Last Port of Call....End of Journey

Bridgetown in Barbados is our last port of call before we re-enter the USA. What a great trip it's been, and Barbados was no disappointment.

We took a Jeep Safari around the island and saw beaches, churches, and lots of rum shops, or what we would call bars. Our guide Charles told us that for every church on the island, and there are lots, there are three rum shops within walking distance.

Sugarcane, rum and tourism make up the island's main revenue sources. 95% of the population is black, with lots of Rastafarian type guys around. I found out that they don't like having their picture taken....one of them shook his fist at me when he thought I was trying to sneak in a photo. I put the camera away after that.

Barbados has long been popular with people from the U.K. It's hot climate and cool trade winds make it a good antidote for the often gloomy UK weather. There are a number of celebrities that own property on the island, and Tiger Woods got married here back in 2004.

We saw a huge gap between the very upscale houses of the rich and the very humble homes of the not rich, but I guess that could be said of every country.

After our jeep trip, we wandered around Bridgetown for a while and spent about an hour in a grubby little rum shop sipping Banks Beer....the beer of Barbados. It was fun in that we were on the second floor on a balcony overlooking a busy street, so there was lots of interesting people watching to be done.

Barbados reminded us quite a bit of Jamaica, with the same 'don't worry mon' attitude. Everyone we met (with the exception of the fist-shaking Rastafarian) was extremely friendly and very helpful. If it looked like we were in the least bit lost, or looking for something, people would stop on the street and help us. Everyone speaks English, albeit with an interesting combination of a Brit accent with a Jamaican lilt. I think the local patois is called Bajan.

Now we are back at sea for three days. Friday will be spent packing and hopefully, getting laundry done. We had hoped to be able to ship a couple of suitcases home to Canada with Luggage Concierge service, but according to them, there are two countries in the world where, because of Customs Laws, this is almost impossible....Canada and Mexico. So, we will be schlepping all our luggage to Mexico and then again back to Canada. Sounds like fun.

As this is nearing the end of our South American Adventure, this will be my last travel blog posting. Thanks to all who posted comments....it was fun to get them.

SORRY....PHOTOS WOULDN'T LOAD, BUT THEY WERE PROBABLY THE BEST PHOTOS I'VE TAKEN THIS ENTIRE JOURNEY. THE LANDSCAPES WERE OUT OF THIS WORLD, THE COMMENTARY SPARKLING AND WITTY, AND STEVE AND I LOOK AMAZING. YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO TAKE MY WORD FOR IT!