A Botanic Lesson For Caribbean Travellers
While not one of the best-known Caribbean islands, when it comes to holiday beach breaks Grenada offers all the amenities tourists flocking to this area of the world may be looking for - from posh accommodation to a wealth of places to visit and laid-back activities to engage in. Its less publicised nature, when compared to nearby resorts such as St Lucia or the Bahamas, also gives it a more authentic, local appeal, which may attract tourists seeking to escape the touristy onslaught of the more popular islands.
That is not to say, however, that Grenada is without its share of luxury hotels. In fact, one of the most popular accommodation options on the island, the Calabash Hotel, which provides tourists with the perfect mix of accessibility, comfort, and a central location close to all of the island's main spots, is earning its reputation as one of the Caribbean's top hotels.
However, most visitors to Grenada who stay at the Calabash Hotel will stop and think about the name of the hotel they are staying in. Unless they are particularly distinctive, finding out about the names of locations in foreign countries is not usually high on the list of priorities for holidaymaking tourists! And yet, those who do choose to delve into the name of this particular spot in Grenada are bound to find an interesting and unexpected connection to a natural element of the island.
The Plant
In fact, the name is another name for €Crescentia', a genus of plant found in the Americas and the Caribbean and which happens to be the national tree of neighbouring St Lucia. Also known as huingo, krabasi or kalebas, the calabash is a small tree, growing to a maximum height of 35ft (10m), which yields hard-shelled fruits with a soft pulp and a diameter of about 25in (10cm). The pulp of the fruit is often used to treat respiratory problems, while its hard shell can be used for decorative ornaments and utensils such as bowls or cups.
The particular variety found in the Caribbean is Crescentia cujete, one of the six species to fall under this umbrella denomination. Given its association to the islands and their culture, there can be little doubt that it was this tree that inspired the owners of the Calabash Hotel to name their establishment thus.
While no more than a curiosity, this peculiar association between a local tree and a hotel in Grenada could prove an entertaining fait-divers for guests of the Calabash Hotel to relate to their friends upon their return to their country of origin.
That is not to say, however, that Grenada is without its share of luxury hotels. In fact, one of the most popular accommodation options on the island, the Calabash Hotel, which provides tourists with the perfect mix of accessibility, comfort, and a central location close to all of the island's main spots, is earning its reputation as one of the Caribbean's top hotels.
However, most visitors to Grenada who stay at the Calabash Hotel will stop and think about the name of the hotel they are staying in. Unless they are particularly distinctive, finding out about the names of locations in foreign countries is not usually high on the list of priorities for holidaymaking tourists! And yet, those who do choose to delve into the name of this particular spot in Grenada are bound to find an interesting and unexpected connection to a natural element of the island.
The Plant
In fact, the name is another name for €Crescentia', a genus of plant found in the Americas and the Caribbean and which happens to be the national tree of neighbouring St Lucia. Also known as huingo, krabasi or kalebas, the calabash is a small tree, growing to a maximum height of 35ft (10m), which yields hard-shelled fruits with a soft pulp and a diameter of about 25in (10cm). The pulp of the fruit is often used to treat respiratory problems, while its hard shell can be used for decorative ornaments and utensils such as bowls or cups.
The particular variety found in the Caribbean is Crescentia cujete, one of the six species to fall under this umbrella denomination. Given its association to the islands and their culture, there can be little doubt that it was this tree that inspired the owners of the Calabash Hotel to name their establishment thus.
While no more than a curiosity, this peculiar association between a local tree and a hotel in Grenada could prove an entertaining fait-divers for guests of the Calabash Hotel to relate to their friends upon their return to their country of origin.
