Heavenly pursuits

Today is All Saints Day across the Caribbean and Latin American. Grenada is a very religious country where meetings start with prayers and the phrase "(should it) please God" is heard everywhere. We were already planning a trip to the cemeteries but had not expected to be visiting the oldest Anglican church in Grenada.

We look across at this church every morning but had not realized that it had been destroyed by hurricane Ivan. When we look at it there appears to be a roof because another building is in front of it. When I arrived the caretaker was just opening it up. Even though it has no roof they open it everyday for the faithful to come and pray. Services are held in the small chapel still (weather permitting) and Sunday service is down the street.

It was such a beautiful space. That fact that it just refused to go down made it almost more beautiful. The stained glass of Jesus at the alter is really remarkable, first that it is has not been destroyed or vandalized. You could feel the majesty that the building must have had, envisioned weddings and concerts. It must have been a terrible loss to lose not only this church but the Presbyterian church as well.

Of course the boys favourite part had nothing to do with the church but rather what was behind it.

Two adorable puppies, even I wanted to cuddle.  (See  below for more photos.)

This evening we went to the cemeteries at Cemetery Hill and Grand Anse to see All Souls Night. Loved ones go and place candles on the graves of loved ones. Cemetery Hill is a huge cemetery on a huge hill (they have a gift for naming things here- you'll never guess the name of the road to the golf course). The richer you are the higher up the hill you are buried. The crypts are ten feet long and some are massive. Some just had a few candles and others candles encircled the whole tomb.

One interesting grave was the former prime ministers. Matthew Gairy was deposed by Maurice Bishop in a non-violent coup in 1979. Then in 1983 Gairy's supporters, rounded up the now President Bishop and subjected he and his entire cabinet to a firing squad. What we found interesting was that while it was at the top and along a road to get in, there was not one candle of remembrance. (Maurice Bishop's body has never been recovered)

From here we moved on to Grand Anse Beach cemetery. This cemetery often has funerals with lots of people, music and just has a much more vibrant feel. True to the way it is in the day there was music and drinks flowing and about four times the number of people. (Lots of pictures below).

We finished with a walk along Grand Anse Beach, with the moon and stars shining down on us.

A great way to say goodbye to October and start November.