be attending a steel-pan orchestra competition at the big new National Stadium in St. George's this evening.