Cruise - Barbados #8

Arriving in Bridgetown, Barbados, we found The Arcadia already docked and once again the sun was shining so all was well with my world!

After breakfast we decided a trip round the island was a great idea and proceeded to the quayside where we picked a tour bus up with no problem at at.

One of the first places of interest we saw was Kensington Oval, Barbados' Cricket Ground which recently underwent massive expansion and renovations for the World Cup. The venue was officially reopened on February 17th 2007.


 

Kensington Oval

As you enter Kensington Oval, you will see a statue of Sir Garfield Sobers, one of the finest cricketers of all time. Sir Gary, as he is called locally, is recognized as one of the National Heroes of Barbados.

Our tour bus took us to Sandy Lane where all the really posh residences are in Barbados.  The houses are amazing and I got a quick shot of one to show you.

Our next stop was St. James Parish Church, the oldest Anglican church on the island.  The original wooden structure was built in 1628 near the landing site of the first English settlers to Barbados, who arrived on February 17, 1627. After a hurricane on August 31, 1675 which devastated most of the island, a stone structure replaced the former wooden building in the early 1690's.  I've put a link in the Church name so you can read more about it.

Our next stop was Sugar Hill, a gated community with a security controlled entrance and 24 hour security, this where the rich and famous stay when they visit Barbados, Sir Cliff Richard has a house there. 
 

 

The Royal Westmorland Beach Club, Sugar Hill, Barbados.

When you compare these properties with the Chattel Houses that people still live in you see the prosperity and poverty that exists in Barbados.

Chattel Houses were originally the design of the plantation workers home. They were modest wooden buildings set on blocks so that they could be easily moved from one leaseholding to another. In early settlement days, home owners were not necessarily landowners, but part of a tenantry system of the plantations.

The oldest inhabited Chattel House in Barbados.

We continued on our journey round the island passing through Apes Hill, which is where most of the island's repatriated people live, to Mount Hillaby situated in St.Andrew, this is the highest point of the island - at 1,115 ft. or 343 metres above sea level.    As you can imagine the views from here are amazing!

Our last stop on the trip was the Mount Gay Rum Distillery where Rum has been produced since 1703.   We had a tour of the distillery before sampling the oldest Rum on the island.   Mount Gay have their own website, do take a look here it's very impressive and informative and very colourful!   We walked back to the ship where we had a late lunch and relaxed for the rest of the afternoon.

After dinner that evening we were entertained in the Marquee by 'The Barbados Caribbean Orchestra' before retiring to bed.     The next morning we had a treat booked and Michelle, who looked after our cabin delivered it at 8.30 prompt.

A luxury Continental breakfast with champagne and chocolate dipped strawberries, which we ate at leisure as today was sea day and there was nothing to do but to relax and that's exactly what we did.    We spent the day sunbathing on deck, reading and eating delicious ice-cream before retiring to our cabin for a nap before we showered and changed for dinner at The Bistro again that evening.

Here's what we enjoyed from the Bistro menu that evening.

Me:Tempura of vegetables with homemade aioli and romesco dipping sauces/Roast Breast of Corn-fed chicken with creamed leeks and pancetta/Iced Caramel Parfai with peppermint crisp.

MWM: Sliced Parma ham, pecorino cheese and Savpu cabbage salad with truffle oil/Pan-fried Barramundi in a coriander and mint crust with tomato and coconut salad/Vanilla cheesecake with warm balsamic strawberries.

Delicious!

After a day and night at sea our next stop was Tobago, I hope you'll join me.