For the last two weeks, banners, flags and bunting of red, green and gold have been put up all around Grenada. The roundabouts and all public places have been positively festooned with the national colours, all in preparation for celebrating Grenada's Independence Day. The 38th anniversary to be exact!

Whether it is a strong sense of pride in their country, or because it is a reason to have a party, Grenadians embrace this day. The decorations are not limited to inanimate objects, but the people come decked out in the colours, too. Whether they are just going to lime at the beach or a local rum shop, or make their way to the National Stadium for the official celebrations, there are many different permutations of red, green and gold. Commercially produced t-shirts vie with homemade outfits to show national pride.

A bunch of cruisers went to the National Stadium for the "parade" there. We ended up going on Sunday to a "community fair" in St. Paul's parish. The fair was a number of stalls and tents selling food and crafts for good prices and the obligatory bar and food offerings (homemade coconut ice cream!). The cruisers were invited up since we have been supporting the local pan band, and Patrick "Shade Man" offered us a free ride up. Of course we arrived before anything was really getting going, but we checked out the offerings and the small display of historical artifacts that they had. We heard the pan band play, then had a chance to catch the kids do the maypole dance. They weaved around each other to "plait" the coloured ribbons around the pole, while the two ladies holding the pole ducked to not get entangled. It was nice, and apparently is one of the highlights of the annual fair.

The celebrations yesterday were supposed to be highlighted by a skydiving team jumping into the stadium, but a squall kind of buggered up their target landings. Oh well. The fireworks later that night didn't suffer at all!

I ended up doing the Independence Day Moonlight hash. I pulled out my red shorts and Grenada flag shirt and got wet with sweat and rain. It was fun, but one part of it had us go up about 200+ stairs, straight up. Somebody has a sick sense of humour!