Class Reunion Eastern Caribbean Cruise - Barbados

Welcome to Barbados! Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

There's nothing quite like waking up on vacation and not having anything scheduled until afternoon. We had a leisurely breakfast in the dining room, where I enjoyed a whole lot of pineapple and the eggs Benedict. Delicious!

We decided to get off the ship to check out the dockside shopping. There is always plenty of shopping very close to the ship; in many cases, you actually have to walk through an enclosed shopping area to leave the dock. Some shops are at each major port of call, and I understand there are some deals to be had on big-ticket jewelry items, if that's your interest. It isn't mine, but I do like to take advantage of the “freebies” they offer to get you in the door (small pendants, tiny gemstones, and so on). Sometimes, it's a quest!

For instance, at Diamonds International (just to name one off the top of my head), there's an inexpensive charm bracelet you can purchase, and it comes with a “free” charm representing the port you are currently visiting. The idea is to collect the “free” charms at each port, to fill up your bracelet. And also to get you to walk past the display cases and eager salespeople on the way to the very back of the shop, where you might have to wait a while before someone condescends to give you your “free” charm. Naturally, they're hoping you'll be tempted with actual purchases. And who can blame them? They aren't in business just to meet new people. For me, the adventure is in getting in and out of the shop with my charm in as little time as possible.

We checked out the departure area
so we'd know where to go later.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

Waiting for our tour to board.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

Then it was back to the ship for a quick lunch at the buffet, where I consumed entirely too much absolutely fabulous smoked salmon. Just put a little dollop of cream cheese on there, roll it up, and pop it in your mouth. Wow. The simple pleasures are the best, yes?

We had booked an afternoon coast-to-coast tour of the island, which Bob and Karen had visited previously. The weather was the weather: overcast, drizzly, breezy, and cool. Well, comparatively cool, keeping in mind the tropical location.

We passed lots of this type of
construction. Cute! Barbados
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

There was also lots of this type. Barbados.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

Our comfortable tour bus took us from Bridgetown up the coast a bit, past ritzy hotels and fancy neighborhoods and golf courses, and soon we were climbing from sea level, past sugar cane fields, to a mountaintop look-out, where we stopped for a complimentary rum punch and some snacks. And then we dropped down to the other side of the island, to the ruggedly dramatic beach at Bathsheba. In the sunshine, this must be spectacular, because it was gorgeous in the weather we were experiencing.

The beach at Bathsheba. Barbados.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

St. John's Parish Church
Barbados
Photo by Chris.
All rights reserved.

St. John's Parish Church, built in 1836, is the newest incarnation of a church in this location, starting with a (presumed to be) wooden structure in the 1640's. Fires and hurricanes have had their way with the building over the years. A visit there was a high note for me. The church is quite well situated, has an intriguing cemetery, and overlooks magnificent vistas. And, of course, it is beautiful.

St. John's Parish Church
Barbados
Photo by Chris.
All rights reserved.

We saw a kind of residential subdivision going up. They were said to be “starter” homes, close together. But they were pretty large, built high up on cinder block pilings so that the ground floor was open and unfinished, with the living quarters actually on the second floor. I've seen houses like this in flood zones, but we were told that the idea here is to start with the second floor completed, then add in rooms downstairs as the family grows. In the meantime, there's plenty of covered parking for wrecked cars!

One of these was at the other dock.
Must be rough, eh?
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

Back on the ship, we had some ice cream with Kathi and Marsha and Reyna, and we were on deck for the sail away. Dinner was amazing. I had a cod fritter appetizer, followed by Asian broth soup and Waldorf salad, then a veal chop with polenta and asparagus. For dessert, I had panna cotta with raspberry coulis. Yum. Harry had an appetizer of braised beef with gnocchi, followed by tomato soup and a Waldorf salad, then seafood orzo and a dessert of crème brûlée. I know. Your mouth is watering, right? Mine is, too, just thinking about it. I think I'd better go up and down the stairs a few times, just to burn off the calories accumulating in my imagination!

Chillin' on deck.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.

The show that night featured comedian Fred Klett. His act featured clean,hilarious stories (click for a video) of growing up in a big family, and he picked on the audience uproariously. Our little group liked Fred so much that we decided to stay up until all hours so we could see him again at “Late Night Liar's Club.” What outrageously good liars they all were. It was so worth the expected next day's exhaustion!

Can you smell them? Awesome.
Photo by Chris. All rights reserved.