Day twentyfour, Tuesday 22nd February, Bridgetown, Barbados.

Before I go on about the things we did today, I will just finish off the blog from yesterday:-

We stayed in the internet cafe until 7 yesterday, doing as much as possible to update everything before heading back to the ship.  We went for dinner, which was once again outside on the rear deck, and once again I ended up eating me hair (when will I learn!).  It was nice tho.  Then we went to watch the show, which was a local show, i.e. the show was provided by St Vincent, and Fred Olsen has no idea what it’s getting.

Once again, the local talent was brilliant.  They started with a Calypso singer and his steel drum playing father, (some of the songs may not have suited everyone, a little risqué, but I thought they were hilarious).  After that we had a dance school display the talents of the children.  They put on a really good show, full of colour and energy which displayed the culture of the island. My favourite had to be the little girls that danced with such attitude.

The ship was due to sail at 11, but we had to wait until the show people had left the ship.  We waited up on deck for them to disembark, and as they walked down the pier towards the exit, all the passengers on deck started clapping them again.  One little lad shouted up “thank you for letting  us dance for you”.  Awwwwwwwww!

Anyway we watched the twinkling lights of Kingstown go dim as the ship left the harbour before coming back to the cabin and bed.

And then this morning broke beautiful and blue and with us in the port of Bridgetown Barbados.  Our little Boudicca was parked between two other huge cruise ships, one from Royal Caribbean, and one from Princess Lines.  Of course, we decided they were far too big and ugly, and our ship was much better.

We didn’t have a tour booked today.  We had wanted to go to Harrison’s Cave, but the ship tour was full, so we decided to have a crack at getting there independently.  We walked out of the terminal only to find that the taxi services right outside wanted $80 (£53.75) to take us (admittedly a return fare).  We decided that was too much, and after a little mulling around the tourist information office and not finding anything we liked, we left the terminal and the port to wander around town.

As soon as we left the port gates, we were surrounded by taxi drivers wanting our fare.  These guys weren’t allowed to tout for business inside the port, which I suppose made them less “official”, but it also meant they could take us to the cave for $50, (£33.75, much better) so off we went.  It took about 30 mins to get there and the cab driver agreed to wait until we had done the tour of the cave (which takes about an hour), and then take us back.  Once there, he walked us to the ticket booth at the Harrison Cave Centre and then  went off to his car.  (Please note, Peter has not given him any money yet). 

When we went to get our tickets tho, it turned out that the next tour ride available was at 1.20 pm, two hours away.  Uh oh!  Peter hurried out to the taxi driver who agreed to come back at 2.30 pm, and we wiled away our time at the centre.  There are a few gardens and crafty type shops to look around, and we managed to get an ice cream and a tuna sandwich for lunch.

The cave tour itself was very good.  A little film explained the history of the island (how it is made mostly from coral), and we were taken around the caves themselves in a little buggy towed by an electric car.  How?  Well, a large tunnel, like a road almost, has been cut through, connecting all the caves.  So we sat in the little cars, with our guide at the front explaining the names of the caves etc.  Me n Peter both felt it would have been nicer to walk, and spend as much time as we wanted at the various sights, but it was pointed out to us that if the tourists were allowed to do that, they would touch everything and change the way the caves developed. (What about the tunnel then?) No matter, it was a n enjoyable experience, and worth the hassle it took to get us there.

Tour over, we left the complex at 2.20pm and our taxi driver was just parking up.   He took us back to Bridgetown and dropped us off in the city centre for a look see.  The taxi drivers really are very helpful. 

 I think, during our port talks, Bridgetown and Barbados where described as the shopping centre of the Caribbean.  Our wander through the city streets proved that, loads of duty free shops and department stores.  There are some wonderful colonial buildings about, and a statue of Nelson, erected 36 years before the one in London.  Funnily enough, he used to stand in Trafalgar Square, but they changed the name to Hero’s Square.

Right, so we’ve had a look at the town, now for the beach.  So, back to the ship (walking, and its very hot), a quick change, and out to get another taxi.  Again, we were given a return fare price, and again, the taxi driver agreed to wait for us, since we only planned to be on the beach for an hour.  (it’s 4.30 pm now).  We went to Carlisle beach, south east of Bridgetown and thoroughly enjoyed the white sand and warm blue water.  Beautiful

Then back to the ship, shower and changed for dinner on deck again, and our final treat is another local show.  The Barbadians gave us a comedian host, dancers, drummers, a mad acrobat and a guy on stilts who was too tall for the most of the lounge.  The stilt guy danced and jumped and hopped, constantly looking like he was going to topple over.  Another brilliant evening’s entertainment.  

Right now the ships engines have just started again (rattle rattle rattle).  Tomorrow we will wake up in Castries, St. Lucia.  I have been spammed to act as escort on a tour of some?  Me and Peter both.  Obviously no-one else wanted or could do it, and we did say to the tours guy that if he needed anyone...........

This is gonna be interesting.

Bridgetown, Barbados 2014