Day 5 cont.

No one needs a vacation so much as the person who has just had one.  
 

 I would post a photo of Brad here.....but not sure he would like that...So maybe in a later entree.

Now where was I? Oh yes...after the beautiful ( and for me, terrifying) climb up and then down the cliff at Cranes Beach we went looking for sustenance.  It was extremely hot...Both were thirsty, sandy,(I ouched), and hungry too. A short distance along the road is Cutters Bajan Deli.

Me!

Place is cool, (thank you for AC), get to wash off some sand and throw cold water on my very hot face and body. Food, drink, and people, were all good. Even got to finally have a Mauby! Was nice to sit, eat and talk.All was fine till the bill came. Very expensive! Almost silly expensive. So beware!  Now on to Bridgetown to get a bus to Bathsheba. Bus was just about on time and back in BT very nicely.

 

The day continued to be very hot and Sunny. Wanted to see the Bridgetown Synagogue. It is the oldest in the Caribbean..and so there we went.  As we walked through the open door an amazingly cool breeze followed, and the Sanctuary itself protected us from the Sun...Ahhh wonderful. The building has been restored and you can sense the care that has been taken in every aspect. Paid a visit to the Cemetery said some prayers and got a feeling for what was in times past.Very happy we went. 


Then it was a race to catch the bus to Bathsheba.......A race we lost! Bus had just left. Neither of us wanted to wait for the next one. Quickly revised plan...It is now rush hour in Bridgetown...so caught a little white van that let us off near the Hilton.Short walk and "home sweet home".  Happy us to be AC'd...Some Ginger Beer, cheese, salsa and chips. Soon back to living beings. Brad seemed fine...I was totally exhausted.. heat did me in.


Soon time to meet Bobbi and have some dinner: At Just Grillin'

Food really good and I FINALLY had my first Rum Punch! Shocking all this time without. Well....after about 3 sips I was feeling no more Sunburn or skinned knee. Enjoyed watching and listening to the interaction between Bobbi and Brad.  Then met Sue there...who was picking up take out...but spent some time with us. Happy to meet her. The scheduled Reggae program for later in the evening was scrubbed.Sorry Rude and Buggy. Get you next week!  I wanted only one more thing tonight. My bed. To sleep. The Rum Punch was the finale. No more reserves. Brad caught his bus and Bobbi dropped me back at the Hilton.


Lotion on for sunburn and scrapped knee......Then sleep!

Day 4 and 5...I climbed a mountain....

Tourists don’t know where they’ve been, travelers don’t know where they’re going....

 

Said good by ti Gibbs Bay Inn late afternoon. Spent the day wandering the property, Gibbs Beach, and the pool. Amazing hot day...skies clear. Bobbi (bless here) came to bring me to to The Hilton Barbados, 2  miles down the road the rains came...and poured and poured. Roads flooded and traffic crawled. Lightning and thunder provided a light and sound show extraordinaire! I related my story of Bridgetown and being soaked....Wayne called....wet in rain...lets go get him!

 Went to a huge Bajan Super Market....loved looking at everything..and bought some food and drink for my room at the Hilton...( I miss Gibbs Tea a 4!). The rains finally abated, and the Hilton was reached.

  Easy fast reception, cool(cold..brr) room....New home for 5 nights. Unpacked.....showered, view from terrace, Ocean and Beach...sounds of the waves lead me to sleep...

Woke to bright Sunshine and a wonderful daytime view.

Nice isn't it?

But...hardly time to even look around...Off to Crane's Beach to meet Brad for the day. There are buses all over Barbados...Blue(Official Government ones). Yellow.(local entrepreneurs) and white vans(? not sure). Already had taken a blue one, so now boarding Yellow Bus to Sam Lords...45 minutes of cross Island riding...including some really nice view...I arrive. 

Brad, bless him is waiting just were he said he would be..even though I am about an hour late. Now on to Crane Beach.

To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom

He guided(dragged) me along some pilings and other to a stone staircase wall. Brad is 6'2".. He would say, "Just step here". At 5'3"....not always possible...he was very patient...and I think the death grip I had on his hand gave him some notion of just how scared I was at times. We got there...and the view was magnificent!.Really special. Think the blood eventually returned to his hand.....and then.....he said" higher". My response..."Uh...no!"..We sat an chatted for awhile and he said the higher word again and I the No one.....We climbed down..at some point he said go here and I went there...and scrapped my knee....Word to the wise...listen to those that know...even if you don't think so!

Part 2 to follow shortly...Now to the beach for me!

Day 2 and 3 - Make new friends, but keep the old..........

 A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it........



Great nights sleep....woke at 6:30...padded to my kitchen, and made a pot of coffee...took to terrace and listened to the day wake. Birds came to see the new lady...and sang to me. Nice start. Answered some email and had a few FB chats. What I left out last night was drama! I "lost" my phone. Panic total panic!..Then my internet went down for a few minutes....Hoped I had dropped it in Bobbi's car. Found Dawn online...mutual friend of Bobbi....she got a message to her..it was in Bobbi's car. Ahhhh can breath again...Internet returns. Back in the world.

Hi Zak

Then breakfast. There I met Zak. He is here from Nigeria...arrived yesterday...He knows no one here....and he is getting married! His bride to be and her family arrives tomorrow from Minnesota, USA. We chatted during our meal, then discovered we had the same camera..and an instant bond was formed. Took turns telling our life stories,

Invited him to join in the fun of Pan du Sand that my friends were taking me to late afternoon and evening. He agreed. Great time, listening to steel pan bands from all over the Caribbean...Bobbi, Wayne, E, and I. Found Ann adnd Margaret there too. Seems like I am starting to know people here!...:)

Even ran into a great FB(till now) friend Rude! Rude and I live in the same City in the US, but had to come here to actually meet.  Was happy to meet and see him. Recognized each other even in the crowd. Spent the afternoon and most of the evening enjoying the sights, sounds, and aromas that make up Pan du Sand. Was totally tired by the end of the evening. Sleep is so nice.

Much taller than on FB

Day 3
Spent some really lazy time at the pool...swam, floated, and finally found shade and ......slept. Like an innocent babe. Needed this. Heat is intense.

Got into real clothes and took the Blue Bus (label...To City) to Bridgetown. Blazing Sun turned to torrents of rain as soon as I sat. It took about 45 minutes to travel from St. Peter to Bridgetown. Rain again...Huge rain...I was literally soaked to the skin in about 3 minutes. Hair dripping down my neck...and it went on and on...Ducked into shops along the way ...didn't help...soaked...dripping, lost.

Needed on of these!

Really lost too!...People helped...its just over there....Where? There? Go left and go right. I may have told you folks this before...I have no sense of direction at all! Eventually got to my first destination the LIME phone shop. They gave me towels to dry off with. Business  done. Now to meet my friend...He called and said...just walk up the block. BLOCK! Not blockS....So again..wandered around, and  past the same man at least 3 times. He wanted to know if I liked him! If he could help me... became a land-mark for me!...Found my friend Brad and his friend Pamela finally! Happy me. Happy them. Dry and with people who know where they are. Thank you!

Pam had to leave for an appointment, she just wanted to meet me( think check me out for her friend in reality) so Brad (again virtual friend assumes a real body and voice) and I walked to another place and Banks was consumed.  Met the cutest little girl who gave me mango right off the tree. Brad put them in HIS bag and I never saw them again...guess he enjoyed them. Hmp! Truthfully, really happy to finally meet him. His descriptions of Barbados were a factor in my deciding to vacation here. One of the places we passed through was St. Margret's Church Yard. Want to go back there and explore some more. Love old gravestones, and religious houses are always of interest to me.Was great to finally see him after so much time being virtual! Time to meet up with Bobbi, Walked me over...so no getting lost (Yeah) to Bobbi's car.

Then on to Brown Sugar...To hear and MEET Terry Ricardo Arthur a great Pan artist and Willie Carr guitarist extraordinaire...Wonderful music, vibe, people....Wonderful (in retrospect) day, evening and night. Another great day in Paradise....

Day 1 - The Start

To me an airplane is a great place to diet..........


 To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.

 Woke early finished packing and found a taxi to the airport. American Airlines was totally on schedule and the security force seemed to be in a very jolly mood. After I put my clothes back on and repacked my PC ....found my gate and had a seat. 


When my area was called and  boarded...I had a middle seat.....in between two people that didn't know each other...darn!. We settled in and plane took off  early.  My seat mates, a woman on holiday with friends, and a man going home for 5 weeks. My the end of the flight numbers were exchanged and he is now a FB friend.

Immigration....."What Parrish are you staying? Don't know, think more than one..."Its OK most folks don't know I will put Christ Church...OK?" Sure!..Stamp Stamp. Out to find my suitcases.....Less than 10 steps and baggage claim. The usual people pushing you aside so they can stand and watch your suitcase go by...Grabbed one of mine, and gave this man a look that clearly said move! He did...rescued my other one and off we went to customs..
"Do you have any food stuffs" Yes, coffee. "Enjoy Barbados" The entire process including lines took less than 10 minutes. Very efficient and polite. Nice start.

Waited for Bobbi a few minutes....Up she drove..and it was a family reunion!. Bags in car and off we went.Like we had grown up together.. Non stop talking and a short tour during our drive. On to Golden Sands Hotel. Bobbi is a friend from another lifetime, of that I am sure.

This is souse..a national dish. I had a specially  made chicken one made and saved for me. Thank you again Bobbi...Pickled meat, and Pudding made from veggies and (I am sure) fat!..

There is karaoke..non stop...and the people who sing are great! Professionals I think. Huge crowd of diverse people will all sorts of musical taste...Lots of Country singers..Who knew ? Not me. Hours past and I was still fully being entertained. Meet a new friend Ann as well as relatives and friends of Sue, Margaret, and Bobbi.

Then it was on to Pebbles Beach:
Softest sand I ever walked on...gentle beautiful Water...Nice....Have touched water..all happy now! Right down the sand Cruising Club..stopped for some refreshment...Meet Natasha...Friend of Bobbi's..I think Bobbi knows EVERYONE on Barbados. Nice place...great view.Like the Vibe...Will return!...


Hungry again..(Smile)...so stopped at Blakly's for coconut water and salad...Right on the beach too. Lovely sunset...Now off to Bridgetown for a night tour....Coming back during the day. I will have fun here. Lots to see and poke through. There is a place at the harbor for a drink at some point.

Torrents of rain coming down as we head West to Gibbs Bay Inn....Pouring still when we arrived...Out came Dexter with an umbrella and easily handled my luggage. Shown to an amazing room. Did I say room? Its like a private villa. Huge Bedroom, with a bed large enough for 6 (hmmm). Kitchen, Dinning room and table for 8. Humongous terrace with 2 sofas 2 gigantic armchairs coffee table ceiling fans.....View of all and pool. Toby( Inn owner) comes to greet me and give me some vital Inn info. Breakfast at 8:30 by the pool...... WOW! Even the rain  can't dampen my spirit!....


Now for a good nights sleep............