Postcards from the Past: Barbados

Beautiful Beaches and Upscale Resorts

When and Where:           12/2001 – Bridgetown

                                        04/2018 – Bridgetown

                                        02/2022 – Bridgetown

26th Country Visited; 8th North American Country Visited

Interesting Facts:

·        Barbados is the birthplace of rum.

·        The grapefruit originated in Barbados

So I have visited Barbados three times on cruises.  It’s has wonderful pristine beaches and welcoming people referred to locally as Bajans.  Unlike some of the other Caribbean destinations, there are a lot of tourist and all-inclusive hotels.

My favorite trip to Barbados was in 2018 with Aaron, Joe and our good friend Carlos.  We took a comprehensive island tour and took in the local sights.  Our tour first stopped a few blocks from the port in downtown Bridgetown, the capital, to see the childhood home of pop music icon Rihanna.  Rihanna is not only a pop superstar in Barbados, she has had more #1 American pop music singles than Michael Jackson or Madonna.  Only Elvis, Mariah Carey and the Beatles have had more #1 pop music singles.  Rihanna has put Barbados on the world music map and hence her childhood home is now a tourist attraction.  Next, our tour guide took us to the highest point on the island known as Highland Point.  From Highland Point, there were stunning views down on the countryside and crystal-clear waters.  Our final stop was at a beach just north of Bridgetown.  Joe and Aaron went swimming in the water while Carlos and I sat back and sipped on rum punch cocktails and chatted.  The sky was bright blue, the smell of coconut oil filled the air and the right mix of Caribbean music was playing in the background.  Life was good!  

 Later, in 2022, Joe and I visited Barbados on another cruise.  This time we needed a break from the sun and decided to go shopping.  I’m not a big shopper, but it was something different to do.  On the way to the upscale mall, we passed by Rihanna’s new beachfront home; the largest home on the island.  A large part of the home was visible as we passed by as her home is right on the main road.  At the mall, I found my favorite bathing suit brand MC2 St. Barth in a clothing shop.  Those that know me well know that I’m not a fashionable person – at all!  I buy most of my clothes at Wal-Mart.  But I have this fascination with MC2 St. Barth bathing suits and I don’t hesitate to spend over $100 for one.  Go figure!  So shopping, which I usually hate, was the highlight of my 2022 Barbados adventure. 

 My first trip to Barbados was in 2001 with my friend Allan.  Right after 9/11, cruising was cheap and we opted for a Caribbean cruise out of Puerto Rico that stopped in Barbados.  Similar to 2018, we went swimming and sipped cocktails on the beach.  Allan and I also went shopping in downtown Bridgetown.  I stopped at the local post office and purchased picture stamps which I later turned into art when I got home.  Barbados is definitely one of my favorite Caribbean destinations.

One final note on Barbados.  I think Barbados has the best flag of all 196 countries.  There are two vertical blue stripes with a yellow vertical stripe in the center.  There is a black broken trident in the yellow stripe.  The broken trident represents Barbados breaking away from the United Kingdom and gaining their independence (November 1966).


Flag of Barbados

Rihanna's childhood home (2018)

On the beach in Barbados (2018)

Barbados beach (2022)

Barbados (2001)









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Comments

Anonymous said…
See, I know you’re having an amazing time. Be safe and have fun. Sending lots of love and support as you continue on your trip around the world.

Brian
February 17, 2023 at 11:08 PM
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