This was a port where I hadn’t done my homework, and it showed. Not that I didn’t have an enjoyable day, but it might have been better if I’d perhaps had a plan to get out of the town, and into the more scenic areas of the island. Oh well, you can’t win them all…
Once the rush for the gangway had died down, I headed off via shuttle for downtown Barbados. I was surprised by how busy the town was. Lots of traffic and people milling around, and even more shops selling expensive jewelry. Also no traffic lights or pedestrian crossings, but within a short space of time, I just acted like the locals, and casually sauntered across the road whenever I felt like it. Amazingly, the vehicles just dodge the pedestrians!
The town is very English (Barbados was a British colony until gaining independence in 1966), with most of the main buildings and churches being copies of British architectural styles. There were also market areas throughout the town, which gave the place a nice feel. The people seemed to be particularly dark skinned, which only served to highlight the defective gene we white people possess… and of course the Rasta look is still seen everywhere: skinny guys, goatee beards, dreds and colourful hats, man… and Bob Marley T-shirts everywhere. My goal for the day was to try the famous rum cake, and surprisingly, it tasted like rum. The free sample was sufficient - I didn’t feel the need to buy a whole cake.
I walked back to the ship for a late lunch, just narrowly missing a major tropical downpour. I knew there was some reason I didn’t go to the beach!
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