We’ve been traveling for nearly five years, and until now, none of our family members have visited us overseas due to various misconceptions and uncertainties. I’m thrilled to share that my dad and his wife decided to come to Grenada! They returned to Canada on September 1st after spending an incredible two weeks relaxing and exploring. Traveling to the Caribbean isn’t easy or cheap, so we were really happy they made the effort to visit.
We always get excited about planning trips and trying new things, whether it’s moving to a new place or starting a new career. We love unique places, people, and experiences. However, when we share our travel plans with friends and family back in North America, we often hear doubtful remarks like, “Why would you want to go there? It’s so crowded,” or “Isn’t it dirty?” or “It’s too dangerous.” We’ve always believed that if our family visited us abroad, they would see why we love traveling so much.
Living in Grenada for the past five months has been amazing, and we couldn’t wait to show our family around and introduce them to Spare Dog. Since it was our first time having family visit, we were a bit anxious and excited. They were visiting during hurricane season, so I was constantly checking the weather and stressing over details. We also wondered whether spending two weeks together would be too long and if we might get on each other’s nerves.
To ensure the visit went smoothly, we listed our favorite beaches, hikes, restaurants, activities, sights, and must-try meals on a whiteboard, so they could choose what they wanted to do. All my worries disappeared as soon as we met them at the airport, and I knew it was going to be a fantastic visit. They loved the cottage next to ours and the beautiful property.
The visit was a perfect mix of relaxation and adventure. We hiked to various bays, visited waterfalls, swam in the sea, watched crab races, listened to a local steel band, enjoyed cocktails at sunset, toured the island, learned about chocolate making, visited a rum factory, sailed and snorkeled, explored the capital city, ate roadside chicken and ice cream, and relaxed at beach bars and at home with beers and BBQ.
I enjoyed sharing my life with my dad. Since he turned 60 and I turned 30 this year, this trip also served as a belated birthday celebration. Spending time together in the Caribbean created many more cherished memories than we would have had at home in Canada. I’m pleased to say we all got along well, and the weather was fantastic!
This trip was a wonderful experience, and I hope it marks the beginning of more family visits, whether they come to see us or we join them on their travels.