Barbados
Hot and humid but beautiful, and with tall, friendly people - Barbados in a nutshell.
Our first day we just took a local minibus ($1 fare each) into the capital, Bridgetown and wandered around.
Food stands were frequent all around the island.
Beaches, like the one above, were nearly constant on the west (Caribbean) side of the island, and the water was warm (and felt silky).
On our next two days, we had a rental car and drove nearly all around the entire island. Buildings are brightly painted in pastels, and varied from quite old to extremely pricey.
Speightstown (sounds like "Spice Town" when the locals say it)
A (?)hotel in Holetown, where the rich people play
There was a gorgeous nature park in the center of the island called Welchman Hall Gully (that we dubbed Fern Gully). We took an hour and a half strolling along the 3/4 mile path and back, taking pictures and learning about all the flora on the island that gets saved in these gullies due to rainfall and other special conditions.
the black blob is a termite nest
sleeping off last night's rum punches?
At first I thought these chickens were dead, but closer inspection proved that they were breathing and blinking. I've never seen them lying on their sides before, but I guess they were enjoying the sun.
St. Nicholas Abbey is only 1 of 3 Jacobean mansions left in the western hemisphere, and it was built in 1680. There is a rum distillery on site and the fields surrounding the house are filled with sugar cane.
In the public restroom was this early flush toilet made by the Thomas Crapper company:
(it worked just fine)
This is a fitting end for this post. Next one will be more of the rugged countryside on the north and east sides of the island. A peak from a hill near the Abbey:
