Barbados 11-2-16

We are in port today with the new Viking Star (Viking River Cruises Ocean Division new ship) and Royal Princess.  Although there are clouds, there is also sun…yay!  In all the times Debbie and I have been here, we have never taken a tour of the island.  We got a cab and went into Bridgetown before but that was as far as we have gone.  I didn’t sleep well and was tired.  We had to meet at the end of the pier at 8:15 AM and really they were still trying to get us docked at 8:10.  We had ordered coffee and fruit from room service and at 7:30 AM it still hadn’t arrived.  We were afraid one of the kids in the hallway had removed the order so Debbie called.  They did bring it a few minutes later.

We went to the tour people at the end of the pier (well outside the other side of the terminal building) and they said they were not ready for us yet and we should go sit.  It was another 45 minutes before they called us and we got on the bus and left.  Apparently they were waiting for people to show up that were late….I would have left them….just saying.  They bragged about partying late so just had a hard time getting up!  The tour was nice and we did see the entire island this time.  We saw Rihanna’s old neighborhood which wasn’t far from the docks and then her new one which she paid 22 million for in “One Sandy Lane” which was gorgeous….and very private.  All of these exclusive places have so much foliage and vegetation for privacy you can’t see a thing.  Also, the bus driver/tour guide barely slowed down on the bumpy roads for us to take photos.  The most beautiful side was on the Atlantic side at Bathsheba.  This is where the surfers are and once you see it you can understand why.   The waves here are huge!  We watched for a while and took lots of photos.  There are huge boulders and rocks in the sea around here.  Michael , our guide, told us that you can walk out far and it may be at your knees and the next step it drops off 20 feet or more….yikes.  Debbie and I both took lots of photos so you can see how beautiful it was there.  We then went to the south side of the island which is where the tourists are and the hotels, bars and restaurants.  We had a drink here and then moved on back to the ship.  It was 3 PM before we got back on the ship.

We did go to the dining room for dinner last night.   It is one other girl and Debbie and I at a table for 10 people.  Debbie asked for a small table but I guess VIP doesn’t get you much anymore.  The waiters did a dance to “Happy” Kay…..a room without a roof!  They all wore Pharrell hats too.  Our waiter really got into it too.  We went to the casino to play and found even the dealers are new and “trainees” on this cruise.  I felt sorry for the guy because he had no clue what he was doing but Debbie and I didn’t want to lose money either so we moved from the Three Card Table to Blackjack.  We at least held our own there but decided to go back to the cabin.

We put the TV on and got ready for bed and I fell asleep and didn’t wake up again until they started the thrusters coming into St. Lucia this morning…..yay!  Debbie said I missed the lightening show again last night but that’s ok.  Totally missed the Cubs winning the World Series.

 

Rhihanna's $22 million home is in here...among other rich and famous.

Where Tiger Woods was married.

Sugar Cane

Love this seat but how do you get up there?

Bread fruit we are told doesn't taste like any other fruit..
We will take their word for it.

Our lunch stop of fishcakes and cake with rum punch.

Lone crab in parking lot

They need to repaint this sign to 2016

 

Atlantic side...big waves and surfers!

They had a beautiful eternal view...

They had just celebrated their 50th anniversary of independence
the night before our arrival.

Another run punch stop

South side tourist area and boardwalk

 

Viking Star

Royal Princess is across from us