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Barbados, Barbados, Barbados. I don’t actually know what to say about this port, except that even after visiting this island, I’m not sure what to make of it. Barbados is an island with money – there are some celebrity homes, some ritzy resorts, and in general, a higher standard of life compared to some of the other islands we visited. Because of all this, I expected the island to be gorgeous, but it wasn’t. I certainly wouldn’t spend $500/night for a mediocre beach so there must be another draw to the island…I just didn’t find it on my short visit.
To be fair, Barbados was the one day of the cruise where the weather didn’t agree with us, and that may have had something to do with it. Although this was less than perfect, there’s not much you can do about the weather, so we took it in stride, determined to still have a good time (and we did!).
Upon arrival at the port, it was pouring. SHEETS of rain were coming down from the sky. Enter Plan B: an early-morning arrival to an internet cafe (it was about time I skyped with my husband) and a little bit of souvenir shopping before we met our tour for the day. Luckily, by then the rain had settled to more of a drizzle.
The one thing I really wanted to do in Barbados was swim with the turtles, mainly because I’ve never gotten very close to a sea turtle before. There are two ways to do this: taking a public bus to a public beach and then swimming maybe 100 yards from shore (approximate cost $5) or by going with a group that points out island attractions along your drive, stops for a few photos along the way, sails by catamaran to three different snorkeling destinations, and throws in a few free drinks (approximate cost $60). I got suckered into the expensive way of doing it — hey, it’s vacation! — but in retrospect, it would have been just as easy to go on your own. Hindsight is 20/20.
We spent another hour or so snorkeling, this time ushered in by tremendous schools of fish. Usually, I’m distracted by how many different types of fish there are: the many sizes, shapes, and colors, but this time, there were maybe only two or three types of fish…but thousands of each of them! It was a pretty incredible experience to be surrounded by them. A picture can’t do it justice.
When are you going to finish this trip report? Was looking forward to the remaing info…
@Randy, I’ll put up the St. Lucia post tonight and will finish up with St. Kitts & St. Maarten in the next week or so. Thanks for the kick in the butt to finish up!
You were shortchanged, admittedly, by Barbados. It’s English origins make it esp.comfortable for English-speakers. People seem exceptionally kind and sincere, not much tourism burnout evident. Tons of natural history and beauty, food, events the whole lot. While further east than any other islands, easily accessible with a lot of service availabie. Somewhat higher standard of living but not excessively expensive or a lot of crushing poverty either.
@Steve, Thanks for weighing in! Maybe I’ll get the chance for a second visit someday.
we went there on our honeymoon and rented a villa for a week. Had fabulous food, explored the whole island by rental car…landscapes were gorgeous on the north and eastern sides of the island. Wild surf, huge cliffs, large rocks in the surf. Very wild and almost desolate. Animal Flower Caves were fabulous, as was St. Nicholas Abbey for history. We also went in their caverns in the central part. Very well done and gorgeous. Go back and give it another chance! Sorry you had bad weather.
did you do a scuba diving?
@Bong, I did not but I know others really enjoyed it.