No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until she comes home and rests her head on her old, familiar pillow

I soon realized that no journey carries one far unless, as it extends into the world around us, it goes an equal distance into the world within..................

 Have been home for a few days and have gone back to my life here ....work, commitments,  committees, friends, stress, et al. Sitting on my patio now as Sun is setting. There is a  cool breeze blowing,and am hearing, smelling, living in NYC. Enjoying the moment.  Just finished downloading lots of photos from my vacation in Barbados. Lots of smiles crossing my face as I look  and re-see the scenes that are very alive in my mind.   

Back in NYC

So where do I go from here? Is where I want to be? Have there been any life lessons learned during my time away and enjoying life in a less chaotic place? If so...what? That is the real question and perhaps why vacations are so very important. No big decisions, at least not yet..but lots of thoughts floating around my mind.

Lessons about how to enjoy life even if there are stresses and difficulties in just living day to day. Taking hot and crowded public transportation happens everywhere. Seemed that just relaxing and letting the miles pass,  catching a breeze as I might was OK while away...Could be the same in NYC, where for the most part, air conditioning in Summer, and heating in Winter are not unusual. Drivers on buses here would never allow the overcrowding that seemed to happen while on Barbados. Never heard a complaint though, so, again...why not enjoy the ride here?    

Crowded super markets? Maybe. Seemed much the same in the markets in many places I have visited in my life. Difference in prices and diversity of food? Still the shopping carts in the big stores are filled with many of the same items. Yes. Manhattan is way less expensive with quantity and quality of most items going to NYC too. Especially now with gigantic markets springing up in many neighborhoods in the city. But, nowhere in NYC are your packages taken out to a van waiting to take you to your home or hotel with no charge. I asked many times how are Bajans able to afford to buy food. The answer......."We do". Simple and direct. Needs must. We all have heard and read that statement. Needs must....Do and with that attitude... can do. I am sure it is hard for some but I complain more that my coffee at Starbucks is not exactly as I want it without a doubt.  

Beauty of County. Barbados is gorgeous. I have shown some photos. Being there is so much better. At times almost surreal.  Where the sky meets the sea and the waves and the Sun dance together in the Ocean.Crane beach amazing...

Bathsheba

Bathsheba....so much beauty that it hurt my eyes to try and take it all in. Want to go back and be on that beach., just let the days pass as they will. Know I will do that. No doubt at all. So much beauty. Lush and real....no gardener has been at work here since the Original One. 

Crane Beach

People. Are. Happy, sad, nice, not, I had the great fortune to meet lots of Bajans. This is what I have to say about them. Very much friendly, helpful, caring, generous of their time and spirit. Great sense of humor and caring in so many ways. I came to Barbados knowing not a soul and that Island. Facebook "friends" with some. I left having met and been befriended by so many. Their names and photos have been in this blog since the beginning of my trip and since leaving the I have been in contact with most on a daily basis. Friends....I came home so much richer than when I left.

Even thunder and lightening storms, are magnificent when viewed with the right frame of mind. The times I was soaked through and through were more numerous in 3 weeks than in the last three years...Aside from ruining two pairs of sneakers, didn't really bother me. Just tried to wipe the water from my eyes. Stood in the rain purposely to watch the revelers and bands march. As did countless hundreds others. With no thought of leaving 'cause of the rain. Loved every moment. Please Barbados don't let your Island go to the huge hotels and condos that block your views of all that is yours by right.

No excuses or accepting. Not in the least. Perhaps just seeing my great city through refreshed eyes. Maybe even got some perspective from the people I interacted with while away. Much less stressed now. Trying to keep what I have. Will it change and I go backwards? Don't know. Do understand me a little better now I think. Yes I know. Even agree. "About time".              

I was looking for somewhere to go that I could de-stress and enjoy life. Somewhere I would be comfortable traveling and staying by myself. Somewhere that would give me a new perspective, maybe even a new chance at life. I found it. My choice was perfect. 

Barbados

O! for a horse with wings.................William Shakespeare

I don't like getting patted down and taking off my shoes at the airport...or standing in a line for an hour...or taking out my computer and makeup bag....or......

Time for me to return to NYC. Packing is much easier than before trip. Just pack up everything in the room. Actually have one less suitcase as much of what I brought with me has been used. Still can't lift my suitcase by myself. Happy me knows that wheels are the best invention added to a case!

Very sad to be leaving all the wonderful people who have contributed to this being a really wonderful vacation. So happy I finally met all of you. Brad is a super special friend as well as a great tour guide and all around fun to hang out with. He showed amazing patience and grace with my lack of ability to climb up and down "mountains" and endured my death grip on him when doing so. Even "let" me sneak a photo or two. Miss you lots already...  Bobbi....true Sister in all ways. Have known her in many lifetimes. Made all easy and wonderful for me. Let me see and hear Bajan Music and experience Crop Over event,s and much more as no tourist could.. Wayne for sharing her, and his knowledge of Calypso and Soca and answering my unending questions..Zak and Holly for inviting me to your wedding, and letting me be part of that very special day..

Bobbi, Ownway, Ann, Dawn

....Margaret and Ann....much fun and laughter with both of you. Meeting Dawn and Ownway on my last night was a gift. Need to spend more time with you....Rude, Liming with you and Wayne with Bobbi was so much fun. Thank you for introducing me to Garry's RumPunch, especially the coconut version. Terry, Wayne (Mojo's will be my hangout next trip!),  Bentley, Natasha, Gail, Sue and Sue, William, Ian for the LIME sim card.... the list seems unending.To those of you I couldn't see this time...We will stay in touch and plan better for my next one..To all of you I  need to say huge, Thank You! I can hear Rude now..."We are Bajan. That is how we are".

There is some discussion of going to airport, dropping luggage and going back to Foul Bay  enjoy the beach for a few more hours. Seems like away to get stressed, so no...Turns out it would have been impossible. Bobbi picked me up at my hotel about 2.5 hours before flight time. Got to the airport (BGI) in a few minutes. So much faster it seemed than when I arrived. Was met by check-in at American Airline. No AC  its hot and humid and lots of body heat too.  Even though there is automated check-in machines, one has to wait and be invited to do use them. There was one attendant and so many machines were not used for minutes at a time. Line lasts for over an hour. After I get to a machine(time using machine- less than 1 minute), then another line for the counter to get the tag for suitcase. That takes another 45 minutes. Time at counter less than 2 minutes. So in summary- in order to get my boarding pass and suitcase tagged I ( and everyone else)stood on lines for 1 hour and 45 minutes. In NY it took me 3..OK maybe 4 minutes for same.

Roti

Now have 25 minutes till boarding and still need to go through security. There is some happiness though...find a Cheffette...get a chicken and potato Roti to take on plane with me! Another line...but it goes much faster than the previous 2. Maybe Cheffette can give the airport some pointers?

Too soon, saying good bye to Bobbi, She is my wonderful Big Sister,  feel so sad to be leaving her. Bobbi was the very first Bajan friend I met as she picked me up almost 3 weeks ago at this same airport and will be the last I see as I leave.

Security check is the usual taking off shoes and putting computer in separate bin. Lines are normal and chaotic as in every airport. But, boarding and takeoff go smoothly. Informed we will land about a half hour early. Nearer to 7 than 7:30 in Miami. Smooth flight, read, nap, and listen to music. There is some movie being shown, but not interested.

Landing is again smooth. To gate. Then had to walk for about 20 minutes to get to immigration. Walked through 2 different buildings, up and then down escalators. Steered from several lines to a huge hall where hundreds of people were in many lines....waiting. The one (1!) for US citizens was by far the longest. 20 minutes tick by. Eventually we were told to stand in any line.

Don't know why that wasn't said in the beginning. Anyway....went to the line that said Diplomats as there was no one there! Then a family came and said they were diplomats and literally walked in front of me.....don't know why they knew I wasn't?

It took about 10 more minutes and it was my turn." Hello"...."Welcome home". Thank you. Free and back in the USA! So 30 minutes have passed.

Now for some silliness.  I have to go to another area and get my checked suitcase...so I can check it in again...at another place. Find the area and the carousel. Look for my bag...its now about 40 minutes since landing. No suitcase...for anyone. Hasn't been started yet. Its about 7:30pm. My next flight to JFK is scheduled to take off at 8:40. I wait. Meet a lovely lady who lives in Barbados, who is traveling to Canada. We chat and pass the time.....more than 25 minutes later the carousel starts to move and that buzzer that everyone understands sounds.

I am almost trampled to death by a man who believed his luggage would be the first piece of luggage on the carousel.  If he were an experienced traveler, he would know that the first piece of luggage belongs to no one. It’s just a dummy suitcase to give everyone hope.


 Five more minutes and I have my suitcase. Now for customs! "Follow the yellow dots on the floor".....To an elevator....where we all crowd in and go up....to an escalator where we all go back down. To a ....Surprise!...line. There I am given the privilege of handing my customs declaration to a bored looking woman and my suitcase to an equally bored looking man. Literally less than a minute to do. But it is now 8pm and I am supposedly at my gate. NOT! Have to go through security again!. This line is longer than any of the previous ones. We inch forward for 30 minutes. Hurrah! all done.

Need gate 43. Not so simple. I am in a building several miles away from the one I need to be in. Now I take the airtrain...which is two escalator rides up and 1 down to a train 1 stop. There I get out go down 1 escalator...walk a bit and then go up and then down again. Now I am back in the American Airlines terminal. It is 8:35pm. Technically my plane should have hatch closed and be ready to taxi.  It is not....Go to counter. Nice lady says at least 20 minutes to boarding. There is "weather" in the area. Don't know or care what that meant other than I did not miss my flight!. Go in search of Bathroom and then food in that order. 


Take off a little after 9pm. During flight it dawns on me that I have not seen the keys to my home since day one in Barbados. When I took them out of my purse and put them....???? Oh dear! Nothing to do now. Will certainly find them at JFK.  

Landed about 1am. Again went through the up and down escalators and an airtrain to another down and then up escalator circus to the luggage retrieval area. 20 minutes later bags arrived.   No key case found. Too tired to think. Just know I can't get into my apartment tonight. Doorman off duty till 8am. Not going to spend the night at the airport.....so.....call and get a room at the Best Western. Get there.....search suitcases again....Same result. I face the fact that I left my keys in Barbados.!! So if anyone out there has found them....please let me know. Fall asleep from exhaustion. Morning comes....a $65 car ride and I am home. Almost...the doorman can't find my extra set of keys. I feel a meltdown coming on. Tears actually fill my eyes. He looks at me in panic and calls another person who goes and gets the keys from an area not usually used for same. I fleetingly wonder why....but not really...A short elevator ride....and I am in! Home Sweet Home.

Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey............

I need a vacation!



P.S. - Thank you Facebook! Everyone mentioned here was a virtual stranger, and now a real friend.

Summertime and the living is easy.............

Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living...

OK now, my vacation is down to the wire. Sun out and so am I beach, pool, beach, pool. Find some Sun and then lots of shade!. Best day so far!

Starting to transition though. Back to reality. It is not a comfortable change for me. This time in Barbados has brought me many interesting and perhaps permanent insights and even change. Think that because my time here was spent wholly with Bajans my view was less of a vacationer than usually expected. Went to a wedding of two people I hadn't known 72 hours before.

Had the joy of watching them exchange their old selves for their new ones. That in itself is a synopsis for the kind of amazing experiences I have had here.

So, these are my observations. Firstly even though English is the national language, there is a dialect and speech pattern spoken by just about every native Bajan  that has for most of the time left me to ponder what was being said. Usually when  they realized that I am clueless, the switch to something I could understand was made. Everything is written in English thankfully. Found much to love here.People, festivals, music, Soca, food, the total beauty that met my eyes at every turn. Amazing place...Life seems to be lived in a simpler but very profound way by most. Bajans are unfailing polite, many were reserved at first, but also friendly and helpful. Smiles are not hard to come by. Life is slower and less regimented....not exactly "Manana"...more like "at some point". Seems people here understand that days should have joy in it. Life isn't so different from NYC  here...though  in some ways much harder. Food is ridiculously expensive, and harder to come by. I say that as a Manhattan dweller. Even large modern Super Markets have shortages. People here cope. That is the word. They don't have a meltdown.  There is a  sense of community that can be wonderful or intrusive. Bajans OWN Barbados in their every fiber. That ownership is tangible and fully developed; whether it is whose song and performance should win Soca or where to find the best Souse. Everyone not only has a strong opinion, and will defend it ably.

The newspapers are read by most of the population daily, and I mean from front to back cover, not just the headlines and the ball scores. There are several and while people have their favorite they also read the "other" paper to know how the news is being framed by that one too.The population knows what is going on and are up to date on much of the  international issues too. The other trait I noticed, is the patience displayed.

Roundabout

Hardly a honked horn in 3 weeks. Very few traffic lights. Cars actually stop so pedestrians can cross or a car can turn onto a street. There are these amazing road devices called roundabouts. Cars are going in 6 different directions at the same time...with courtesy all get through easily. Don't think this would be a doable thing in NY. Public buses and vans cost $1US and they run throughout the country, and will actually wait for you to cross over to board or get the rest of the way to the stop. Especially when it was raining this was very welcome. Drawback is that all transport but taxis cease at midnight. Taxis are VERY expensive. There are not meters or route map prices. I found it best to ask at my hotel what fares should be and to establish that before I got into the taxi. Also need to understand that Barbados money is called dollar. Understand that...US money is readily taken. Make sure you do the math. its $1.98 Bajan for $1.00USD. Most retailers have calculators at the register and taxis will give you $2BD for $1USD

Then there is the unimaginable beauty here. Everywhere you turn the vistas are breathtaking. Its so common place that some don't see it. Perhaps much the way I don't look up at the skyscrapers where I live.

One scene after another:

Seems a shame to blink and miss something.....

Everywhere you look:

Three steps from a busy traffic hub

Went to Nature Sanctuary. Main area is closed but the grounds and water areas are beautifully maintained. Was a lovely interlude just steps from my hotel.

These are just examples. Perhaps not even the best ones. As small as Barbados is I did not see all of it. In fact probably very little, but all that I did see made a great impression on on me. Made me want to see more and spend more of my life there. Perhaps even get a tan...

Very happy Barbados was the place I chose for my vacation....Was a really stress-less way to spend my days and nights. I thank all the people of Barbados who made me feel welcome, special, and loved....Totally reciprocal...

The Sun goes back to Work

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.........

Woke to beautiful blue sky. Nary a cloud, and a cooling breeze. Finally! Make plans to meet Brad and Bobbi to go sightseeing. First stop though is lunch at a beachfront restaurant. Listening to the surf and feeling the soft breeze on my skin are enjoyed along with good conversation and nice food. Feeling very comfortable and the day promises to be a good one.

Then we are headed toward the southern shores, bays, and beaches. Brad knows the best spots to enjoy the magnificent views. Mile High trees are and stunning vistas are followed by more of the same.

Tide Pool

Mile High Tree

The views are awe inspiring....from:

Mile Trees, to surfers, vistas that literally take my breath away. Brad is a very able guide and shows us pieces of Barbados I never would have seen without him. Got some great photos and even more importantly have the sights in my mind. What a beautiful country!


 After coming back from our beautiful day along the shore. Stopped at Oistins for a drink, and for me to see. Later we went to the Surfer's Cafe for some dinner. Nice place! The surf comes up to the wave breaker right below your table....

\\

Started with food...end of with food...Great day all around. Its such a revelation ...being so chill and so enjoying all the sights and just being.here. Each day has a specialness about it. A space and moment that as me appreciating all that is available for me to experience.

Just because you're not sick doesn't mean you're healthy........

The one thing I didn't pack that I should have!

Wandering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between People and the universe.................

Sun glowing...day bright. Up...coffee...beach and Ocean. Wonderful! Even take a mango and experience eating it in the ocean as I have heard others do. All great! Swim around for awhile and then back to beach and towel. Lie down...and the world spins sickeningly.....I open my eyes and the sky is spinning, and I am so nauseous...can't move. Scared. Never felt anything like this before. Close my eyes and just breath in and out slowly...open eyes and still see twirling sky. Waited for a few more minutes and slowly sat up with eyes closed...lots of nausea...but world spun less...Made my way carefully back to hotel and room. Sat down on my bed...wet hair, swimsuit and all.. Inched my way down on  the bed. Eventually horizontal.. Fell asleep. When I woke felt much better and the world had stopped spinning.  It is raining though, and this time I am grateful. Thank You. Whatever plans I had for the day...Cancelled. Its a day of rest....sleep, read and watch the waves hit the beach. Tomorrow hopefully will be a much better one.

Monday's weather is what I have come to expect here...HOT with blazing Sun alternating with pouring rain.  The really great part? I feel wonderful. Any illness I may have had is totally gone. All systems go. Going to go the see the Bands Jump with Bobbi. This is an all day affair. Seems that much of the population of the Island will be taking part. First though.....Meet for breakfast. Service is extremely slow..eventually we are told that most of the staff has not come to work. They are taking part in the festivities in town. Breakfast down we look outside..

Sheets of rain...even though I half expected it..Think we will wait a bit. Conversation covers many topics and happy chatter is continuous.

When the rains lessens we make a dash to the car. We were mistaken the rains have come to join the parade of bands. It will be here all day and will be joined by its pals thunder and lightning on and off as the day passes. Parking is eventually found on the sidewalk.

Empty Streets Leading to:

Love a Man in Uniform

We are off the road and on the street.As we walk toward the action the music gets louder and puts us in the correct frame of mind for the day. Make our way to a vantage point where short people(me) can see and take photos. Find some friends and make others along the way. When the band trucks go by the pounding rhythm reverberates in my chest...feel like I am becoming part of the music. Intoxicating feeling!

Pomegranate

There are Pomegranate trees all over. Tons of fruit. Told Bajans don't eat them!! Why not? Can't reach any or I would have had my hands full.  Many of the bands have hundreds of people who are "jumping". Costumes seem to be made mainly of feathers and bikinis for the women....the men....very little of feathers for most...some paint or jewels on face and/or body.....and whatever they usually wear. Every band has a truck...every truck has loads of liquid refreshment for the bands...much alcohol  has been and is being consumed by both the bands and the bystanders. Theme of the day might be "Lose Yourself and Have Fun"!. At least so it appears.


Of course as we were having fun the rains came..along with lots of lightening and thunder. In about 2 minutes all were soaked to the skin. I was no longer having fun, neither was Bobbi. So, back to the car we headed. But, there were many more folks than when we arrived and it took close to an hour to make the return journey. Wet? Were we wet? Dripping! Made puddles in the car!! So what to do now? Go home and get dry? No way!

Off to Lime at Garry's Rum Punch Bar. Have to try his Mango Rum Punch! I know we are there 'cause cars line the street around it. The pounding rain continues and the walk from the car to the overhang protecting the patrons from the wet takes less than 30 seconds....just enough time to start dripping again. Great party occurring here. Find out latter that it has been going on since about 9am. Get some of the punch. secure seating and feel like I am home. Food gets ordered..Wayne arrives and the party continues. Even though I am soaked I am enjoying every minute!


Such is the magic of Barbados for me. Don't feel like stranger. Any of my awkwardness passed quickly the first day or two. Mostly  because norms of life here are somewhat different here . It was easy to adjust. Just don't ask me to drive! Safer for all concerned.