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Grenada

Grenada (pronounced grih-NAY-duh) is a group of three larger islands (Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique) and several tiny islands in the Caribbean, or West Indies. It lies just north of Trinidad and Tobago, and southwest of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It's known as the "Spice Isle", being a major source of nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cinnamon, vanilla and cocoa. In 2022 the population was 125,000, heavily concentrated in the southwest of Grenada main island.

Islands

 * Ronde is the largest of the string of islets between Carriacou and main island.
 * Kick 'em Jenny is an active undersea volcano 5 miles west of Ronde.

History
The Caribbean Plate is a tectonic structure stretching 2000 km east from the Pacific coast of Central America. For the last 80 million years it's been shifting east at 10 mm a year, compressing the Atlantic ocean floor beneath it, and this has thrown up an arc of volcanic islands along the boundary. Grenada arose maybe two million years ago, and volcanic activity continued on the main island until 12,000 years ago, blasting out the craters (now flooded) of St George's carenage, Grand Etang, Levera and St Antoine. Mount St Catherine the highest mountain is dormant but by no means extinct, with geothermal hot springs, and the wonderfully-named "Kick 'em Jenny" is an active underwater volcano ten miles north of main island.

The legacy of this is rugged terrain with mountains that draw clouds and rain, reasonably fertile volcanic soil, a great natural harbour, and lush scenery. Land animals were from time to time able to migrate here, and humans could island-hop along the chain from South America by canoe. The standard story is that the first settlers were Arawaks, then in the centuries before European contact they were attacked and subjugated by Caribs. But this doesn't square with the linguistic, genetic and cultural record, and the Spanish used "Arawak" to mean indigenous people friendly to them, while "Caribs" were hostile and therefore to be demonised and slaughtered.

The first European to sight Grenada was Christopher Columbus in 1498. He didn't land, but named it Concepción, which didn't catch on. The Andalusian city of Granada symbolised the ascendancy of Spain after its recapture from the Moors in 1492, and "La Granada" was how the island became shown on maps. However for the next 150 years its inhabitants repelled colonisation, until in 1649 the French got a grip, fortified the harbour and subdued the island. Legend holds that in 1652 the last of the Caribs leapt to their deaths from the cliffs, at the north point now called Sauteurs. The island was then a private possession, a piece of real estate to be traded, until 1674 when it was constituted as a French colony governed from Martinique. Grenada was profitable for its indigo, cotton and sugar, with a large African slave population imported to harvest these. In British eyes, it was far too good to be wasted on the French, and the power of their Royal Navy was growing.

Grenada like other Caribbean islands was then a pawn in wider conflicts. It was captured by the British during the Seven Years' War (1756–63), but during the American Revolutionary War, France joined the United States against Britain and recaptured Grenada in 1779. They hurriedly built forts against counter-attack, only to see these handed over when Grenada was re-assigned to Britain by the treaty of 1783. France then became roiled by revolution, and could never again exert colonial power in this section of the Caribbean. Its rhetoric was echoed by Julien Fédon, a mixed-race landowner who in 1795 launched a rebellion that lasted 15 months until crushed; his fate is unknown.

Grenada was a colony of Britain for almost the next 200 years, along with other islands in the loose entity known as the British Windward Islands Administration. Slavery was abolished in the 19th century, but the island remained under the thumb of (and governed for the benefit of) the colonists, with only token Grenadian electoral power and representation even after reforms in the 1920s. Universal adult suffrage came in 1951, when Eric Matthew Gairy and his Grenada United Labour Party swept to power. A "wind of change" gathered strength throughout the Empire, and Britain's response was to form a Federation of the West Indies with considerable home autonomy but with defence and other functions retained by the UK. The Federation proved quarrelsome and short-lived, and full independence came on 7 Feb 1974 with Gairy as the first prime minister.

Gairy's re-election in 1976 was considered by many to be fraudulent, and there was growing agitation and paramilitary activity by the "New Jewel Movement". This was led by a lawyer called Maurice Bishop, and proclaimed itself Marxist-Leninist. It seized power in a coup d'état in 1979 and sought assistance from Cuba, whose workers began building the present airport at Point Salines, which the US squealed might be used as a launchpad against America. The flashpoint was in 1983 when Bishop was overthrown by a hardline faction of his own party, and he and his colleagues were shot by firing squad. All this played into US President Ronald Reagan's worst nightmares of what a communist regime might do, he badly needed a quick win after the attack on the Marines base in Beirut, and he launched "Operation Urgent Fury". The invasion force of some 7600 soon routed the hardliners and Cubans, and next year a general election re-established democratic government.

The bonus was that Grenada acquired its modern airport, just in time to take advantage of larger aircraft bringing the island within range of middle-income tourists across Europe and North America. Grand Anse beach burgeoned into a hotel strip. The major set-back came in 2004: Grenada hadn't suffered a hurricane for 50 years then was devastated by "Ivan", then again by "Emily" in 2005. By then the global financial crisis was afflicting public and private finance, impeding re-construction, and there are still many gap sites and shells of wrecked buildings today.

Climate

Grenada has a tropical, hot and humid climate that doesn't vary much year-round. Temperatures are always close to 27°C / 80°F, and the humidity is tempered by the refreshing trade winds. January to April are slightly drier and cooler, there's not much in it, and even during the rainy season it seldom rains for more than an hour at a time. The last hurricane was Emily in 2005.

Geography
Grenada is the southernmost island nation of the north-south direction of the Lesser Antilles arc. A total of 344 sq kms, Grenada includes three key islands including its main island. Offshore are a variety of ecosystems within the country's three MPAs.

Culture
Grenada has the same problems of unemployment and economic downturn as other Caribbean nations yet the visitor is struck by how they shine above it. To a remarkable degree, they are law-abiding, courteous and with a strong work ethic. Away from the beach they dress conservatively; traders may solicit but rarely hustle. You'll be alright in town in shorts, shirt and trainers, but won't get served in beachwear.

Feb 7 is Independence Day, a public holiday with parades and ceremonies. As this is close to the usual date of Mardi Gras, the latter is not a big thing on Grenada.

Visitor information
Pure Grenada (+1 473 440 2001) is the tourist agency.

For local news read NOW Grenada, The New Today, Grenada Informer, Grenadian Voice and The Barnacle.

Talk
Standard British English is the official language and universally understood. Between themselves, locals speak an English dialect which is rapid and hard to understand, mainly because outsiders aren't meant to — anyone in a public-facing role won't use it. Even in standard English however, the diction is often low and flat, almost a self-effacing mumble, which will take you a while to tune into. French persists only in place names and Creole has practically died out.

Entry requirements
You need a passport valid for at least six months and a return or onward ticket. As of 2019, and still applicable in Jan 2023, visas are not required from citizens of the USA, Canada, United Kingdom and its dependencies, British Commonwealth countries, Caribbean countries, Venezuela, Brazil, European Union countries and their dependencies, Norway, Japan, South Korea, India, Israel, China, Hong Kong, Macau and Russia.

Duty-free allowances: Personal items, one quart in total wines and spirits, half-pound tobacco or 50 cigars or 200 cigarettes. No restrictions on the amount of money that can be brought in. Restricted items are fruits, vegetables, meat, soil, illegal drugs, firearms and ammunition.

By plane
Maurice Bishop International Airport is on the southwest tip of the main island of Grenada, 8 km from the capital. It's the principal point of arrival in Grenada, with long haul flights from North America and Europe, and inter-island short hops. See Grenada (island) for connections, airport facilities and onward transport.

Lauriston Airport is a small airstrip on the island of Carriacou. As well as daily flights from Maurice Bishop, it has direct flights from Saint Vincent, with connections from Barbados and other islands. See Carriacou for practicalities.

By boat

 * Cruise ships dock in St George's, and October to May there are usually a couple in port - there's room for five. See Grenada (island) for practicalities.
 * Carriacou has no dock for large ships, but these sometimes park offshore and bring passengers in by tender.
 * Osprey foot-passenger ferries ply between the islands of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
 * There is a small passenger ferry connecting Carriacou and Union Island on Mondays and Fridays.
 * Private vessels must clear immigration and customs at St George's or Prickly Bay on Grenada island, or at Hillsborough on Carriacou. Petite Martinique has no "Port of Entry".

Get around
Minibuses are the staple public transport, see Grenada (island). Eight routes fan out from St George's bus terminal next to the cruiser dock, very frequently along Route 1 to Grand Anse and Calliste. Route 9 crosses the top of the island between Grenville and Sauteurs. On Carriacou they radiate from Hillsborough and on tiny Petite Martinique you just walk.

A water taxi plies between St George's cruiser dock and Grand Anse beach.

Taxis carry an "H" on their licence plates. There are ranks at the bus terminal and airport, else just flag them on the street. Hiring a cab for the day is for most visitors a much better way to tour the island than self-drive, as the drivers know the poorly-signposted turn-offs, and the worst of the potholes, police traps and landslips.

Car rentals are available from a few international companies - the advantage of these is that they can issue a temporary Grenada driving permit on the spot, so you can drive straight off. There are also some two dozen local operators, but you may need to factor in a two-hour visit to the local police station to have your permit issued.

Cycling is not much fun on the busy narrow roads of the main island, with frequent gradients, humid tropical weather, and the stiff Atlantic breeze somehow always against you. It's less daunting on the quieter, smaller island of Carriacou.

See

 * St. George's is an interesting old town, with the natural harbour of the carenage, Fort George on the knoll above it, and the historic Church Street district. But many buildings are dilapidated or still wrecked from the 2004 hurricane. The inland streets are steep so consider taking the little "tourist train".
 * Beaches: Grand Anse is the one in all the tourist brochures, a classic sweep of palm-fringed sand. But it's narrow, having suffered erosion, and waves may break right over it. All the water sports facilities are based here. Beyond the headland west are the much quieter BBC or Morne Rouge Beach, then Paradise Bay towards Sandals resort. Small sandy coves are found right round the island though the coast is mostly rugged, and the east is exposed to the Atlantic. Black beaches are made of volcanic sand, for instance Black Bay near Concord on the west coast.
 * Grand Etang is a crater lake and nature reserve mid-island, with Mona monkeys, birdlife and tropical flowers. Mount Qua Qua stands above it. Waterfalls tumble down the slopes: best known are Annandale west side, and Seven Sisters and Honeymoon Falls east side. Other crater lakes and parks are at Antoine to the northeast and Levera to the north.
 * Plantations: see below for rum distilleries. Spice plantations include Dougladston Estate and Gouyave Nutmeg Factory both near Gouyave, and Belmont to the north processes cocoa beans for chocolate. Carriacou has several atmospheric ruins.
 * Tibeau on the east coast of Carriacou has a macabre beach where an old cemetery is being washed away by the sea.

Do

 * "Idleness being a Vice contrary to the Spirit Of the Government, the Energy of the Government, being to watch over the happiness Of the Social Contract, It is therefore the Duty Of the Government to work at extirpating this odious Vice of Idleness."
 * - Revolutionary Ordinance of 1795

 * Scuba diving and snorkelling are on the reefs a mile or two west of Grenada island and Carriacou. Dive shacks are concentrated in Grand Anse and offer training, with the dive sites just a 5-10 minute boat ride away. The shallower reefs have soft coral within snorkelling depth and the usual cast of Caribbean critters. There's usually a current so dives are drifts. The signature dive is Bianca C, a 600-ft cruise ship which caught fire and sank in 1961, now lying in 90-160 ft depth.
 * Surfing: not on the sheltered west coast. Prickly Bay south of Grande Anse often has surfable waves, as do the exposed Atlantic beaches facing northeast.
 * Cricket: the National Stadium in St George's hosts the national team and often the combined West Indies team for "Test matches" - internationals. The domestic playing season is the drier months of Dec-May. Soccer and athletics are staged at the adjacent Kirani James stadium. NFL (American football) is not regularly played, but Grenada is seeking to boost sports tourism, for example by re-starting their rugby sevens tournament in 2022.
 * Hashing: running trails are set up at varied spots around the main island, usually on Saturday afternoon. Enjoy the brutal slopes, muddy footing and scratchy bush, then undo the damage with copious draughts of rum.
 * Sailing. Day sail charters are available from various companies; dingy tours are also possible by renting your own dingy.
 * Get married: you need your passport, birth certificate, evidence of single status, and a stay in Grenada of at least three working days. Specialist overseas wedding companies can arrange the whole show. But this isn't Reno, it's not a quickie-divorce centre, so if you have to dissolve an existing marriage to be free to re-marry, you should do so before arrival and have the documents to prove it. And yes, it will help a lot if one of you is male and the other female, as homosexual acts are still prohibited here.
 * Christmas: Celebrated as an ample public holiday by many Grenadians. One of its traditions includes a colorful masquerade performance and street parties that typify the festive season. The spirit of Christmas in Grenada makes it a perfect place to relax on the beach during Christmas Day.

Learn
St George's University, opened in 1977, is a private university with courses in medicine, veterinary medicine and other arts and sciences. As well as their undergrad and postgrad programmes they offer summer schools and short courses. Many US students study here and in 1983 their wellbeing was one of the reasons for the US invasion. The main campus is on Grand Anse beach, with another just east of the airport.

University of West Indies don't have a physical base on Grenada but their Open Campus supports distance learning.

Money
The East Caribbean dollar, denoted as $ or EC$ (ISO currency code XCD), is the currency of Grenada and seven other Caribbean countries: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The EC dollar is subdivided into 100 cents. Banknotes circulate in denominations of 10, 20, 50, and 100 dollars, and coins of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 25 cents and 1 dollar.

The EC dollar is pegged to the United States dollar at a fixed exchange rate of US$1 = EC$2.70. US dollar bills are universally accepted on Grenada but not coins; they might give change in EC cents or just round up the tab.

It is difficult to exchange EC$ outside the Caribbean and there is no exchange at the airport. So unless you're arriving from another EC$ country (which Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago are not) then bring enough US$ to last until you can reach a bank, bearing in mind that small businesses such as taxi drivers seldom take cards. And don't be left with any EC$ when you leave.

There are several banks in St George's and Grand Anse, with exchange desks open M-F 8AM-2PM.

Shopping

 * Foodstuffs and spices: check your home country's customs regulations before buying foodstuffs - many imports are prohibited.
 * Spices are the main draw and are usually okay for import if fully-sealed. Nutmeg and vanilla are the chief offering, others are mace, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and turmeric.
 * Chocolate is high standard, if you can keep it cool until your return.
 * Rum, but beware the strength - an "export-strength" product may count as two bottles within your personal allowance.

 * Supermarkets in St George's and Grand Anse may undercut the "duty-free" offerings in the tourist-trappy mall by the cruiser terminal.

Eat

 * Fish and chicken are the staple offerings, well-seasoned with island spices.
 * Grand Anse hotels have the best dining and mostly cater to non-residents.
 * St George's is geared to quick lunches for people with business in town, and they close early.

Drink

 * Water is always a good choice in the tropical heat. Tap water is safe and pleasant to drink, as it runs off the rain-lashed mountains and only needs to be lightly treated. Restaurants serve it on request without sulking. Bottled water is also available.
 * Rum is made at three distilleries on the main island, Clarke's Court and Westerhall to the south and River Antoine north, and tours are available. The other islands have no distilleries but cheerfully assist in consuming the main island's products. Beware very high strength rum served in local bars.
 * Breweries: there are two near Grande Anse.

Sleep

 * Grenada island accommodation is concentrated in Grand Anse near the airport. Rooms are expensive, but long-distance fly + stay packages cost little more. There's very little in the capital St George's.
 * Carriacou has small mid-range places, mostly in Hillsborough with a few southwest in Tyrell Bay.
 * Petite Martinique accommodation in 2023 has yet to re-open after Covid.

Stay safe
Grenada is a safe country and enjoys the lowest crime rate in the Caribbean region. Please keep it that way by safeguarding valuables and not flashing bling.

Beware of the sun. Grenada is only 12 degrees north of the equator and you can burn quickly even if it's cloudy and the breeze is keeping you cool. Seek the shade, use a parasol, wear a wide-brimmed hat and long clothing and slap on high-factor sun-block. Minimise outdoor activity from noon to 3 pm when there's maximum UV and heat.

Allow for the high humidity: it can top 90%, and anything above 60% is unpleasant. Drink plenty of water (the tap water is safe), though on humid days your sweat cannot evaporate quickly to keep your body cool.

Mosquitoes are more of a nuisance than a danger: it's rare for them to carry serious diseases such as malaria. You don't need anti-malarials, just standard anti-mozzy precautions - they get busy after sundown, so spray on a repellent before heading out for al fresco dining. Dengue Fever, Zika and Chikungunya Virus are likewise rare.

Your accommodation will know of local primary care doctors available to make house calls. There's a hospital in St George's, a smaller one at Mirabeau to the east and another on Carriacou. All treatment must be paid for, and anything serious might mean an airlift to the US mainland, so you must have adequate health insurance.

Connect
Almost everywhere on the three islands has 4G from Flow and Digicel, with only a few dead spots in the mountains. As of Jan 2023, 5G has not rolled out in Grenada.

Go next

 * By cruiser, you'll go wherever your itinerary is next heading, and by air you could soon be anywhere.
 * Saint Vincent is the nearest onward destination. It could be described as "unspoilt", meaning it has few visitor facilities.
 * Good choices for a future trip to this region are Barbados, Saint Lucia and Tobago.

title: Grenada


text:
Grenada (island)

Grenada is the main island of the Caribbean nation also called Grenada. With a population of 117,700 in 2019, it has the capital, the tourist strip and the main airport, all in the southwest corner. It measures some 30 miles north-south by 15 miles east-west, which feels like much longer as you traverse the narrow twisting roads, and has a lush tropical climate.

Towns

 * is the national capital.
 * is the tourist area.
 * (pronounced "Gwav") is the main town of St John parish.
 * is the main town of St Mark parish.
 * is the main town of St Patrick parish.
 * is the main town of St Andrew parish, in the principal fruit, veg and spice-growing area.
 * is the main settlement, you couldn't call it a town, in St David parish.

Understand
This is the one they fought over. There was conflict all along the chain of islands as Europeans came into contact with aboriginal Carib or Arawak people, exterminated them, then fought other European nations for control. Grenada main island had the best land hereabouts for lucrative plantations, and a great natural harbour in a flooded volcanic crater. Britain eventually bested France to build an empire; both nations imported many thousands of African slaves, the ancestors of today's population.

The harbour and town of St George's became the centre of island life through 300 colonial years into independence. Modern tourism was hampered by the tiny airfield on the east coast, but from 1984 the new airport on the southwest tip of Point Salines could receive wide-bodied transatlantic jets. Hotels mushroomed along the Grand Anse beach strip, and while Grenada is by no means a budget destination, air fares and hotel prices are affordable by a mass market. Its port is also busy with cruise liners, whose passengers day-trip here then sail onwards by evening.

By boat

 * Cruise ships dock in St George's: the schedule is posted online. During the European and North American winter there are usually a couple of ships in port, arriving in the morning and sailing on in the evening; the terminal can accommodate five.
 * Ferry: Osprey Lines (+1 473 440-8126) foot passenger ferry connects the three inhabited islands. As of Jan 2023, they sail between St George's and Carriacou twice M W F, for a single fare of EC$ 80 adult, EC$ 50 child, cash only; bicycles may be carried. A day-trip either way is easily possible. On a straight run it's 90 min, but some are triangular sailings via Petite Martinique.
 * There is one sailing M-F from Carriacou to Petite Martinique, a continuation of the morning ferry from St George's and taking 30 min. There are two return sailings, with the afternoon ferry continuing to St George's. A day-trip only gives you two hours, enough for essential island business but not conducive to relaxed sightseeing.
 * A freight and passenger ship also sails three days a week, taking 2 hr 30 min from Carriacou.
 * The ferry from St Vincent is discontinued. There is occasional talk of restarting it, but enquiries at the Osprey office are met with up-rolled eyes and eloquent shrugs.

 * Private vessels entering Grenada must first obtain immigration and customs clearance, either at Grenada Yacht Club in St George's, Prickly Bay Marina south end of the island, or Tyrell Bay on Carriacou. Anchorages and mooring fields at the south end of the island include True Blue Bay, Prickly Bay, Clark's Court Bay and Mount Hartman Bay.
 * Charters of various sizes and crews can be found by enquiring at hotels or the carenage in St George's.

Get around

Minibuses in Grenada are the staple means of transport. They hold 15-19 people, and have route numbers and signs on their windscreens. Weekdays they run 7AM-7PM. In town there are designated bus stops, further out you can hail them or get off anywhere - ask the conductor if you're unsure of your stop. Fares are in proportion to distance, and the loud music and breeze through the windows come free. Routes fan out from St George's bus terminal to:
 * Zone 1 southwest to Grand Anse and Calliste, a mile short of the airport.
 * Zone 2 south (with Zone 3 part-route) to Woburn and Calivigny then along the south coast to St David.
 * Zone 4: east direct to St David, and north (Zone 8 part-route) up to the coast to Gouyave and Victoria. Zone 5 also runs north to Gouyave, Victoria and Sauteurs.
 * Zone 6: northeast (with Zone 7 part-route) to Grand Etang and Grenville.
 * Zone 9 is the exception, this is between Grenville and Sauteurs and doesn't visit St George's.

A water taxi plies from the wharf near the cruise terminal to Grand Anse beach - buy from the kiosk (US$5 pp) and they issue a wristband to show on your return. The ride is 5 minutes, quicker than a taxi. The problem is that either too many tourists are queuing for it, if several cruisers are in port, or not enough, and you wait in the rain for it to fill and set off. It's not sailing in early 2023.

A "tourist train" potters around the main sights of St George's. The town is walkable but some streets are steep.

Car rental
Renting a car is unnecessary for most visitors. For a trip around the island (especially involving a rum distillery), you're better hiring a taxi for the day, as the driver knows the poorly-signposted turn-offs and worst potholes. The fellow who drives you in from the airport will emphasise this and press his business card upon you. Or he may call his brother Sam, who will appear at your hotel next morning with a winning smile and proposals for a grand expedition. Reckon to pay US$ 35 per hour.

You don't need an International Driving Permit if your licence is in English, but you do need a temporary Grenada license, valid for three months and costing EC$60 in 2023. The rental company issues this on the spot - you no longer have to traipse down to the local police station to have tedious documents stamped to bits.

Drive on the left but be aware that many vehicles are US imports, right-hand drive. Driving is mellow, and drivers often pull over to let faster traffic pass. Use the horn when taking the numerous blind corners, and listen closely for others - the Grenada style is a demure "bip-bip, sorry to disturb you" not the raucous blare of more extrovert islands.

International rental companies in Grenada are Hertz and Alamo. Avis and Dollar have a nominal presence but in 2023 are dormant.

Local operators are concentrated around St George's / Grand Anse, but you should be able to arrange pick up / drop off anywhere. There are about 20, which include Sanvics (+1 473 444 4753), Reggie's (+1 473 440 6374), Azar's (+1 473 439 2911), R&D (+1 473 410 5020), JP Automotive (+1 473 421 2727), Five Star (+1 473 404 8366), Dreemz (+1 473 458 1747), J&B (+1 473 405 4889), McKay (+1 473 458 7433), A1 (+1 473 417 1035), Drive Grenada (+1 473 421 3333), Grencar (+1 473 537 3222), Archie (+1 473 444 2535) and Y&R (+1 473 444 4448).

See

 * Forts occupy the heights: Fort George stands on the knoll above St George's carenage, with Frederick and Matthew further up the ridge. But they're all dilapidated and you mostly come for the view.
 * Old towns are atmospheric but still with many wrecked buildings from the 2004 hurricane. St George's historic centre is a block or two inland from the ferry and bus terminals. Grenville is worth an extended stroll.
 * Beaches: Grand Anse is the one in all the tourist brochures, a classic sweep of palm-fringed sand. But it's narrow, having suffered erosion, and waves may break right over it. All the water sports facilities are based here. The strip by the spice and craft market can feel crowded and touristy. Beyond the headland west are the much quieter BBC or Morne Rouge Beach, then Paradise Bay towards Sandals resort. Small sandy coves are found right round the island though the coast is mostly rugged, and the east is exposed to the Atlantic. Black beaches are a curiosity, made of volcanic sand, for instance Black Bay on the west coast.
 * Natural world: the highland spine of Grenada draws clouds from the Atlantic and is a rain forest, with Mona monkeys and birdlife. Grand Etang is a crater lake and nature reserve mid-island (described as part of St George's, though it's just over the parish boundary into St Andrew), with Mount Qua Qua above it. Waterfalls tumble down the slopes: best known are Annandale west side, Seven Sisters and Honeymoon Falls east side, and Concord north of town. They're cascades rather than clear drops and of no great height, but in pleasant bosky gullies. Other crater lakes and parks are at Antoine to the northeast and Levera to the north.
 * Plantations: see below for rum distilleries. Spice plantations include Dougladston Estate and Gouyave Nutmeg Factory both near Gouyave, and Belmont to the north processes cocoa beans for chocolate.

Do

 * Diving: the dive shacks are all along Grand Anse beach. A short boat ride brings you to sandy areas suitable for novice training, and soft coral reefs for inexperienced and rusty qualified divers. Deeper wrecks lie further out, with the best known being the liner Bianca C. There's usually a current, so dives are drifts with the boat following the leader's surface marker buoy.
 * Hiking: Mount Qua Qua is above Grand Etang Nature Reserve, and Mount Saint Catherine (840 m / 2756 ft) is ten miles further north.
 * Golf: there's a nine-hole course above Grand Anse.
 * Cricket: internationals and other big matches are played at the National Stadium in St George's.
 * Hash Runs are held most Saturdays in various locations around the island. They take a couple of hours and end with a fry-up at a rum bar.

Buy

 * US dollar bills are universally accepted, but shops may jib at coins. Banks in Grand Anse and St George's have exchange counters open M-F 8AM-2PM.
 * Spiceland Mall and IGA supermarket are side-by-side in Grand Anse.
 * Esplanade Mall by the cruise terminal in St George's is tourist-trappy.
 * Don't buy coral artefacts, and chew off anyone you see selling or buying them. Your home country customs may confiscate them.

Eat

 * Grand Anse has the best dining, and most hotels cater to non-residents. The independent cafes and restaurants tend to close early.
 * St George's has a limited selection, offering simple snacks and lunches for those with business in town.
 * Outlying hotels such as La Sagesse to the south and Petite Anse to the north need reservations for non-residents, as they only lay in ingredients if they know they have customers.
 * Fish Friday is held in Gouyave, with streets closed to traffic for a fry-up and street fair. It used to be every Friday from 6PM but has been spasmodic since Covid, check before setting out.

Drink

 * Rum is obviously the thing here. Distilleries include Clark's Court and Westerhall near Grand Anse, and River Antoine north towards Sauteurs. Blue Light near Grand Anse make gin. See the relevant town pages for tours and other details.
 * Breweries are Carib near the airport, and West Indies Beer Company in Lance Aux Epines, see Grand Anse for both.

Sleep

 * Grand Anse is the main accommodation area. It's expensive!
 * St. George's has surprisingly little, considering it's the capital. You might do better to base in Grand Anse, only a ten minute taxi ride.

Stay safe

 * Grenada has very low crime rates.
 * There's a hospital in St George's, and a smaller hospital at Mirabeau to the east. But anything serious could mean an airlift to the US mainland, so you need adequate health insurance.
 * Water is chlorinated and safe.

Go next

 * Ferries ply to the other islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
 * Anywhere else will involve flying. Ferries no longer sail to the other island nations, except from Carriacou to Union Island as of 2024, though with your own boat you can easily continue along the island chain.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Grenada (island)


text:
Grenadines

The Grenadines are the dozen or so small islands (and countless islets) to the south of the larger island of Saint Vincent in the aptly named Caribbean nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The southernmost Grenadine islands (not covered here) are part of the nation of Grenada.

Islands
Major islands, roughly north to south:
 * Bequia
 * Mustique
 * Canouan
 * Mayreau
 * Tobago Cays
 * Union Island
 * Palm Island
 * Petit Saint Vincent

Get in
The easiest way to get to the Grenadines by air is through international flights from Barbados, Martinique or St. Lucia.

Get around

 * Tour the Grenadine Islands on a local Caribbean Schooner, The Friendship Rose classic - Tours include the Tobago Cays Marine Park and the island of Mustique

See

 * A must see is the Tobago Cays Marine Park, an area of stunning natural beauty, with crystal clear turquoise waters. Swim with turtles or relax on an uninhabited island.

title: Grenadines


text:
Grenfell

Grenfell is a town of 1,996 in the Central West region of New South Wales.

Understand
The town was built as a service town during the gold rush in the 1800s.

It was the birthplace of Henry Lawson, who was a prolific and famous Australian poet. However, he left while still a baby, and never wrote much about the town. The single poem, "Said Grenfell to my spirit", is never-the-less quaint. You'll have no shortage of places to read the entire poem when you get there, especially during the Henry Lawson Festival, when you'll hear it recited.

Get in
The NSW Trainlink coach has daily connections with the Sydney train at Bathurst.

By car along the mid-western highway, past Cowra.

Events

 * Henry Lawson Festival. Held annually on the June long weekend, featuring the Guinea Pig Races.

Go next

 * See the gardens and museums of Cowra.

title: Grenfell


text:
Grenoble

Grenoble is a city of around 158,000 inhabitants in 2017 (550,000 taking into account the metropolitan area) in the French Alps.

The climate is quite cold in winter, with days of snow almost every year. Summers are known to be hot, as mountains surrounding the town stop any wind. Grenoble is crossed by two rivers, the Drac and the Isère ("the lion and the serpent"), and is surrounded by three mountain chains, the Vercors, Chartreuse and Belledonne.

The city is renowned for its universities on the campus, for its scientific research centres in the northeast of the city, including Minatec for nanotechnologies, CEA the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, a French National Centre for Scientific Research agency, the European Synchrotron for high-brilliance source of X-rays, the Institut Laue-Langevin for the most powerful source of neutron in the world, the EMBL the Europe's flagship laboratory for the life sciences, and for its industrial centre in the western suburbs: Meylan, Montbonnot and Crolles including high-tech companies such as STmicroelectronics and Motorola. Therefore, it hosts a relatively large population of foreign scientists and students.

By plane
There are three airports near Grenoble:

Easyjet and Ryanair and Norwegian Airlines offer flights.

It's about 40 km from Grenoble, or about 35 minutes by coach for €12.50 one way/€22 return, although only run a few times a day. Ben's Bus run shared ski transfer buses from Grenoble Airport to surrounding ski resorts, including Alpe d'Huez, Les 2 Alpes and Chamrousse

 * Lyon Airport, also known as Saint Exupéry formerly Satolas, is farther away, about 100 km (1 hr by bus, car or train). Buses  go hourly to Grenoble for €22 one-way, or €33 return (valid for 2 months) ticket. TGV trains  from Lyon airport to Grenoble run several times per day.
 * Geneva Airport, 157 km from Grenoble, is a usual destination of many flight companies, and can be cheaper than Lyon airport. Grenoble can be reached by car in less than 2 hours. By train (several times daily) it takes about 2 hours; the price is €23.60 full price. There are also direct buses from Geneva airport to Grenoble railway station that take about 3 hours for less than 40 € one-way (see timetable). Geneva, as a Swiss city, uses Swiss francs; nearly all retail outlets in Geneva accept euros but change is given in Swiss francs. Geneva Airport has a "French part" that does not require to enter into Swiss territory if you come from France and your destination flight is to France, though this only matters for customs as France and Switzerland are under the same immigration scheme.
 * Grenoble also has a little landing-strip (900 m) in the village of Le Versoud (15 km away):

By car
Follow the highways from:
 * A41, Geneva (via Chambéry)
 * A48, Lyon and Paris
 * A49, Valence and Marseille
 * A51, Aix-en-Provence

Grenoble can be difficult to navigate by car, but once you get there the "Park and Ride" (parking relais) system operated by Tag-parking is a good way of getting around. (see trams and buses)

By train
Several high speed trains (TGV) from SNCF  link Paris to Grenoble directly every day, for a three-hours trip of 640 km. Full price is about €70 for a one-way ticket. Young people and students will be entitled to a découverte discount which can reduce ticket prices by 25%. Those staying for more than a few months and/or planning to travel by train a lot are advised to purchase a 12-25 card (€50) which gives 25 to 50% discounts.

Hourly trains link Lyon (Part-Dieu station) to Grenoble, from 05:30 to midnight (05:00 to 22:00 from Grenoble to Lyon). This takes around 1hr 15min to 1hr 30min with the TER (regional trains). Full price is €20.20. The train schedule sometimes includes TER buses. The price is the same, the duration is the same, they start at the same station and arrive at the same point.

TER trains also link the city to Geneva in Switzerland (2 hr), to southern Alps (Gap, Sisteron) and to Valence (1 hr) where you can change for the TGV to Southern-France.

By car
Avoid rush hour (07:00-09:00 and 17:00-18:00) on highways around the town as you are likely to lose time in traffic jams.

Car club
Alpes Autopartage runs a car club in Grenoble. For a minimum duration of 3 months, and a nominal monthly fee of €12-15, you can use any of their 21 cars for as short as 1 hr to as long as several days. Some cars with winter tires in season, ski racks, etc.

By taxi

 * Taxis of Grenoble: +33 4 76 54 42 54; Fax +33 4 76 51 55 66
 * Suburban Taxis: +33 4 76 54 17 18; Fax +33 4 76 54 45 75

By regional bus
Many regional buses can take you from the bus station (gare routiere, by the train station) to ski stations and several towns in the surrounding countryside. For example, Grenoble to Chamrousse (bus 6010) ski station costs €2.70. It is better to buy tickets in advance for access to ski stations in high season- if the bus is crowded, you get priority. Tickets are sold at the main bus station and at the tourist information office (French: Maison du tourisme) which is on tram lines A and B (stop: Hubert Dubedout - Maison du Tourisme).

Information on regional buses VFD/ (in French only, but finding buses' schedules is easy). Be aware that the winter schedule (saison neige) is not the same as for the rest of the year.

By tram or city bus
Five tram lines cross the town with services every few minutes (less frequent on Sundays or at night) and an extensive bus network operates within the city itself, the suburbs and villages further out. The bus network typically stops service at 20:00 or 24:00 for the 7 CHRONO bus lines, whereas most of the tram network runs until 01:00. Individual tickets cost around €1.60 at the tram station or €2.10 or on the bus, less if bought by 10 or 30. Daily (€5), weekly and monthly passes are available with discounts for students. Tickets are valid for one hour of travel across the TAG network (bus and tram). Tickets can be bought in the bus from the driver, and from machines on the platform for tramways, or at the Maison du Tourisme. You must stamp (composter) your ticket for it to be valid: this is done on the platform at the tram stop or on entering a bus. Ticket inspections are frequent, even during weekends.

Information can be found at TAG and maps at (in French).

Disabled travellers
The entire tram network and many bus routes have been adapted for wheelchair users. The flatness of the city means it is generally very accessible.

By bicycle
Despite its mountainous surroundings, Grenoble is one of the flattest cities in Europe, so cycling is an easy way of getting around. Pleasant recreational cycle routes follow the Drac and Isere rivers. An old bicycle track along the Isère river passes in front of the town centre, and the main boulevards have dedicated cycle lanes. Bicycles are allowed on some smaller streets, but riders often have to use the same lane as buses.

It is possible to rent bicycles for a day, a week or longer at the railway station and other MetroVelo offices- €3 a day and about €15/20 per month. For more information: métro-vélo. The service is extremely inefficient (20 min paperwork per person are required), so expect up to an hour to rent and to return a bike (which may be a problem if you shall take a train shortly after!).

However, the town is walkable and bicycle rides not essential if you are focusing around town area.

See
Grenoble has a reputation for being one of the ugliest cities in France, however this is mostly due to the suburbs located in the southern part of Grenoble, the Polygone in the north-west and the communes in the valleys surrounding Grenoble (particularly Echirolles and Saint-Martin-d'Hères), which were built during the time of the Winter Olympics in 1968 when Grenoble experienced very rapid urban expansion and whose architecture has not aged particularly well. Nonetheless the city centre remains as charming as any other French city, to say nothing about the mountains surrounding it. Even in the suburbs, some places still remain their charm where old isolated villages once stood, particularly the centre of Sassenage.

 * St. Roch Cemetery (French: Cimetière Saint-Roch) is the first municipal cemetery in the city of Grenoble, France. Blessed by the bishop of Grenoble Claude Simon on 19 August 1810. It is the largest cemetery in the city with 13 ha, (32 acres). It's on rue du Souvenir, alongside the Isère, in the district of Ile Verte. It is the only cemetery intramural city and has 25,000 graves (824 classified as remarkable) over an area 13 hectares. Political leaders, military or artististiques are buried in this cemetery. But the most important tombs are represented by manufacturers of gloves. Sculptors Victor Sappey, Henri Ding, Eustache Bernard, Aimé-Charles Irvoy, Urbain Basset are buried in this cemetery. Many mayors of the city since the French Revolution's are buried in this cemetery. Since Joseph-Marie de Barral, mayor in 1790, to Albert Michallon, mayor from 1959 to 1965. The painters Jules flandrin and Jean Achard are buried in St Roch. The most prestigious monument in Saint Roch cemetery is the chapel of Saint Roch, built in 1826 to replace the old chapel bearing the same name, built in the 15th century near a hospital for lepers.
 * Palace of the Parliament of dauphiné, the courthouse until 2002. (Place Saint Andre). A 15th-century building belonging to the Isère Council. An ongoing renovation project will give this building new lease of life whilst respecting its patrimonial character and adding a modern touch at the same time.
 * The Cathedral (place Notre-Dame, tramway B) was extensively restored in 2011. A free tourist guide gives a potted history of the building and some of its works of art (in French, with an English translation written by a native speaker).
 * Saint-Louis Church (place Victor Hugo, tramway A, B, buses 3, 13, 33, 34)
 * Musée Hébert opened in La Tronche in 1934 in the house of Ernest Hébert, a French painter also director of the French Academy in Rome.

 *  Musée Hydrelec in the massif of Oisans, about 45 km in south of Grenoble. Hydro generating station near a big dam (Grand'Maison).
 * For more ideas visit the tourism office of Grenoble.

Do

 * With three mountain ranges on the doorstep, Hiking and climbing are very popular. The place to start is the Maison de la Montagne (3, rue Raoul Blanchard), where you can browse maps and helpful staff (several English-speakers) can help you choose a route according to your level of fitness and the time you have on hand. For short walks around the city, ask for the "Carte des Sentiers Sipavag" (a free hiking map) at the Tourism Office (4, rue de la République) or Maison de la Montagne, close to the Hubert Doubedout tram station. Also look for the "Guides des Balades" at the TAG office (in the same building of the Tourism Office)- a nice add-on to the Sipavag map which lists a number of parks and hikes you can reach with public transportation. Over 50 different walks, from half-hour strolls to full-day hikes. You will also find suitable maps at any bookshop; the best ones are published by the IGN (National Geographic Institute) and Didier Richard.  Without proper maps, the trails can be confusing and you may be lost in the many turns, steps, ups and downs.  However, if you are careful to observe and follow the colour codings on trees and at key turnings, then it can still be an enjoyable alternative way of getting up or down the mountain.

 * In winter, skiing is a popular activity, which is unsurprising given the historically ski-friendly terrain; Grenoble hosted the Tenth Winter Olympic games in 1968. The nearest ski stations are only 45 min from Grenoble by car. Stations close to Grenoble include Autrans (1000 m up in the Vercors), Chamrousse (1700 m - 2200 m, in Belledonne). Avoid the two last two weeks of December, which are overcrowded at all ski stations and the most expensive of the year. During high season there are also several daily buses to big ski resorts such as Deux Alpes and Alpe d'Huez (1 hr 30 min trip). Tickets can be bought at the Gare Routiere and they offer reductions when buying bus tickets and ski passes in combination. If skiing's not your thing but you still fancy a snowy outing, you might like to try snowshoeing- many centres around Grenoble offer half- or full-day excursions, ask at the Maison de la Montagne or the Maison du Tourisme.
 * Mountain lakes are a great place to visit during a hot summer day, to swim or just to admire the landscape. For example, the Lacs Robert and Lac Achard are one or two hours hike from Chamrousse. Several paths are available, some suitable for the whole family, others advised for adults only. Also, Annecy- a small, historic city on the edge of a beautiful lake, perfect for swimming- can be reached by train in 1hr 30min (up to €32 return trip). Fishing in lakes and in some rivers is allowed, but (like everywhere else in France) a permit is required. For information about fishing, contact the local fishermen's union (French: Union des pêcheurs à la ligne. 8, rue Ampère, tel. +33 9 50 35 11 73, fax +33 4 76 49 02 17, e-mail: union.pecheurs@wanadoo.fr
 * Moucherotte mountain, the hardest (and best) way to see the town from above, for hikers willing to spend nearly a whole day. Go to Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte by car or regional bus (bus 5100), then follow the path to the top (you will start at 1000 m and go to 1900 m). The view of the town is stunning. A lot of people use this path on Sundays in Spring and Summer, so you're unlikely to get lost.
 * Football: Grenoble Foot 38 play soccer in Ligue 2, the French second tier. Their home ground Stade des Alpes (capacity 20,000) is 1 km east of city centre.
 * Rugby: FC Grenoble play rugby union (15 a side) in D2, their second tier. They share Stade des Alpes with the soccer team.
 * For more ideas visit the Isere Tourism Board.

Learn
Grenoble has been a centre of academic excellence since the 14th century. The main universities share a large, modern, purpose-built campus in St Martin d'Heres (accessible by tram, lines B, C and D). There are universities for science and technology (Joseph Fourier), Humanities and Social Sciences (Pierre Mendès-France), Languages and Literature (Stendhal) and Political Sciences (Sciences PO). Grenoble also hosts several Grandes Ecoles- engineering schools in physics, chemistry, electricity, computer science, and a renowned business school. See Grenoble INP and Grenoble Business School.

French language courses are available at Alliance Francaise (English).

The Polygone Scientifique contains the ESRF light source (a circular building 270 metres wide, very easily visible from the Bastille) and the ILL nuclear reactor (the blue windowless concrete pepper-pot near ESRF), as well as an outstation of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory.

It is a particularly good place to do post-doctoral work in biochemistry. There is also the Minatec building, micro and nano technologies, visible from the Bastille.

The Grenoble graduate school business is good place to learn business and economics that ranked within top 50 graduate schools of EU since 2000.

Buy
If you want a spa/hammam, you'll have to get out of the city and head off to the outskirts such as Echirolles or Meylan.
 * If you are looking for a big commercial centre with chain-stores, consider Grand Place (tramway A direction Echirolles). Generally very crowded, especially at weekends.
 * For street shopping, stop at Victor Hugo tramway station (tramway A or B). The tramway station is next to Place Grenette, which is the centre of the city. This area is largely pedestrianized. Small, winding streets house many boutique-style shops, chain-store outlets, traditional French cafés and all the usual city centre paraphernalia
 * Another shopping centre with chains stores is La Caserne De Bonne (tramway C, direction Seyssin- Le Prisme). There are outdoor sports stores (such as Decathlon or Le vieux campeur).
 * The markets. There are several daily food markets in the city centre. The most centrally located, are at Sainte-Claire Les Halles (near the cathedral) which has a covered food hall (housing cheese and butchers' stalls) as well as the outdoor fruit and vegetable market, and Place aux Herbes. Watch out for the grape-stealing pigeons - a great favourite with children but detested by the stall-holders! The best market is probably L'Estacade (6 days per week), under the elevated railway tracks next to Cours Jean Jaures.
 * The cinemas, you'll find a few within the city centre such as in the pedestrian streets or the multiplex Pathé Chavant. If you want to watch an English/American movie with French subtitles head to La Nef on boulevard Edouard Rey, near Victor Hugo.

Eat
If you'd like to have an extensive eatery guide with you on your travels, The Guide du Dahu is probably the best restaurant guide to Grenoble. The work of 20 students of Grenoble business school, it includes 300 pages covering restaurants, bars, culture, sport and nightlife. €2.50 from tabacs and bookshops in the city. The Petit Futé series also offers a Grenoble guide, which has an extensive list of restaurants and other businesses.

You can find many good restaurants in the city centre, roughly between the Train Station, Place Saint-André and Place Notre Dame. The St-Laurent neighborhood (on the northern side of the Isère river) has a number of Italian restaurants and pizzerias. There are also a number of restaurants that line the Rue Brocherie and the area surrounding Place aux Herbes. In the winter, try typical Alpine dishes such as fondue, raclette and the legendary tartiflette. La Ferme à Dédé, at 24, rue Barnave, has a menu with many local and regional specialties. A good traditional option for vegetarians is Ravioles du Dauphiné (cheese dumplings baked in gratin), although it is not unheard of for them to contain meat and you should always ask the waiter first.

Visitors should be aware that Grenoble is also well-known for being the place of origin of the French taco (although a resident of Lyon will beg to differ and will claim the French taco as their own). These have absolutely nothing in common with Mexican or Tex-Mex tacos and are more closely related to kebabs, and if you try to order tacos at your average kebab shop in Grenoble you are far more likely to get the French variety than the Mexican variety. While worth a try for the novelty experience, and certainly better than the ones you get in O'Tacos that are available elsewhere in France, they are rather bad for you and should be consumed in moderation.

Budget
Boulangeries and Patisseries: These little bread and pastry bakeries not only have wonderful tarts and cakes, but they also sell small quiches, panini (grilled Italian sandwiches), and cold sandwiches. Grenoble is the walnut capital of France so look for small cakes (gateaux) with walnut cream, especially during the winter. Other specialties include Chartreuse (a herbal liquor traditionally made by the monks of Grande Chartreuse, a monastery high in the mountains about an hour from Grenoble).

All these are in the city centre:

Drink
There are bars and pubs in the downtown area, especially between Place Grenette and Place Notre Dame. Les Frères Berthom, near Place Notre Dame, offers a variety of local brews and a lively ambience. Couche Tard, Bukana, and London Pub cater to Erasmus, international, and American study abroad students.

At Place Saint-André, you will find La table ronde, founded in 1739 as the second oldest café in France to Le Procope in Paris.

 * In the nearby city of Voiron (25 km northwest of Grenoble) are the Caves de la Chartreuse (+33 4 76 05 81 77), where the famous liqueur is made by the Carthusian Monks. It is claimed to be the largest liqueur cellar in the world. Free guided tours are provided, with a tasting session in the end. Opening hours are 09:00-11:30 and 14:99-18:30 (closes at 17:30 and weekends from November to April, no lunch break in July and August). See for more information.

Budget

 * Auberge de jeunesse de Grenoble: Grenoble Youth Hostel, +33 4 76 09 33 52, 10, avenue du Grésivaudan, 38130 Echirolles.
 * Tulip Inn Hotel D'Angleterre, 5 Place Victor Hugo. With rates €59 and up, this hotel is a great budget option in the centre of the city.
 * Tulip Inn Hotel D'Angleterre, 5 Place Victor Hugo. With rates €59 and up, this hotel is a great budget option in the centre of the city.

Mid-range
The large chain hotels, such as the Ibis and Mercure, can generally be relied on for comfort and cleanliness. Nightly prices start around €75 in low seasons, and can climb to over €200 during summer.

 * Hôtel Ibis Centre, 5 rue de Miribel, Les Trois Dauphins, Place Félix Poulat, +33 4 76 47 48 49.
 * Hôtel Ibis Centre, 5 rue de Miribel, Les Trois Dauphins, Place Félix Poulat, +33 4 76 47 48 49.

Stay safe
The Drac is a small river and may appear harmless, but the level of water may change quickly, especially when the dam upstream releases water.

Grenoble has earned a reputation among French people as a crime hotspot (it was once referred to by a police union as 'the French Chicago'), with murders and riots often featuring on the news. However, while crime indicators are relatively high by French standards, this would not affect the average tourist or resident for which Grenoble remains a very safe city. Most of the trouble hotspots are in the southern suburbs of Grenoble, and tourists should be advised to avoid the Villeneuve area at night (the tram stops La Bruyère, Arlequin, and Grand'Place) as well as Village Olympique and the suburb of Echirolles.

The area around Stade de France has a reputation for prostitutes soliciting at night.

Be aware of pickpockets on the tram and bus lines; though petty theft is not common in Grenoble, it does exist.

Consulates

 * 🇬🇷 Greece

Go next

 * Chartreuse
 * Vercors
 * Belledonne

title: Grenoble


text:
Gresham

Gresham is the fourth largest city within the state of Oregon, with a population of 114,000 in 2020. It's the home of an annual jazz festival. It is a part of the Portland Metropolitan Area and is generally considered a Portland suburb.

The downtown area of Gresham can be easily missed by those driving along W Powell Blvd, but has a handful of restaurants and shops to offer, as well as Main City Park.

By plane
Portland International Airport  is about 13 miles from Gresham. PDX is the largest airport located in the state of Oregon. Rental cars are available, and the MAX light rail connects to Gresham with a single transfer from the airport's Red Line to the eastbound Blue Line trains at Gateway Transit Center.

By transit
The MAX Light Rail's Blue Line serves Gresham, with most of the city reasonably able to access it, since it cuts diagonally across. The Blue Line runs directly from its eastern terminus near downtown Gresham to downtown Portland, and then onward to Beaverton and Hillsboro.

Numerous TriMet bus lines also connect Gresham to Portland and Troutdale.

By car
The best way to get into the city from Portland, and elsewhere to the north, south, or west, probably depends on your final destination. Interstate 84 is at the far north of the city, but US-26 (Powell Blvd.) also provides a route from Interstate 205 if approaching from the South.

Travellers approaching from the east will use Interstate 84, or US-26 if coming from Central Oregon.

Mt. Hood Jazz Festival
The Mt. Hood Jazz Festival is a jazz festival held each August in Downtown Gresham at 200 NE Hood Avenue. The festival is produced by the Gresham/Mt. Hood Jazz Association (GMHJA) which is a non-profit, public benefit corporation whose goal is to "promote the appreciation of jazz as a unique American art form." The Mt. Hood Jazz Festival is the signature production of the association, which produces other jazz performances and workshops year round.

The first festival was held in 1982. The festival has featured guests such as: Sonny Rollins, Dave Brubeck, Tito Puente and B. B. King.

Eat
Restaurants are all over the city, but it is difficult to find restaurants with great food to offer.

title: Gresham


text:
Gretna

Gretna, together with Gretna Green, is a border town in Dumfries and Galloway in southwest Scotland, with a population of 3110 in 2020. It's been famous as a wedding venue for over 250 years, a tradition that began when English marriage laws became restrictive, so couples eloped across the border to Scotland. Those laws have modernised and there's now no legal motive for couples to come here, but it's become a tradition and the village's chief industry. There's no other reason to visit, and the village itself isn't much to look at, being carved up by busy railways and motorways, and with hordes of tourists on coach trips.

Understand
Protestant Britain rejected the Roman Catholic doctrine that marriage was a Sacrament that could only be conducted by a priest. To the British, the essence of marriage was the consent and mutual vow of any eligible couple. Most couples married in church, but some did so by other means. In the late 17th- and early 18th-century “irregular” weddings became the fashion, even the majority, in London and in Scotland, but not elsewhere in England.

The crucial legal point was that the wedding arrangements might be irregular, but the marriage itself (if proved) was utterly regular and binding, with all the rights and obligations so entailed. (Naturally there were all sorts of other sexual relationships, scandalous or otherwise, but those had no legal standing.) The wealthy classes got into a moral panic that their sons and daughters would be duped into marriage, with a post-pub frolic with some chancer being declared binding. This led in 1753 to “Hardwicke’s Marriage Act” which tightened control. Those marrying had to be over 21 or have parental consent, have banns proclaimed in church (which would alert the parents), and be married by an Anglican minister: hard luck on Catholics and others.

This act didn’t apply to Scotland, so if the couple could flee there they could marry, straightaway without any period to establish a legal domicile, but they’d need witnesses and a marriage certificate to wave in the face of cruel Sir Jasper when he caught up with them. A quickie-wedding industry grew up and the fashion morphed into one for eloping to Gretna Green, the Reno of Britain. Here the weddings were held “over the anvil” in the blacksmith’s shop, and still are.

Another notable centre was Port Patrick near Stranraer: Ireland had the same laws as England, so Irish couples would sail over for a quickie-wedding and be on the boat home same evening. Other border villages such as Coldstream saw some of the wedding trade, but the eastern land route was less popular than the packet ships between London and Edinburgh. Three days of upchucking beats nine days in a jolting stagecoach; and if you needed a divorce (unobtainable then in England) in order to re-marry, then you had to be in Edinburgh, to start legal proceedings and establish a domicile.

Hardwicke’s Act was repealed in 1836: English law was loosened and Scottish law was tightened, so there was less difference, and even less from 1940 when “irregular” marriage was ended in Scotland. Yet still they came! It was now tradition rather than fashion, and couples married in Gretna Green not because they were unable to do so at home, but because they chose. Some 5000 marriages are still conducted here each year. One example was Joschka Fischer (foreign minister of Germany 1998-2005) whose first marriage was here in 1967. He's now on his fifth.

Get in
Trains run from Carlisle every hour or so, taking 11 min to then west via Annan to Dumfries. Some then continue north to Sanquhar, Kilmarnock and Glasgow Central, taking 2 hours 30 min. It may be quicker to change in Carlisle for the London Euston - Glasgow trains, which hurtle past east of the village.

Stagecoach Bus 79 / 179 runs from Carlisle every 30 mins via Longtown to Gretna (45 mins) and Annan; Bus 79 continues to Dumfries. Both English and Scottish bus passes are accepted on this route.

By road, the motorway changes its name and numbering at the border. Exit M6 at jcn 45 for Gretna, but for Gretna Green stay on for half a mile to exit at A74(M) jcn 22, which is also the turnoff for A75 towards Dumfries and Stranraer. Non-motorway traffic can follow the old road, which parallels the M6 from Carlisle.

Get around
Gretna (the southern part) and Gretna Green (the northern, with most weddings) are only half a mile apart, so walk, trying not to trail your pristine white wedding dress.

See

 * is a memorial to Britain's worst rail disaster, at 6:49AM on 22 May 1915. There were passing loops either side of the main double track, both occupied by freight trains. A northbound slow passenger train was therefore switched to wait on the southbound main line to allow two late-running sleepers to overtake - the first of these passed safely. The signalmen were changing shifts and overlooked the continuing obstruction, and a southbound troop train piled into it. A minute later, the second northbound sleeper hit the wreckage. Gas from a train-lighting system escaped, flames engulfed all five trains, and at least 227 people were killed.
 * is a 16th-century turret in Kirtlebridge village. Yes, it's a wedding venue, what else?
 * See Lockerbie for Thomas Carlyle's birthplace in Ecclefechan.
 * See Annan for The Devil's Porridge, brewed in Eastriggs 5 miles west.
 * See Annan for The Devil's Porridge, brewed in Eastriggs 5 miles west.

Do

 * Walk all the way to England. The border is the little River Sark which runs south to join the River Esk. In Gretna Green it's at the east end of Main St, in Gretna it's southeast on B7076 towards Longtown. Cameras zoom in on the "Scotland welcomes you" sign once you realise that the border bridge is prosaic and the river a muddy creek.
 * Look up your ancestors: the Blacksmith's has complete records of marriages here over 120 years. See also the National Records of Scotland, which are comprehensive back to 1855.

Eat

 * Most catering is for the functions within the hotels and wedding venues, and there's not much free-standing, but see Gretna Green Blacksmiths above.
 * Solway Pizzeria nearby on Main Street is open daily 4PM-midnight.
 * The Outlet Store in Gretna (see "Buy") has various eating places.

Drink

 * Queen's Head is on Gretna Green Main Street, open M-W 5-11PM, Th F 5PM-midnight, Sa noon-midnight, Su 12:30PM-11PM.

Sleep

 * Lots of mid-range hotels, all here for the same reason.

Connect
Gretna and its approach roads have 4G from all UK carriers. As of March 2022, 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * In Annan find out what goes into "the devil's porridge" - a wartime secret.
 * Dumfries is where the poet Robert Burns spent his last years.
 * Carlisle is a pleasant market town with a crumbly castle.
 * Hadrian's Wall stretches from coast to coast, but the nearby western sections are just paths through the fields, agreeable but unremarkable. You need to go 20 miles or so east to reach substantial masonry, Roman camps, and the natural redoubt of Whin Sill.

title: Gretna


text:
Greve in Chianti

Greve in Chianti (sometimes just Greve), is a city of 14,000 people (2017) in the Chianti zone of Tuscany. This article also covers the nearby community of Panzano some 8 km away.

Get in
Greve is an hour south of Florence by SITA bus, or 35 min by car.

Go next

 * Montefioralle - a small nearby mediaeval village
 * Panzano in Chianti - 10 minutes from Greve, most important hill town between Florence and Siena
 * Fonterutoli - tranquil and beautiful wine village 30 minutes from Greve in the direction of Siena

title: Greve in Chianti


text:
Greybull

Greybull is a city in Wyoming.

See

title: Greybull


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Grey County

Grey County is a mostly rural region of Southwestern Ontario. Grey County is an outdoor vacationland: hiking and biking on trails in the spring and summer, spectacular fall colour driving tours and foodie experiences in the harvest season, and downhill cross-country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter. There's caving and climbing and beaches, gallery and studio tours, museums and summer playhouses, shops and gourmet restaurants.

Cities

 * — a small town on the Saugeen River
 * — the one-time "Furniture Capital of Canada"
 * — it has a beautiful harbour and bay, winding rivers, tree-lined streets, plush parks, numerous trails and a thriving, historic downtown
 * — a purpose-built skiing and summer sports resort town

History
The first European settlement was in the vicinity of Collingwood or Meaford. Exploring parties arrived from York in 1825 by travelling from Holland Landing and down the Holland River into Lake Simcoe and Shanty Bay. From there they travelled by land to the Nottawasaga River into Georgian Bay and along the thickly wooded shore.

In 1837 the village of Sydenham was surveyed by Charles Rankin. In 1856 it was incorporated as the Town of Owen Sound with an estimated population of 2,000.

Grey County was named in honour of the British Colonial Secretary's father, Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1830-1834.

In 1861-1862 the first gravel roads were constructed into Owen Sound. The four colonization roads were: Prior to the road building it often took two days to walk up to Owen Sound.
 * the Garafraxa Road running from Fergus to Owen Sound (now Highway 6);
 * the Durham Road leading east and west from the village of Durham (formerly part of Highway 4, and now County Road 4);
 * the Lake Shore Road from Collingwood to Owen Sound (now Highway 26); and
 * the Toronto-Sydenham Road leading from Shelburne to Owen Sound (now Highway 10).

Get in
Highway 10 takes you from the western suburbs of Toronto 190 km to Owen Sound.

GOST connects Owen Sound from Guelph.

Toronto Pearson International Airport in the north-west corner of Toronto is the nearest major airport, with flights from many domestic and international destinations. Grey-Bruce Airbus offers eight trips a day from Toronto Pearson International Airport to Owen Sound.

Get around
Roads are mostly rural highways with one lane in each direction. Minor roads are occasionally unpaved. To find the most efficient routing, plan ahead, use a GPS unit or GPS-enabled device, or bring a map. The Official Government Roadmap for Grey and Bruce Counties is available online.

See
In Owen Sound, the Tom Thomson Art Gallery exhibits a collection of works by Thompson and the Group of Seven, who were an important group of Canadian artists in the early 20th century. The town also has the Billy Bishop Heritage Museum, dedicated to a World War I aviation hero, and the Grey Roots Museum and Archives, which focuses on local historic events.

Meaford Hall Arts & Cultural Centre (12 Nelson Street East, Meaford, ) is a beautifully restored theatre that plays host to a wide variety of live entertainment, gallery exhibitions, films, and events.

Do
The Village at Blue Mountain is a year-round centre for those looking for outdoor activities such as skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, golf, mountain biking, rock climbing, and caving.

Those looking for more sedate activities may be drawn to the Gateway Hanover Racetrack Slots and Casino.

Canoeing and kayaking
The Sydenham River flows from Harrison Park through Owen Sound’s historic downtown to the city’s East Boat Launch. The river winds through marshlands along the Niagara Escarpment with lots of opportunities for viewing wildlife and birds. Rent a boat from the Putt n’ Paddle in Harrsion Park.

The Beaver River is a 40-km gentle gentle paddle from Kimberley to Heathcote. Keep an eye out for the great blue heron, the great horned owl, white tailed deer and the beaver. Put ins are available on Grey Road 13 north of Kimberley, on the Epping Side Road and at Healthcote allowing you to vary your route from 6 to 15 km.

The Saugeen River runs from Hanover west into Lake Huron. It has placid stretches through farmland to swirling eddies and rapids. The trip from Hanover to Southampton is 102 km, but it's easy to plan a shorter route.

Lake Eugenia is Grey County’s largest inland lake, and offers excellent paddling and fishing. Bring your own boat to the public launch

Georgian Bay ranges from glassy waters to whitecaps. Sea kayaking is a great way to explore and calm days are perfect for stand-up paddleboards. Great places to launch are Northwinds Beach near Thornbury, Colpoy’s Bay near Wiarton or the Owen Sound Bay.

title: Grey County


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Greymouth

Greymouth (Māori: Māwhera; in English pronounced "Grey Mouth" without shortening the "ou") is the heart of the West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island.

Understand
Greymouth is the largest town on the West Coast and is the turnaround of the Tranz Alpine train journey, recognised as one of the top train trips in the world. The town sits along the bank of the Grey River (named in honour of Sir George Grey), about half a mile from the coast.

Greymouth has several scenic walkways along the river and parks, while the surrounding Grey Valley offer adventure activities, heritage attractions and guided nature tours.

By car

 * Approximately 2½ hours drive north of Fox Glacier.
 * From Christchurch 250 km 3½ hours
 * Punakaiki 45 min, Westport 1½ hours, Reefton 1 hour

By train
See also Train travel in New Zealand

The world-famous TranzAlpine, operated by Tranz Scenic departs from Christchurch station at 8:15AM and arrives at Greymouth at 12:45PM daily. Trains depart Greymouth at 2PM for Arthur's Pass National Park and Christchurch.

By bus

 * Intercity Coaches operate comfortable coaches from Nelson, Westport, Punakaiki and Franz Josef Glacier. Schedules coincide with train arrivals.

 * West Coast Shuttle offers a daily return service from and to Christchurch. (Ideal for day trips to Arthur's Pass). Departs Greymouth at 8AM and travels via Arthur's pass (9:30AM) and Christchurch airport (11.30) and the Christchurch Square midday. Leaves Christchurch at 3PM, via airport then Arthur's Pass arriving back in Greymouth at 7PM.

By plane

 * Hokitika airport has two flights per day from Christchurch. Greymouth Taxis (+64 3 768 7078) run connecting shuttle buses.
 * Hokitika airport has two flights per day from Christchurch. Greymouth Taxis (+64 3 768 7078) run connecting shuttle buses.

Get around
This is a small town and you can easily walk to inns and restaurants within the town. If you want to go further afield, your choices are:

 * Taxi - Greymouth Taxis, 138 Mackay Street, phone +64 3 768-7078. 50 m from the train station, Greymouth Taxis can arrange trips to Punakaiki or other nearby destinations.
 * Rental car - The Greymouth train station has rental car counters from Hertz, Budget and a variety of discount agencies. Advance reservations are recommended.
 * Organized tours - Several tour companies will pick you up at your inn, take you to nearby destinations, then return you to your hotel (or to the train station in time for your departing train). Check brochures in the train station or at your hotel.

Buy
There is a large supermarket, and "The Warehouse", a large general goods type store, next to the train station, making Greymouth a good place to stock up on essentials for your trip. (You must walk around the station to enter their parking lot; do not cross the railway tracks at the station and try to climb over the fence.)
 * Greymouth at sunset.jpg
 * Greymouth at sunset.jpg
 * Greymouth at sunset.jpg

Eat

 * Greymouth Afghan MRD 02.jpg
 * Greymouth Afghan MRD 02.jpg
 * Greymouth Afghan MRD 02.jpg
 * Greymouth Afghan MRD 02.jpg
 * Greymouth Afghan MRD 02.jpg
 * Greymouth Afghan MRD 02.jpg
 * Greymouth Afghan MRD 02.jpg

Drink

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 * Blaketown, Greymouth.jpg
 * Blaketown, Greymouth.jpg
 * Blaketown, Greymouth.jpg
 * Blaketown, Greymouth.jpg
 * Blaketown, Greymouth.jpg
 * Blaketown, Greymouth.jpg
 * Blaketown, Greymouth.jpg

Connect
Wireless Internet is available for free at the public library (18 Albert St, just off Mackay Street), and at certain hostels and hotels.

Go next

 * Punakaiki – to the north
 * Reefton – inland to the north-east
 * Hokitika – to the south
 * Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier – further to the south
 * Take a day trip to Christchurch or Arthur's Pass. Catch the train to Arthur's Pass (1:30PM departure) and coach back to Greymouth (5:15PM at Arthur's Pass) arrive back to Greymouth at 7PM.

title: Greymouth


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Grey River

Grey River is a tiny town of 104 people (2016) on the southwest coast of Newfoundland. Grey River is one of the last traditional outport villages in Newfoundland that seems like it has stayed largely the same despite many changes. It can be reached only by ferry or by helicopter.

Understand
It’s in what seems to be the “flattest side” of a mountainous, deep reach where it is protected from the ocean. The most remote river on the island of Newfoundland, Grey River is reachable as a 60-minute helicopter ride over wilderness. When entering Grey River by boat, visitors will find a picturesque community surrounded by towering mountains on three sides.

Fishing has long remained the main industry in Grey River with the salmon fishery becoming an economic backbone for the community. Since the 1960s and 1970s, residents have increasingly returned to the salmon fishery for income. The scallop fishery also proposes a viable fishing alternative.

Grey River is on the northwest side of Jerts Cove, east of Ramea, about a mile within the inlet. The town's livelihood depends primarily on salmon and scallop fisheries. Its population is in decline, having lost 18% of its people from 2011 to 2016.

The community offers amazing scenery as a small passageway leads into the settlement from the bay. Grey River shores are steep and bold. Between two mountains, a small shelter offers protection from the large amount of winds which often stop the ferry service from running on schedule. These hills reach an elevation of 199-305 metres or 1000 feet and are great for climbing. In the winter, they make a perfect trail for sliding and skiing.

History
The settlement was first named Little River. A severe measles outbreak occurred in the early 1900s. Settlers wired a doctor at St. John's to request advice and medical supplies. The dispatch was sent to Little River on the north-east coast instead of this settlement on the south-west coast. As a result, there were quite a few deaths and the name was changed to Grey River to prevent similar happenings.

Get in
Accessible only by boat or helicopter, Grey River has a deep harbour navigable year-round and a helipad which provides landing space for helicopters.

See

 * Old tungsten mine. You can easily find pyrite, or fool's gold, amongst the rocks at the mine entrance.

Do
The Grey River Fjord runs past the community and then separates into three river systems:
 * North East Arm is a popular salmon fishing river. The shore leading to North East Arm is suitable for hiking.
 * South East Arm offers lush green forest, rugged mountains and sandy beaches. In some areas, the beaches stretch out for a mile at low tide.
 * North West Arm is best known for big game animals, especially moose and caribou.

Whale and iceberg watching, skiing or snowmobile riding are common winter activities. Snowmobile trails lead to the top of the hills that surround the community; in summer, these are good for hiking.

Fishing, hunting or visiting the beaches are popular in summer.

Atlantic salmon fly fishing, an angling method which catches fish with artificial lures as distinct from live or dead bait, is the main attraction at Grey River. Many tournaments and activities are held in June. The water is just deep enough, just away from the land enough, and just right for the sport.

Buy

 * date
 * date

Eat
Both lodges provide meals for their guests.

Cod, moose, caribou, rabbit.

Drink
Many Newfoundlanders habitually drink tea and Carnation milk (some people drink coffee, but don't expect it). Inviting someone in for a "cuppa tea" is an excuse to have a friendly chat.

Connect
There is a post office (postcode A0N 2L0) which accepts mail for the 49 houses and two businesses in the village.

Go next

 * Burgeo
 * Francois

title: Grey River


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Griffin

Griffin is a city of 23,000 (2020) in Central Georgia near Atlanta. It is the southernmost town included in the Atlanta Metro Area and has held on vehemently to its "small town" appeal. At the same time the town is being forced into modernization. This has caused an interesting contrast between the deeply religious and devout churches and the packed nightclubs and bars. The people will almost always display classic southern hospitality as long as they are given the same in return.

Understand
Griffin is steeped in tradition and history. Many of the locals are keen to retain as much of this as possible while moving forward to greater commercialization. There is also a strong sense of regional pride here with a deep foundation in religion. Most of the residents are strict conservatives and fervently fight about their beliefs and views. It would be considered very rude to challenge these ideals. At the same time the people are generally welcoming and will do their best to make sure you feel at home, usually by offering a glass of "sweet tea".

Get in
Griffin is easily accessed by Interstate I-75 as well as State Route 19/41 which runs directly through town before splitting into separate highways.

There are several small local airports as well as a municipal airport. However, none is serviced by any major carriers at this time.

Get around
Griffin is lacking in any public transportation and taxis are not common and usually must be phoned for service. Walking is also not advisable as most major commercial and historical areas are miles apart. Renting a car would most certainly be the easiest and cheapest form of transport.

See
Downtown has changed little since the 1920s, and many new shops and restaurants are moving in to take advantage of renewed interest in the historical area. This is also where you will find the historical society and local museum. The museum complex contains the Doc Holiday museum to commemorate the western celebrity that was born in town.

Many of the houses in the area hold historical significance dating back to the antebellum era (when most of the residents were born). You can find a map showing their locations and significance by contacting the historical society.

Do
Atlanta Motor Speedway, which is located about 15 miles north, offers tours when arranged in advance. There is also the Griffin Ballet which frequently presents shows in the auditorium.

High school football is a large event in town. Griffin has 10 county parks that offer everything from golf to little league sports. Many are shaded by large oaks and offer a nice chance to escape from the heat and relax on the grass.

Buy
There are several cute boutiques, especially for children's clothes. Serendipity is a very large and trendy store. They have anything for any girl of any age. They also do monogramming.

The best place to look for any specialized stores will be downtown which, besides the pawn shops, contain a few specialized family owned stores.

Eat
Aside from the typical fare there are many privately owned restaurants that offer a cheap meal. Nice authentic meals can be had at any of the numerous bbq joints usually for less than $10. The best meals found in town are usually at church functions where the deep fried southern food is top notch. Most dishes are from recipes passed down from generations and prepared with traditional methods.

Griffin is also home to one of the few Chick-fil-A "Dwarfhouses"; this specialized Chick-fil-A combines a typical fast-food setting on one side with a full service restaurant on the other. It's one of the few places on earth where you can get a Chick-fil-A steak or burger.

Drink
There is a growing selection of bars and nightclubs that are packed on Friday and Saturday nights. However you can expect to pay $4-5 for the usual domestic beer in plastic cups. While the acceptance of the party scene is getting better it may not be easy to find a bar or pub.

A few local establishments to try are:
 * Buffalo's Southwest Grill, one of the town's first bars.
 * J-Henry's, while mainly a restaurant, the bar packs out early in the evening
 * The Moose Lodge.

Sleep
A large array of commercial as well as independent hotels can be found on the north side of town on 19/14. Due to Atlanta Motor Speedway, these places easily fill up during March and November but otherwise will have plenty of rooms for a very reasonable price.

Forsyth
The county seat of Monroe County, Forsyth is a tiny city of 3780 people at the northern edge of the Macon (Georgia) metropolitan area. Forsyth was home to Tift College (a private liberal arts women's college) from 1849 until 1987, when the college was merged into Mercer University in Macon. The former campus is now headquarters to the state's prison system. The Forsyth Commercial Historic District includes the Monroe County Courthouse, Courthouse Square and several examples of 19th-century architecture.

As Forsythe is directly on I-75, it has a dozen chain hotels and various restaurants.

Juliette
A small hamlet near the western entrance to Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge. Exit I-75 at Forsythe, drive 10 miles (16 km) east on Juliette Road.

Founded in 1882 and named for Juliette McCracken, the daughter of an engineer who was building the East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia railroad, Juliette was a small industrial village on the Ocmulgee River which declined after its gristmill closed in 1957. In 1991, the nearly-deserted townsite was used to film the Oscar-nominated Fried Green Tomatoes, an adaptation of Fannie Flagg's 1987 novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe (ISBN 9780394561523).

Go next
Interstate 75 north will take you straight to Atlanta while going south will lead you to Macon. East on State Route 16 will bring you to McDonough and west on State Route 92 goes to Fayetteville although using both of these routes can easily get you lost without knowledge of the local roads.

title: Griffin


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Griffith

Griffith is a city in the southwestern Riverina region of New South Wales. Griffith is a city of immigration and irrigation. Developed by Italian immigrants after the Second World War, watered by the Murrumbidgee and the Snowy Mountains Scheme, Griffith is an agricultural centre for fruits, wines, and rice. Due to irrigation, the areas are more intensively farmed than much of New South Wales, with many small farms close to the town.

By plane

You can rent a car from the terminal. Hertz, Avis and Thrifty operate from the terminal - but make sure you have the car booked and confirmed in advance if you expect someone to be there to meet you. As with many of these country depots, it can pay to give them a call locally rather than just doing the normal website booking.

You can also get a taxi into town. Call the 131 800 national number.

 * Regional Express flying from Sydney several times a day.

By train

 * NSW TrainLink run a direct train service linking Sydney to Griffith on Wednesdays and Saturdays, returning on Thursdays and Sundays. The train travels for most of the day, so it isn't practical to take a train trip from Sydney for the weekend.  Other days there is a coach connection to meet with the Sydney and Melbourne XPT service at Wagga Wagga.  The railway station is two blocks north of the town centre, within easy walking distance of the town centre.  The coach connection stops in the town and at the station.
 * V-Line run a daily coach service connecting with the train at Shepparton. It arrives in Griffith around midnight, before turning around and heading back towards Shepparton in the early hours of the morning.

By bus

 * McCaffertys/Greyhound Coach Services

By car

 * By far the easiest method to get around in Griffith is by car, whether this be your own or a rental. (See table for numbers of local car rental companies)
 * Griffith also has a local taxi service which can be contacted on: 131 008.

By bus

 * Griffith Bus Lines - Local and School services timetables. The bus generally runs several services a day to link Griffith's suburbs to the town centre and hospital. No services extend beyond the town, or link visitor areas.

By foot

 * For shorter distances walking is also another recommended option for getting around.

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Grimbergen

Grimbergen is a town of 37,000 inhabitants (2018) in Flemish Brabant, Belgium, just north of Brussels. The town is known for its abbey, castles and abbey beer.

The abbey contains a beer museum, and though there has been no brewing there in years (the trademark is now owned by Carlsburg), plans for a new microbrewery in the abbey were announced in 2019.

By car
Grimbergen has its own highway exit on the R0 (the outer beltway of Brussels) called Grimbergen. After exiting the highway, drive 2 km north to get into the center of Grimbergen.

By bus
When talking about public transport, Grimbergen is only accessible by bus since the town does not have a railway station anymore. The Flemish national bus company, De Lijn, has lines to Grimbergen from Brussels, Vilvoorde and Kapelle-op-den-Bos. For more information regarding different timetables: https://www.delijn.be.

On foot
Grimbergen is located in an idyllic setting with many of green meadows. There are walking maps available and also on internet you can map out your route before hitting the road.

Bicycle
Grimbergen makes an excellent area for cycling. The cycle node network is widely present in the region. The regional tourism offices also have created several cycling routes through the municipality and wider area.

There are no bike rental companies in Grimbergen. If you do need to rent a bike, the best option is to rent one in neighboring Vilvoorde and cycle to Grimbergen. The center of Vilvoorde is only 4km away.

Do

 * Vier Dorpenroute (Four villages cycling tour) — will show you all the four villages of the Grimbergen municipality.
 * Prinsenwandeling (Princes walk) — starts at the church square. Leads to the Prinsenkasteel (castle), the “Guldendal” and the Municipal Hall.
 * Maalbeekwandeling (Maalbeek walk) — also starts at the church square and brings the hiker along picturesque places such as the Liermolen, the Charleroyhoeve farm and the Tommenmolen.
 * Humbeekwandeling (Maalbeek walk) — in the village of Humbeek. Shows the Lintkasteel (castle), the Saint-Niklaashoeve (farm) and the castle Vroeneveld.
 * Humbeekwandeling (Maalbeek walk) — in the village of Humbeek. Shows the Lintkasteel (castle), the Saint-Niklaashoeve (farm) and the castle Vroeneveld.

Go next

 * Brussels — the thriving national capital is nearby.
 * Meise and Vilvoorde — neighbouring municipalities with many interesting sights to discover. In Meise you can find the National Plants Garden.
 * Mechelen — compact historical city northeast of Grimbergen.
 * Kraainem — a municipality with a rich industrial history to the southeast of Grimbergen.
 * Tervuren — an oasis of nature and peace to the south of Brussels.

title: Grimbergen


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Grimma

Grimma is a large county town in the state of Saxony in Germany.

Understand
Grimma is situated in the state of Saxony about 25 km southeast of the city of Leipzig and some 16 km south of Wurzen in the Muldental valley. Although it only has a population of around 28,000, it is the fourth largest town in Saxony by area.

By horseless carriage
Grimma has an exit on the A14 motorway (Leipzig–Dresden).

Go next

 * Colditz (15 km south; half hour by bus 619) – the 1000-year old castle was used as a prisoners-of-war camp during World War II.
 * Wurzen (18 km north; half hour by bus 693)
 * (22 km northeast; 40 min by bus 630) – Baroque hunting château in Wermsdorf
 * Borna (23 km southwest)
 * Rochlitz (25 km south) – medieval castle
 * Leipzig (30 km northwest; half hour by train)
 * Döbeln (40 km southeast; 35 min by train) – beautiful renovated old town core
 * Riesa (50 km east)

title: Grimma