2 hrs, 2 kms

One thing I've noticed is that people seem a tad less friendly on this side of the island . On the west side, I greet everyone I pass and almost everyone greeted back. On this side, some of the young guys give me a sullen stare. I wonder if it's because on the west side they have more exposure to tourists. Perhaps there is some simmering anger towards the "haves" as I'm probably perceived to be. I wonder what will happen in the future if these young folks continue to feel they are in a dead end trap with no real prospects for a better future. Who will they take their anger out on?

Suddenly I see someone call me over. He's an older fellow with a scraggly beard and rasta dreds. He seems to be sincere in asking me to come over and play some music, so I accept. He then goes inside the house and brings out a guitar of his own.

We take turns playing, then we try jamming together as we each share our original songs. His songs are softer, gentler songs with a spiritual bent.

"I'm a Rastafarian" he tells me . Great! I think. I was hoping to have a meaningful conversation with a Rastafarian.

"So are Rastafarians well accepted here in Grenada?" I ask

"It's been hard on us since the Revolution. Many Rastafarians were on the side of the socialists, so this government doesn't like us very much. Most folks here are Christian, but they treat us OK"

I've notice here and in Grenada and in Trinidad that a lot of men have the massive dreds and scraggly beards typical of Rastafarians--although I'm told that it's more of a fashion statement, few actually practice the faith.

He doesn't seem too eager to talk much about his faith so we talk about family. He has 10 children and has a large garden and orchard (he shares a couple of oranges with me). He points to the house next door. This house is my mothers, I built that one for me. I put in a concrete roof instead of metal."

"Do you like it better? I wondered why people don't use concrete roofs here, since there's danger of hurricanes"

"The concrete roof makes the house a lot hotter than the metal roof does" he explains.

His son joins us and takes a turn at the guitar. There's something inspiring about this simple, hard working family... growing their own food... building their own houses... practicing a faith outside of the mainstream. But I still have to wonder... with 10 kids--what kind of future does this country offer them?