We have just had our first guests including a couple who had the most romantic wedding here at Petit Bacaye. They are happy for me to reproduce their thoughts on their holiday after Ivan

From first guests 12 weeks after Ivan
"Arriving only 12 weeks after Ivan we were overwhelmed by the warm and friendly welcome we received in Grenada, The resilience and determination of the people was truly humbling. In Petit Bacaye we found a true paradise - stunning location, breathtaking views, so peaceful and natural. More than anything the generosity and kindness of everyone at Petit Bacaye made our holiday so special and most definitely unforgettable." Jenny and Alistair, London

From the bride and groom - our first wedding after Ivan.
"a huge heartfelt thank you for making our dreams come true. It was truly a magical and memorable experience. Thanks again, love and best wishes." Mr and Mrs BB

From a family of 4 with 2 tiny children.
"We had a truly wonderful and memorable experience at Petit Bacaye. Everyone was so welcoming despite the difficulties of Ivan we were given everything we needed to make this family holiday one of the best yet. The rooms are beautifully and tastefully decorated. The food fresh and delicious and all the staff were superb with our children. We will miss them. We will definitely return and look forward to it. Grenada is a special place... Ooh and the rum punch." The L. family

Thank you dear guests... I do not feel there is anything else I can add about how Petit Bacaye is today.

STATUS
All services back to normal - water, landline & electricity.

GROUNDS
All fallen trees cleared and lots and lots of new trees planted, more than before and some quite big already. All flowerbeds are weeded and everything, pruned viciously after Ivan, is bursting into life. The beach, which is much bigger, has been cleared of debris and trees. We have constructed rustic palm beach umbrellas to make up for lack of shade.

ACCOMMODATION
All beach house roofs have been repaired and re-thatched.

The restaurant bar has a fantastic roof of inverted bamboo tiles as we ran out of thatching material. The Plantation House Suite looks lovely with fresh paint and all wood re-varnished. The Soul Case massage facility has its roof back on and sweet smelling oils ready. All we need are the bodies!

VIEWS AND NATURE
The views from the beach houses are lovely. The island off shore is once again full of birds. Humming birds are back. Indeed one is nesting in the rope for a hammock on the verandah of our house. Iguanas are a much more common sight. An encounter with a barn owl one bright sunny morning caused great excitement. It perched on the window ledge of De Soul Case studying us before calmly flying off to its island roost. The egrets are back in force heading home to the island at sunset.

FOOD
Lots of root vegetables available especially really delicious sweet potatoes plus callaloo, pok choi, home grown herbs, cucumbers, green beans, spring onions, some plantain. Fresh baked bread is made in our kitchen along with banana bread, bakes and ice cream. Lobster and fish are back on the menu. Passion fruit, guavas and bananas are growing in our garden. Our mango tree was knocked flat by Ivan. It was down but not out! Using the hotel vehicle and rope we pulled it upright Three times!!. Now it is a profusion of flowers... so mangoes by Christmas?!

GRENADA NOW
THE LOOK OF GRENADA
The island is green and lush again. The passing of 14 weeks, God, the sun and a little rain has made such a difference to the vegetation. Everywhere you see signs of fabulous new growth. It is incredibly exciting to see things grow before your very eyes! Cleaning up continues and there are great swathes of the island that look normal again. Some houses are still in a collapsed state but lots have been re-roofed and contrary to media reports 90% of Grenadians are not homeless and wandering the streets. 90% sustained damage but some of it was slight. In our village there are far more houses with their roofs on than off. People have performed miracles in the fixing up of their homes.

TRAVEL AND SAFETY
Roads are clear and petrol always available. I drove alone to the capital the week after the hurricane. A man took my arm and guided me to the other side of the street where he said it was safer to walk because of the debris. Escapees from the prison are recaptured. Two of the most dangerous were captured roaming the neighbouring island of St Vincent. Grenada is infinitely safer than many other parts of the world.

EATING AND DRINKING
A good cross section of interesting places are now open or opening shortly. On the south- east side of the island, along the coast from Petit Bacaye, Bel Air Plantation and Water's Edge restaurant are open and as lovely as ever. Slightly further north La Sagesse is open. True Blue Bay Resort, the Calabash and La Luna are up and running. Flamboyant Hotel will open soon. Go Bananas café bar and De Big Fish offer music and a good variety of food. The Red Crab offers full menu and the Aquarium restaurant is more beautiful then ever - newly painted and decorated since Ivan. The beach in front clear and clean with great snorkelling...

SIGHTSEEING
Rum distilleries are open, as is the Nutmeg station at Gouvaye and the cocoa station at Belmont. Deep sea fishing, diving and snorkelling trips all up and running. There is plenty to do and see in Grenada. The cruise ships are docking once more. Tourists are hugely welcomed by the Grenadians.

HOW GRENADIANS ARE REACTING
The Grenadians are a very resilient race and most are cheerful and thankful to be alive with absolutely no sign of envy for those who escaped destruction. The little children in the Bel Air Children's home lost their roof but when it was all over they banged their little hands on the tables and shouted "Praise the Lord". They were saved and so were most Grenadians. A man who saw his neighbour's roof blow off and was so "vex" that he went up onto his own roof and nailed it down right in the middle of the hurricane. He was saved and so was his roof! Grenadians have not lost their sense of humour. A piece in the local paper reports that Ivan has been renamed "Roofus" ( a real dog of a hurricane) who was not saying woof, woof but roof, roof as he tore them off!

WEATHER
The weather since Ivan has been hot and sunny almost every day with just a little rain mostly at night.

FLIGHTS
BA continues to fly every Tuesday and Friday from London Gatwick to Grenada via Antigua.
Virgin restarted flights on Monday 13th December via Tobago.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP
Please help by coming to this still achingly beautiful island there is so much still on offer to the discerning holiday maker in Grenada.
Donations can be paid into any Lloyds bank to the Grenada Disaster Relief Fund.
Sort code 30 92 83. Account number 00584503
Petit Bacaye supports the Bel-Air Children's Home. Donations to Friends of the Bel-Air Home for Children and Adolescents (Grenada). Registered Charity No. 1074764. Registered Office: Kingdon's Yard, Parchment Street, Winchester, Hants SO23 8AT, UK. Tel no +44 (0)1962 850650 Fax +44 (0)1962 850567. Bel-Air relies hugely on the generous donations from businesses in Grenada many of whom will now not be in a position to give to this home.

Julia Montgomery
Petit Bacaye