Day 15 Barbados

Barbados is the most Easterly Island of the Leeward and Windward islands.  It is roughly 21miles by 14 miles, covering an area just a smidging larger than the Isle of Wight.  The temperature experiences a slight variation throughout the year usually between 24 -27 deg C, although today has topped 30 degrees.  During the afternoon a pleasant north easterly breeze had made it feel quite comfortable.  Barbados claimed full independence from the UK in 1966, but remains a member of the Commonwealth.   Barbados is an almost flat island compared to its neighbours of St Lucia, Grenada and Antigua, with the highest point, Mt Hillaby, some 1089 feet above sea level. The capital of Bridgetown accounts for 95,000 of the 250,000 inhabitants.

By the time we woke up this morning, the ship was already alongside and had been so for some hours.  After breakfast, which was packed due to the fact that disembarking passengers had to be out of their cabins by 08.00, so breakfast was a good way of wasting time before they were called for their flights.  We decided to take a walk into Bridgetown before the temperature became too unbearable for walking.  Sticking to the waterfront, we survived the initial wave of taxi drivers wanting to relieve us of some dollars in return for a trip around this beautiful island, then the second wave of taxis, who want to whisk you downtown. 

After about 20 minutes and a quick nose into the fish market we arrived at a trendy marina, which housed proof that pirates are still active in this area.  We have photographic proof that the Jolly Roger actually exists.  They we recruiting crew members, by promising them rum rations in return for sailing with the ship.  No sign of Jack Sparrow, we suspect he was below with some wench.

We mooched around some of the backstreets, taking in some of the plethora of churches that abound here and some of the local culture in the street markets, before making our way back to the ship.  The temperature was rising as we walked back along the seafront, then into the dock area to make our way back aboard.  By the time we were back in our cabin we were in need of putting some water back into our bodies.

We had decided not to do a tour of Barbados, so it was up to the sundeck for a few hours of tan boosting.  Throughout the afternoon people were being shipped off to the airport and a little later the coaches would return with fresh inmates.  Although the temperature had topped 30 degrees C, there was a pleasant breeze blowing across the top sundeck, making it more than bearable.  We opted for a pizza for lunch, which was freshly cooked in Frankies Grill & Pizzaria.  It’s a joint venture between Frankie Detori & Marco Pierre White – Strange combination!  Anyway it tasted great and filled a gap formed by our walk into town.

Sunset this evening was pretty spectacular, but we are not sailing for St Lucia until 8.30 this evening, so plenty of time for the new intake to familiarise themselves with the ship.

Not sure if we will get two new people on our table this evening, as we have established that the young couple who were with us to start with have requested a table for two.  Their loss!!

The place settings had been removed from our table when we went in to dinner, so no new passengers for us.  Glyn was slowing up this evening, but then it came to light that he had been up to the BBQ at around 6.00pm and tucked into kebabs and chicken, before coming into dinner.  Only the one sirloin steak this evening and no cheese.  I bet his Olympic eating trainer will have words to say about that.

I had to pay an unscheduled visit to the menswear department yesterday evening, as with still best part of a week to go my chinos will no longer meet round my waist, let alone do up, so a purchase was required.  I’m hoping to last out with the remaining pairs of trousers.

We were all feeling somewhat cream crackered after dinner, so we decided to have an early night and forego the evening’s entertainment. 

We have only just departed our moorings in Bridgetown, which is some two hours behind schedule and are now en route back to St Lucia some 115nm away.  The temperature at 10.30pm is 27deg C and the wind is a mere 10 knots.