This
post is based primarily on Don's notes, occasionally supplemented with MT's
notes from our cruise in 2019. When information from other sources is added—for
further explanation to readers or to satisfy our own curiosity—that is set off
in a text box (as this one).
Most
of the photos that accompany this post are from Don’s camera (with a caption
indicating the time it was taken); those from MT’s iPhone are indicated by “MT”
placed at the beginning of the photo caption. Photos from any other source (such
as the public domain Wikimedia Commons), occasionally used for clarification,
indicate that source in the caption.
The
weather forecast in the Viking Daily was “AM Showers / Wind 88° F / 31° C.”
We woke at 6:30 am.
The Viking Sea was scheduled to arrive in Bridgetown,
Barbados at 7:30.
The Viking Daily newsletter and
Viking Cruise Documents described Barbados as follows: “The easternmost
of the Caribbean islands, Barbados is rich in British history and spectacular
sandy beaches. Home to the Commonwealth’s third-oldest parliament, Barbados is
often called ‘Little England’ for its lasting British influence. Bajans, as
islanders are known, exude a hearty love of their small island country and
delight in sharing its unique culture. Cricket matches and afternoon tea are as
common here as surfing and sunning on the beach with family and friends. And a
bottle of the island’s native Mount Gay Rum, and perhaps a delicious conkie, a
pumpkin-coconut cake steamed in banana leaves, are never far out of reach. The
island’s capital, Bridgetown, boasts a wealth of historic buildings and sites.”
Barbados (pop. 277,821) is
an island country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies. The name
“Barbados” is either from the Portuguese term Os Barbados or the Spanish
equivalent Los Barbados, both meaning “the bearded ones.” It is unclear
whether “bearded” refers to the long, hanging roots of the bearded fig tree
(ficus citrifolia), indigenous to the island, or to the allegedly bearded Carib
Indians who once inhabited the island, ort, more fancifully, to a visual
impression of a beard formed by the sea foam that sprays over the outlying
reefs.
Inhabited by Kalinago (Island
Carib) people since the 13th century, and prior to that by other Amerindians,
Barbados was visited by Spanish navigators in the late 15th century and claimed
for the Spanish Crown. Portugal claimed the island between 1532 and 1536 but
later abandoned it in 1620. An English ship arrived in 1625 and took possession
of the island in the name of King James I. In 1627, the first permanent
settlers arrived from England, and it became an English and later British
colony. In 1966, Barbados became an independent state and a Commonwealth realm.
English is the official language, and
the vocabulary, pronunciations, spellings, and conventions are akin to, but not
exactly the same, as those of British English. However, depending on the level
of creolized vocabulary and idioms, a Bajan speaker may be completely
unintelligible to an English speaker from another country.
Bridgetown (pop. 110,000), formerly
known as The Town of Saint Michael, is the capital and largest city of
Barbados. The Bridgetown port, found along Carlisle Bay, lies on the
southwestern coast of the island. The present location of the city was
established by British settlers in 1628. Although the island was totally
abandoned or uninhabited when the British landed there in 1625, one of the few
traces of indigenous pre-existence on the island was a primitive bridge constructed
over the Careenage (Constitution River) area’s swamp at the center of
Bridgetown. Upon finding this structure, the British settlers began to call
what is now the Bridgetown area “Indian Bridge.”
Viking Map of Bridgetown with
callouts for:
1.
Port
2.
Blackwoods
Screw Dock and Bridgetown Careenage
3.
National
Heroes Square and Lord Nelson statue
4.
Parliament
Buildings
5.
Independence
Square
6.
Atlantis
Pier
7.
Mount
Gay Rum Distillery
8.
Holetown
9.
9.
St. James Parish Church
[Of
the two ports shown on the Viking map, we docked at the south one, near the
city center.]
At 7:30, we went to breakfast at Mamsen’s,
the onboard Scandinavian deli on Deck 7. We ordered their specialty waffles,
with berries and (smoked) cheese on top, and then tried their pastry filled
with pudding and almond paste (marzipan).
Tuesday, November 26 8:05 AM – Bridgetown – Mamsen’s waffle with a banana.
8:22 AM – Bridgetown – Mamsen’s pastry from which we each
had a slice.
We
had a reservation for the (included) shore excursion “Panoramic Barbados”
at 10:30, but the Explorer’s Desk told MT we could try for the same tour at
9:30 and we were able to do that. We went to meet that group at the Duty Free
zone of the port’s Terminal.
9:21 AM – Bridgetown: “Barbados” sign in terminal near
Viking Sea.
MT 9:12 AM – Bridgetown: MT and Don by “Barbados” sign in
terminal near Viking Sea.
MT 9:15 AM – Bridgetown: Don with pirate in Duty Free
Zone.
The Viking Cruise Documents
described the 3-hour Panoramic Barbados excursion as follows:
“Classic Caribbean Beauty amid a
Rich Past
“Discover the lush beauty and rich
history of Barbados. Drive with your guide along the west coast through
Holetown, landing place of the island’s first settlers. Then ascend to
Highland, passing sugarcane fields and plantations along the way. At the Highland
Adventure Center, enjoy breathtaking views of the east coast from 1,000 feet
above sea level. Admire views of Mt. Hillaby, the island’s tallest summit, then
continue to Bridgetown for a brief tour along Broad Street and National Heroes
Square. Next, visit St. James Parish Church which has stood proudly since the
17th century. Originally a wooden structure, it was replaced by a stone
structure following the hurricane of 1780. The church contains many historic
artifacts including the baptismal font from 1684 and the original church bell.
Continue your drive along Barbados’s Gold Coast and witness its fine hotels and
residences on your way back to the port.”
The
bus tour started out in St. Michael Parish.
St. Michael Parish, at the southwest
portion of the island, is one of
the 11 parishes of Barbados. It has survived by name as one of the original 6
parishes created by the British in 1629 and is home to Bridgetown.
10:12 AM – Bridgetown: view through bus window of mango
trees (note that cars drive on the left, British-style).
We continued to the north into St. James Parish.
St. James Parish is located in the
western central part of Barbados. It in known locally as the “Gold Coast,” but
due to its popularity is now referred to as the “Platinum Coast,” reflective of
the parish’s many beachfront mansions, pristine beaches, luxury hotels, and high
land prices. The parish also has great historical significance, since it was
here that the first British settlers landed in 1625 and claimed the island in
the name of King James I. The parish includes Holetown, which was formerly
Jamestown, named after the King.
Our
first stop was St. James Church in Holetown.
10:19 AM – Holetown: St. James Parish Church - the south side,
where we entered through door to the baptistery below the bell tower.
St. James Parish Church (Anglican) is located
in Holetown, in St. James Parish of Barbados. It stands on one of the oldest
parcels of consecrated land on the island, often called “God’s acre.” The first
British settlers landed in 1627 at Holetown not far from where the church was
eventually built. In 1628, the settlers constructed a wooden church on this
site. After a hurricane in 1675 devastated most of the island, a stone
structure replaced the former wooden building in the early 1690s. This stone
structure was made from coal and limestone, from which this non-volcanic island
is made. After nearly 200 years, the walls of the original stone building began
to decay and were partly demolished and replaced by a larger, more substantial
structure in 1874. In 1874, the roof of the nave was raised on new pillars and
arches. Except for the sanctuary and north porch, this is substantially the
building still in use today.
10:20 AM – Holetown: St. James Parish Church – apse on
east end, with tower on left (south side).
10:20 AM (Cropped) – Holetown: St. James Parish Church –
apse on east end, with tower on left (south side) with gargoyle at top of downspout
between two parts of triple semicircular apse (see red circle).
10:20 AM – Holetown: St. James Parish Church – gargoyle at
top of downspout between two parts of triple semicircular apse on side with
entrance (telephoto 119 mm).
MT 10:21 AM – Holetown: St. James Parish Church – modern
stained glass window behind organ (mild telephoto 51 mm).
10:22 AM – Holetown: St. James Parish Church – mahogany
organ at rear of nave.
The church’s first organ,
built by an English firm, arrived in 1876. Over time, this organ was replaced,
with various upgrades performed over the years, until the existing instrument
was completely rebuilt in 2006-07 and rededicated in 2008. Some of the pipes
and structure still date back about 100 years.
10:27 AM – Holetown: St. James Parish Church – mahogany
organ at rear of nave, from center of nave.
10:27 AM – Holetown: St. James Parish Church – view toward
apse from center of nave.
10:28 AM – Holetown: St. James Parish Church – view toward
main altar in apse with choir stalls on left and right.
Holetown: St. James Parish Church – stained glass window of the Ascension
behind the main altar (By Haloglow - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5577988).
10:29 AM – Holetown: St. James Parish Church – pillars and
arches separating 3 naves.
Holetown: St. James Parish
Church – original church bell, with date 1696 (By Haloglow - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17930666).
Among the historic points of
interest in the church is the original church bell. The original bell,
the oldest in Barbados, carries the inscription “God Bless King William 1696.”
It was manufactured in London by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, which also
produced the American “Liberty Bell” and London’s “Big Ben.” It fell from the
Belfry in 1881 and was badly cracked, but a benefactor donated a new bell.
However, considering its historic value, the old one was sent to England for
repairs and returned to Barbados to be treated as a monument, which predates
the American “Liberty Bell” by 56 years.
10:30 AM – Holetown: St. James Parish Church – Baptistery
– baptismal font, with its conical cover against wall, and stained glass window with John the Baptist
baptizing a brown-skinned Jesus.
The baptistery, on the ground
floor of the belfry, contains the original baptismal font, which is over 300
years old and bears the inscription “Debit Richardus Walter to the Church of
St. James Anno 1684.”
10:30 AM –
Holetown: St. James Parish Church – Baptistery – stained glass window with John
the Baptist baptizing a brown-skinned Jesus.
10:31 AM – Holetown: St. James Parish Church – west façade
at rear of naves, with bell tower at right (south side).
Then
we drove through sugarcane fields. Our guide said only about 1,000
people still work in the cane fields, all near retirement, and the fields will
close down after that.
10:52 AM – After Holetown: sugarcane field through bus
windshield (telephoto 72 mm).
10:52 AM – After Holetown: sugarcane field through bus
windshield (telephoto 72 mm).
Our
next stop was at the Highland Adventure Centre in St. Thomas Parish.
10:56 AM – After Holetown: sign for “Highland” through bus
window.
The Highland Adventure Centre
is located in the central St. Thomas Parish. Overlooking a lush natural valley
from the third-highest point on the island, it offers spectacular views of the
ruggedly beautiful east coast of Barbados and the Atlantic Ocean. To the left
is Mount Hillaby, which at 1,115 ft (343 m) is the highest point in Barbados.
In the distance is Chalky Mount, the second-highest spot.
The
parish of St. Thomas is located in the center of Barbados. It
borders on the parishes of St. James to the west and St. Michael to the
southwest.
10:58 AM – Highland Adventure Centre: view of Mt. Hillaby
and Chalky Mount.
10:59 AM – Highland Adventure Centre: view more to right,
with darker clouds.
MT 10:50 AM – Highland Adventure Centre: view more to
right, with brighter clouds.
MT 10:51 AM – Highland Adventure Centre: palm trees (mild
telephoto 41 mm).
MT 10:51 AM – Highland Adventure Centre: view to right of
palm trees, with darker clouds (mild telephoto 41 mm).
11:01 AM – Highland Adventure Centre: MT with rum punch,
with view in background; sign at left says: “Please use the pathways, grass can
be slippery.”
MT 10:53 AM – Highland Adventure Centre: Don with rum
punch, with view in background.
MT 10:54 AM – Highland Adventure Centre: MT and Don with
rum punch, with view in background.
MT 10:59 AM – Highland Adventure Centre: bush and
(bamboo?) trees.
11:29 AM – After Highland Adventure Centre: view through
bus window; our guide said houses were built on hills in places not susceptible
to sliding hillside.
11:30 AM – After Highland Adventure Centre: view sheep
through bus window; our guide said people shear the sheep often to keep them
from overheating (telephoto 119 mm).
11:31 AM – After Highland Adventure Centre: view through
bus window of plants with red flowers, where bus paused.
11:32 AM – After Highland Adventure Centre: view of
grazing cow through bus window.
11:34 AM – After Highland Adventure Centre: view through
bus window of sugarcane with tassels.
11:43 AM – After Highland Adventure Centre: view through
bus window of unidentified building (sugar factory?) and stone tower (at far
left) of a sugar mill near cane field.
Morgan Lewis Sugar Mill, the
last sugar windmill to operate in Barbados, now preserved as a museum (By
Postdlf, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6564521 ).
Sugar mills were
wind-operated. Inside the stone exterior of the windmill was the machinery,
including three upright iron-plated rollers. The middle roller was attached by
a central wooden pole to the sails and axle mechanism at the top of the mill,
and it turned the other two rollers using cogs. The almost constant Caribbean
trade winds would blow the sails with enough force to turn the machinery inside
while workers fed sugar cane stalks through the rollers. As the stalks were
crushed, sugarcane juice was extracted and ran downhill in a sluice to factory
buildings where laborers used it to produce sugar, molasses, and rum.
11:46 AM – Gun Hill: MT taking iPhone photo through bus
window of unidentified building (stone marker?) near Gun Hill.
11:47 AM – Gun Hill: Gun Hill Signal Station atop hill
(telephoto 156 mm).
Gun Hill: Gun Hill Signal
Station atop hill (By SamBlob - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17505107).
The Gun Hill Signal Station
is located in St. George Parish. It is the largest and most important military
outposts in Barbados, with military associations from at least 1697. In that
year, it was named as one of the four points where guns were to be placed to
give alarm in the event of an invasion or a slave rebellion, so it is likely
that the name Gun Hill goes back at nearly 300 years. When six signal stations
were established in 1818-19, this became a key link in the chain, passing
signals from the east to the north. However, Gun Hill was also a typical “hill
station” of the tropics, used as a convalescent station for the troops and for
evacuation of the garrison in times of epidemics. This particular signal
station was a bit more complex than the others, since the number of men stationed
there necessitated the construction of a soldiers’ barracks, quarters for
officers, kitchens, and other structures. Since there was only a small
barracks, mass evacuations were housed in tents.
After the decline of the signal
stations, the Gun Hill buildings fell into disrepair. They include the station
with its prominent tower, a kitchen, magazine, sentry box, and ruined barracks.
In 1981, the station was restored.
St. George Parish is located in the
interior of Barbados. It borders on 6 of the 11 other parishes, including St.
Michael to the west and St. Thomas to the northwest.
11:46 AM – Gun Hill: MT taking iPhone photo through bus
window of lion on Gun Hill.
MT 11:38 AM – Gun Hill: MT’s iPhone photo through bus
window of lion on Gun Hill (telephoto 144 mm).
11:46 AM – Gun Hill: photo through bus window of lion on
Gun Hill (telephoto 105 mm and Cropped).
On the hillside below Gun Hill
Signal Station is a well-known sculpture of a lion, carved from a single
piece of coral stone. The lion is a symbol of strength and dominance. It was
sculpted in 1868 by Captain Henry Wilkinson with the assistance of four
laborers. The upraised left front paw rests on a large red globe. Under the
lion, there is an inscription with the sculptor’s name, the date 1868 in Roman
numerals, and a verse from the Vulgate Latin translation of the Bible.
Translated in English, it means “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea,
and from the river, unto the ends of the earth.” This speaks clearly of the
magnitude of authority the British had over Barbados and the world.
Then
the bus took us back into St. Michael Parish. At this point, our guide
said the parishes through which we had passed were St. Michael, St. James, St.
Thomas, St. George, and St. Thomas again.
11:56 AM – St. Michael Parish: Emancipation Statue (of Bussa) in a roundabout, through bus windshield
(telephoto 119 mm).
MT 11:48 AM – St. Michael Parish: Emancipation Statue (of
Bussa) in a roundabout, through bus windshield (mild telephoto 47 mm).
St. Michael Parish: Emancipation
Statue (of Bussa) (By Dogfacebob - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=54215276).
In 1985, the Emancipation Statue,
made of bronze, was created by Barbadian sculptor Karl Broodhagen. In that
year, it was unveiled in Haggatt Hall, in the Parish of St. Michael. The statue,
now in the center of the J.T.C. Ramsay Roundabout (aka St. Barnabas Roundabout)
at the junction of two highways east of Bridgetown in St. Michael Parish,
symbolizes the “breaking of the chains” of slavery at Emancipation. Slavery was
abolished in 1834, followed by a 4-year period of apprenticeship where free men
continued to work a 45-hour week without pay in exchange for living in tiny
huts provided by the plantation owners.
The statue bears the following
inscription:
“Lick an Lock-up Done Wid, Hurray
fuh Jin-Jin [Queen Victoria].
De Queen come from England to set
we free.
Now Lick an Lock-up Done Wid,
Hurray fuh Jin-Jin.”
This was the chant of thousands of
Barbadians when apprenticeship was abolished in 1838, signifying their freedom,
joy, and happiness.
Bussa was a slave who
led the largest slave rebellion in Barbadian history. He was born a free man in
Africa but was captured and brought to Barbados in the late 18th century as a
slave.
The introduction of sugar cane from
Dutch Brazil in 1640 led to a shift in the ethnic composition of Barbados. A
workable sugar plantation required a large investment and a great deal of heavy
labor. At first, Dutch traders supplied the equipment, financing, and enslaved
Africans, in addition to transporting most of the sugar to Europe. In 1644, the
population of Barbados was estimated at 30,000, of which about 800 were of
African descent, with the remainder mainly of English descent. By 1660, there
was near parity, with 27,000 blacks and 26,000 whites. By 1680, there were 17
slaves for every indentured servant. By 1700, there were 15,000 free whites and
50,000 enslaved Africans.
The harsh conditions endured by the
slaves resulted in several slave rebellions, the largest of which was Bussa’s
rebellion in 1816. It was the first slave uprising on the island in 124 years,
the previous one having been in 1692, and struck a resounding blow for freedom.
He commanded some 400 freedom fighters, both men and women, most of whom were
probably Creole, born in the islands. Bussa was killed in battle, but his
troops continued to fight for two days, until the rebellion was finally
suppressed by the superior firepower of British troops. However, this rebellion
had a significant influence on the future of Barbados, and Bussa remains a popular
figure in the country.
Though the statue was not actually
sculpted to be Bussa, many Barbadians refer to it as the Bussa Statue. In 1998,
Parliament named Bussa as one of the ten National Heroes of Barbados. The
statue, unveiled to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Emancipation, was
created 169 years after his rebellion, 151 years after Emancipation, and 147
years after the end of apprenticeship.
11:56 AM – St. Michael Parish: Emancipation Statue (of
Bussa), through side window of bus.
12:06 PM – Bridgetown: fleeting view of St. Michael
Cathedral Church with its cemetery in foreground, through side window of bus.
Bridgetown: St. Michael
Cathedral Church (By Sachiko Haraguchi - This place is a UNESCO World Heritage
Site, listed asHistoric Bridgetown and its Garrison., CC BY-SA 3.0-igo, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=58155844).
The Cathedral Church of St.
Michael and All Angels, formerly St. Michael’s Parish Church, is an
Anglican church located at the center of Bridgetown in St. Michael Parish. It
is the tallest of the Anglican (Church of England) houses of worship within
Barbados.
The original St. Michael’s Parish
Church was a small wooden church built between 1660 and 1665, That church was
destroyed by a hurricane in 1790 and was rebuilt in 1794 and consecrated in
1789. The church was again damaged in the great hurricane of 1831 but was not
destroyed. When the Diocese of Barbados was established, St. Michael’s Parish
Church was elevated to Cathedral status in 1825. The Cathedral is made of coral
stone with a beautiful tower and stunning stained glass windows.
12:07 PM – Bridgetown : fleeting view, through side window
of bus, of Parliament Buildings (West Wing with Clock Tower and East Wing
across street to right); behind the tree at the right is the Cenotaph War Memorial
(and sliver of Lord Nelson’s Statue behind it) in National Heroes Square in foreground.
Bridgetown: Parliament
Buildings – West Wing with Clock Tower on left and East Wing across street at
right (By David Broad, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=56079015).
The Parliament Buildings
(also known as The Public Buildings, prior to 1989, or, more rarely, Parliament
House) are located on Parliament Square, just north of National Heroes Square
in the Heart of Bridgetown. It consists of two building constructed in 1870-74
in Neo-Gothic style, reminiscent of the Victorian era in Britain, but with a
local or vernacular flavor. Although Parliament was established in 1639, these
buildings have been the meeting place for both chambers of Parliament since
1874 and a former site of Colonial administration in Barbados.
Bridgetown: Parliament
Buildings – west wing and clock tower (By giggel, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=54548071).
The West Wing, completed in
1872, has accommodated several principal public offices. During late 1885 and
1886, the clock and bells of the tower once found in the East Wing were
relocated to the West Wing. In 2006, the West Wing was refurbished and now
houses the National Heroes Gallery as well as the Museum of Parliament.
Bridgetown: Parliament
Buildings – east wing, with clock tower across street to west (By CaribDigita -
Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11881861).
The East Wing, completed in
1873, houses the Chambers and offices of the Senate and the house of Assembly,
as well as other government offices.
The Clock Tower is a
prominent feature attached to the West Wing. It can be seen from several
vantage points around Bridgetown and is complemented by a four-faced clock on
each side, with the Barbadian flag flying on top of it. The cock tower was
previously attached to the East Wing. However, poor soil conditions
destabilized the tower’s base, causing it to begin sinking. Within 10 years of
its construction, the tower has sunk by 10 feet into the ground. It had to be
dismantled in 1884, and a clock tower was later added to the West Wing.
12:08 PM – Bridgetown : fleeting view, through side window
of bus, of Parliament Buildings (West Wing with Clock Tower and East Wing
across street to right) with National Heroes Square in foreground.
MT 12:00 PM – Bridgetown: view, through side window of
bus, of Parliament Buildings (West Wing with Clock Tower) (mild telephoto 46
mm).
MT 12:00 PM – Bridgetown: view, through side window of
bus, of Parliament Buildings (West Wing with Clock Tower in background) (mild
telephoto 46 mm).
12:08 PM – Bridgetown: fleeting view, through side window
of bus, of Nelson Statue in National Heroes Square in foreground, with West
Wing and Clock Tower of Parliament Buildings in background.
12:08 PM (Cropped) – Bridgetown: fleeting view, through
side window of bus, of Nelson Statue in National Heroes Square in foreground,
with West Wing and Clock Tower of Parliament Buildings in background.
Bridgetown: Cenotaph War
Memorial with Lord Nelson’s statue behind it (By CaribDigita - Own work, Public
Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8651771).
National Heroes Square, formerly called
Trafalgar Square, lies along Upper Broad Street on the northern shore of the Careengé
(Constitution River), directly in the center of Bridgetown. In 2009, the
government opened up a proposal to rename the area as “Parliament Square.”
The Cenotaph War Memorial is
a grey granite obelisk and a coral stone basin erected in 1925. The four-panel
War Memorial was erected in memory of those Barbadians who lost their lives in
World War I. The names of Barbadians who lost their lives in World War III were
added in 1953 on a fourth panel. The four-sided obelisk does not have a
pyramid-like shape at the top, which is common to other famous obelisks in
Egypt, Rome, an Washington, DC. (A cenotaph is a tomb or monument
erected in honor of a person or group of persons whose remains are elsewhere.)
Bridgetown: Lord Nelson’s
Statue (By regani - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bridgetown_barbados_nelson_statue.jpg).
The Lord Nelson’s Statue in
the west end of the square is a bronze statue of the British naval hero Vice
Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson. The Lord Nelson’s Statue in Bridgetown was erected
and unveiled in 1813 to commemorate the anniversary of the British Royal Navy’s
victory in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Thus, the statue in Bridgetown was
erected approximately 27 years before the more famous Nelson’s Column in
Trafalgar Square in London. Since the colonial period, many distances on
Barbados have historically been measured from the base of Nelson’s statue.
Tom and Nickie, a couple from Canada we had met on the tour bus, said they were going to take a taxi ($5 each) to a beach after lunch and said we could join them. We were to meet them at 1:30 at the ship’s gangway.
We
got back to the Viking Sea shortly after noon and ate a quick lunch of
seared ahi tuna at the Pool Grill.
We
met Tom and Nickie at 1:30 and took a taxi to a beach recommended by the taxi driver.
Although he took us to the Copacabana Beach Bar & Grill, on what we
thought was called Carlisle Bay Beach, but it turns out that the beach was
actually called Brownes Beach.
Brownes Beach is located on
Carlisle Bay on the outskirts of Bridgetown (St. Michael Parish). This stretch
of beach has come alive and a hub of activity as a result of the recent opening
of Copacabana Beach Bar & Grill. A few steps from the open bar is Brownes
Beach, one of Barbados’ largest beaches and the closest to Bridgetown. Although
the beach is public, for a fee, the Copacabana Bar & Grill provides chairs,
umbrellas, showers, and bathrooms. The beach has pure white sand and still blue
waters that are ideal for swimming.
1:40 PM – Bridgetown: Brownes Beach - MT in water (beyond
lone swimmer in foreground) with boats, catamarans, and what looked like a
floating water slide in background.
1:41 PM – Bridgetown: Brownes Beach - MT in water with what
looked like a floating water slide in background (telephoto 156 mm).
1:43 PM – Bridgetown: Brownes Beach – beach chairs and
umbrellas MT in water with catamarans, boats, and what looked like a floating
water slide in background; dark clouds approaching.
1:48 PM – Bridgetown: Brownes Beach – MT coming out of
water with catamarans, boats, and what looked like a floating water slide in
background (telephoto 93 mm).
1:58 PM – Bridgetown: Brownes Beach – cloudy sky and beach
umbrellas.
2:57 PM – Bridgetown: Brownes Beach – cloudy sky and beach
umbrellas with boats and catamarans in background.
MT 3:03 PM – Bridgetown: Brownes Beach – white sand beach
umbrellas with stored boats (right) and more umbrellas in distance.
3:22 PM – Bridgetown: Brownes Beach – brightening cloudy
sky and beach umbrellas with boats and catamarans in background.
Don
had hoped to find shells on the beach, but the sand was swept clean. He finally
found two small shells of the same kind and kept one.
Don
kept taking random photos to check the time (none of us had a watch for
swimming). Michael, the taxi driver, was supposed to come back at 3:30.
On
the taxi ride back to the Cruise Port, we passed an interesting-looking
building.
3:42 PM – Bridgetown: building with two towers on left
down side street.
Bridgetown: The iconic
Barbados Mutual Life Assurance Society building from Broad Street (By
CaribDigita - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8650386).
The Barbados Mutual Life
Assurance Society, better known to Barbadians as “The Mutual,” was a
Caribbean insurance company that supplied a significant number of loans to
local plantations after being formed in 1840, shortly after the Emancipation. Until
its de-mutualization, it was the oldest surviving insurance company in the
Caribbean. Its Victorian-style headquarters was built in 1895 and has become a
downtown landmark on the lower end of Broad Street. Its ornate, cast-iron
grillwork and silver domes lend an aura of elegance to the city surroundings. Its
full veranda on the second floor almost fully encircles that entire floor. It has
housed three different banks since The Mutual became the Sagicor Life Company.
However, it is still known as the Barbados Mutual Life Assurance Society
building or simply the Mutual Building.
We
arrived back at the Cruise Port at around 3:45.
3:47 PM – Bridgetown: Don with standee in Duty Free Zone
of Cruise Port.
Tom
and Nickie also had their stateroom on Deck 3, and it turned out that they also
had a reservation for 6:30 that night at Manfredi’s restaurant onboard.
So we arranged to share a table with them for dinner.
Before
dinner, we showered and caught up with photos and notes.
MT 5:02 PM – Bridgetown: beginning of sunset with tug boat
in Cruise Port.
Shortly
after 5 pm, the Viking Sea set sail for Roseau, Dominica (175 nautical miles).
MT 5:37 PM – Bridgetown: sunset view from Viking Sea.
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