Upon concluding a cruise at Barbados one year my wife and I decided we would rather do some touring of the island rather than shopping. So, in Bridgetown we found an interesting cab driver who agreed to provide such. Upon commencing the tour, for reasons too lenghthy to describe herein, he told us he would give us "the tour of our lives". And, he did. The next year we decided on a cruise commencing in Barbados and then to arrive four days early to enjoy the island. While checking in at our hotel I asked the desk clerk if he knew the name of the older, very courteous and accommodating cab driver we had had the year before. He did not, but while enjoying drinks and the beautiful terrace overlooking the beach and ocean the bartender approached our table and asked if I was Mr. R, and he then said I had a phone call. Very fearfully I answered the phone and, thankfully, it was our cab driver who the desk clerk had located without our request. We met him in Bridgetown the next morning, and he became our chauffeur and tour guide the rest of the week, providing us excellent service and numerous memories of Barbados we will never forget, such as sightseeing, dining recommendations, a homemade craft gift, and port embarking service. We are looking forward to a future trip to Barbados.

we have made eight trips to BB with so many tales to tell but the most memorable is when we got married at White Sands beach,Barbados in 2008. We had 13 friends and family from across Canada, two friends from Jamaica and many Bajan friends, who have become family, in attendance. We may have to deal with cold Canadian winters but knowing we will be back again next summer keeps us warm in our hearts. We are truly Bajan in our soul's.

My most memorable Bajan adventure is one to be launched... I'm a Barbados "virgin" and would explore all that the Bajan roots & rhythm has to offer including: kayaking on crystal clear Caribbean waters, exploring historic homes & buildings, shopping duty-free for gifts & jewelry for family & friends, swimming near curious sea turtles, dining on island cuisine, becoming one with the beach sand and enjoying the dynamic and exciting nightlife till dawn... to start it all over again! This "ships" ready to launch - name the date!

Beginning at age six I spent 15 winter vacations w/ my family in Barbados. I began to think of Barbados as my second home. When each vacation came to an end I cried. How can someone so young be so emotional about leaving a vacation spot? If one has never been to Barbados it's impossible to understand. The beautiful people, wonderful local cuisine, the Barbadian culture and so much more that drew me in right from the start! I've traveled to many other Carribean islands but Barbados was, and always will be, first in my heart and mind.

I will never forget the monkeys who roamed the property, horseback riding on the beautiful beaches, the "Merrymen" whose songs will never fade from my mind, the fabulous brunch at Crane Beach, gorgeous sugar cane plantations, the crabs that came out in droves when it rained, the hummingbirds that would sneak sugar from the breakfast table, or the vibrantly colored Hibiscus and the smell of Night Jasmine. But most importantly, I will always remember the gracious, friendly Barbadians who always had smiles on their faces and made each visit more memorable than the last. They taught me at a young age that it doesn't take much to be happy when you live on the beautiful island of Barbados!!

In 2004, at the conclusion of a wonderful day at a Bathsheba beach bar, the bartender "Shaky" invited the four of us (my wife, myself, and another couple) to join him at a local establishment owned by a friend. Feeling adventurous, we followed him inland to a local bar/eatery near St. Patricks, far off the coastal tourist track, where we were introduced to Woody. The next few hours were a microcosm of the true Caribbean experience: impromptu and totally unexpected fun and conversation with Bajans, all the while drinking Banks beer and eating homemade chicken livers and wings. My friend Knut still has fond memories of that evening whenever he gazes upon the Mount Gay ashtray that Woody insisted he take home to Germany as a souvenir from Barbados. I remember Woody refusing payment for all the food we shared.

In 2009, we spent a nice beach day just north of Bridgetown during a cruise stop. During the taxi ride back to the ship, the driver inquired at to whether this was our first trip to Barbados. When I retold the story of Shaky and Woody, his head spun around and his eyes opened wide, and he became very animated. Of course, he knew both Shaky and Woody, and he was happy to tell me than Woody had opened a second bar/eatery. Although he probably wondered how we all ended up spending an evening together, he never asked, as perhaps it did not seem that unusual to him.

Even with a population of over a quarter million people, our Barbados experience reinforces what a close-knit society one finds on many Caribbean island nations. The best travel memories are often those that are unplanned and unexpected, such as our chance meetings with Shaky, Woody, and the taxi driver.

my husband and i have been visiting barbados for over 20 years and we have many tales to tell. our most memorable trip was in 1989 when we rented a house in bathsheba. there was no hot running water so we had to heat water on the stove for our showers-that is until we discovered the water pipes were above ground being heated by the sun and we could get a great hot shower between 4 and 5 in the afternoon.

My wife and I flew into Barbados on June 19, 2008 and stayed at the Silver Point Hotel. Before leaving the States I planned our next evening to coincide with the Summer Solstice while we were at Oistins Fish Fry. Instead of taking our rental car, we walked to the bus stop and took the local transportation to Oistins. I always try to be outside at the moment of the Solstice, and if I am with my wife, I mark the moment with a romantic kiss. Everything went according to my plan at the Solstice. We then went to a vendor, ordered our dinner, bought a couple of drinks and sat at a table outside. I then took my wife's hands as we sat there gazing out to the ocean and the surrounding area. I proceeded to tell her how lucky we were to be there, in beautiful Barbados, at Oistins, during the Summer Solstice and how much I loved her, and it just seemed like fate had all come together as I held my hands over hers. She returned a happy and loving look to me while I was professing my love to her when a huge deposit from a large bird flying overhead landed directly on my hands and splattered me. It was so perfect and romantic up to that point, that all we could do was laugh and recall how my loving soliloquy was punctuated.

A few years ago after planning our Barbados vacation, we decided to get married and make it our honeymoon. We started the party early at Oistens on Friday night. Drove all over the island, fascinated with the geology and warmed by the people. We rummed at the rum shops and visited the old Moravian Church, ruins of churches, and old Baobab trees. Our hosts kept suggesting that we needed to take in Bajan Roots and Rhythms. So for our last night, we made reservations and they picked us up. At table they quickly started plying us with rum drinks. We enjoyed the buffet with other guests at our table and more rum before they finally started the show. It was great fun, with the actors celebrating their culture while poking fun at themselves at the same time. After the show, the lights came up and the music started. We had another rum punch and, never shy to dance, made our way to the floor. We're not show dancers by any means but we're not inhibited either. So we swung and spun and had too much fun before finally calling it a night and catching our ride home. Not too much the worse for wear the next day, we proceeded through the airport processes. We were among the last to board. As we started down the aisle, someone said, "you're the dancers!" Suddenly half the plane was applauding as we smiled our way to our seats to savor the fine week on a warm and welcoming island.

"Ha", our driver said, "I will make you want to come back, or maybe not even leave!" This is after I jokingly asked if he could empress us with his guiding ability and told him we have to have 1 or 2 hours at a nice beach before boarding the ship to another destination.
He drove us through some of the island historical sites-interesting, showed us where his wife worked-cool. Next over the island to the Atlantic..beautiful views of countryside and oceanside. We stopped at Round House restaurant for a snack and mmmm good libations. It's getting better as we go! I got to spend some time on the beach taking pictures and playing in the water so I'm happy. Back in the van and down the coast taking in the breathtaking sight of Bathsheba Beach. Ok man it's time to get some serious beach time, what have you got? He smiles with that look of "I'll take that challenge!" sit back, relax. A few passengers just couldn't resist the shopping district so just my wife and I land at Brownes Beach. We're pleased, very pleased. A small nominal fee gets us lounges and an umbrella steps from that blue cool water. The Boatyard Bar and Grill behind us served up some awesome fish cakes and calamari, Banks Beer and a Pina Colada. I find myself in the water, my wife looking for seashells which are few if any, so I show her how to dig sand dollars out of the ocean floor with my feet. I guess it was MY knack. Eventually I'm supplying three or four other ladies with a memento or two from the ocean floor. Certainly not enough time was spent on the beach that day, but it still beckons and yes, we will be back.

I first fell in love with Barbados in 2005, when I travelled from my home in Georgia to study abroad at the University of the West Indies in St. Michael Parish. On Thursday afternoons, one of my fellow students and I did not have any classes, so we would hop on one of the various forms of public transportation and embark on a new adventure each week – and the rule was that we had to go someplace on the island that neither of us had ever been.

Needless to say, we never ran out of adventures – and although we often found ourselves stranded, wet, lost, or confused, we had a blast. Usually, we chose somewhere “off the beaten” path and tended to avoid the more touristy areas. One of the first items on the agenda was to take a bus from Bridgetown to Bathsheba, on the East coast of the island. We decided that, since there was rumored to be excellent surfing there, we would try it out. I recall that it was raining and our large bus began to fishtail a bit on the steep, narrow roads that lead to the eastern coast. Finally, we rounded that last hill and were able to see Bathsheba. I will never forget that moment – the rain momentarily subsided as the sunlight shone on the most beautiful landscape I had ever seen. The waves were huge, the rocks magnificent, and the sleepy surfside town charming.

We rented our surfboards and began to swim out to where the waves were breaking, when a lifeguard yelled, “Have you girls ever surfed before?” “Of course we have”, we lied. Little did we realize that the waves in the Soup Bowl are huge – so huge, in fact, that there is a high profile international surfing competition there each fall. After a few terrifying moments of being pounded by the waves and truly believing that “this might be the end”, we frantically made our way back to shore where the lifeguard stood shaking his head and chuckling at us. It was a memorable experience, to say the least! That was my first visit to Bathsheba, but certainly not my last.

-Jessica Van Camp
jessyvancamp@gmail.com

Having recently taken a trip to Barbados, I can honestly say it's impossible to narrow down and talk about only one adventure.
My girlfriend, Amy , and I went to celebrate her birthday in January of this year. From the beginning, the beauty of the island and the friendliness of the Bajan people was amazing. Again, I can't focus on only one incident.
Taking the bus into Bridgetown with the locals provided all the proof we needed as to whether or not "outsiders" were accepted. We didn't know where we were supposed to get off but an elderly lady showed us where and even walked us to our destination. She then turned around and walked back toward the bus stop. Only then did we relize she had walked past her planned stop just to make sure we didn't get lost.
We were also able to take atour of the entire island with a knowledgable guide and were able to sit in the front of the bus right beside him. tearing around those blind curves, on the "wrong" side of the road nonetheless, passing field after field of sugar cane was very exciting. The beauty of Flowers Cave, the rocks at Bathsheba, or the nearby St. John's church perched high on a hill are sights I will never forget. Amy swimming with giant sea turtles is a present money can't buy.
We stayed for a week but it was something that happened near the end of the trip that still amazes me. After a brief rain shower we headed to the beach. It was only then that we noticed a beautiful full rainbow in the sky which dipped down into the beautiful waters of the Caribbean. That signifies to me what lies at the end. Our pot of gold is the time we spent in Barbados.
As we boarded the plane for our flight attendant told us it was a "4 hour flight back to reality", but nature still had one more surprise in store for us. We were able to see the volcano on Monseraat erupting.
I must close by saying the next week , back home.........it snowed!

There is no question that Barbados provided the most friendly locals we have expierenced in all the Caribbean. We only had 1 day on the island and myself, my wife and another couple were determined to make the most of it. The island was fabulous but the people made our trip. First, a cab driver who went out of his way to give us a free guided tour, on our way to Folkstone beach. Second, a passionate local Domino's champ offering advice to the intruiging Americans playing his national pastime. Third, a couple beers and a small locals pickup cricket game at Folkstone park. Fourth, a ride on the Reggae bus to the blue monkey, more a party than public transportation. Finally a determined beach hustler that negotiated a bargain snorkel adventure on his partners boat. The beaches were awesome, the snorkleing was great, but the people made the day. That day is what going to the Caribbean is all about. We need to go back for a full vacation.

Each year, my very best girlfriend and I research and plan our next Caribbean vacation. Our goal is to hit all of the Caribbean islands before we leave this earth. My husband is gracious to watch the children and allow us our one week a year of paradise. Last summer, we enjoyed the beautiful island of Barbados. Each morning we would get up and do a long walk down the sandy beaches on our side of the island. We enjoyed seeing the locals as they fished from shore. Sometimes we would experience a sun shower and would duck under a palm. But it was on our last day on the island that we experienced the most remarkable act of nature. As we were clipping along at a nice pace for exercise, my friend put her hand in front of my forward moving body in an effort to stop me in my tracks. She said, "Stop, look!" As I looked down in front of me, there were dozens of baby sea turtles scurrying to the shore. They were making their march to the water right there in front of us and it was such an amazing experience to witness. I was born and have lived in Florida all of my life and have never experienced the hatching of sea turtles in my 50 years. Thankfully, we captured it all on camera. It was as though the island was giving us a parting gift.

Although I've never been to Barbados, It seems like one of the few Islands where advertising and brochures do not do it enough justice. The place looks like heaven on earth. I imagine myself laying on the white sand beaches and forgetting about all the worries in the world. The crystal clear water looks like it goes on forever and the lush vegetation just adds to it's charm. I also would love to mingle with the locals who are lucky enough to call this small piece of paradise home. Enjoying the Bajan cuisine that has influences from all over the world simply heightens my senses and leaves me wishing I was on my way to the airport.

Back roads of Barbados indeed! When my wife and I stepped off the cruise ship in Bridgetown last year, we decided not to hire a taxi driver to take us around the island, voting instead to rent a car for the day. Driving on the opposite side of the road was quite daunting, but the roads weren’t as bad as most other Caribbean countries. We toured the Mount Gay Rum plant, stopped at a beautiful beach near Holetown, then decided to venture inland to explore the less touristy parts of the island. We passed beautiful vistas near Bathsheba, school children on their way home in French Village, and countless sugar cane fields. While cruising down a windy slope, I took my eyes off the road for a split second and hit the curb. Fearing the worst, we got out and found the tire to be flat. I scrambled to the trunk to find the spare to tire also be flat!
Terrified, we walked down the road a bit to a seedy rum shack. We cautiously walked in and asked to use the phone. The bartender called the rental company for us, told them our location, then turned to us and said, “ya got nothing better to do; how about some drinks!” We sat in that shack for the next 2 hours with the locals telling stories and drinking beer. I’ve never felt that welcomed in any US bar. We shared stories about childhood and marriage, school and work, and an odd argument about how to best teach a dog to bark on command. The rental company arrived and gave us a ride back to the ship only minutes before departure. We’ve already begun saving to make a return trip to that tiny rum shack and revisit our Barbadian drinking buddies!