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Barbados 2009-2010

I travel so much during the year and I think I want to categorize my vacations on the blog to take some of you with me virtually. I will start to my short but fabulous Christmas holiday back home to Barbados. It was a year since I did not return home and I  missed my parents, friends and dogs (brothers) and I really enjoyed the good and bad of my visit. I cannot wait to move back home soon because you really appreciate home until you move somewhere that sucks you do not feel attached to. Anywho lets start the trip. First of all let me apologize for not taking my camera on New Years Eve as there was a big firework display on many of the beaches and also these floating parchute like candles that I wanted to show you.

I went to visit my grandfather and we took in this view about 100 metres from his house. The seas were very rough when we went to Barbados therefore I could not snorkel or do any beach activities so I stuck to taking in the views.

Christmas day arrived and I did not cook at all.I felt strange in my old kitchen and I could not find anything in the kitchen. There were too many people in the house so I could not concentrate to cook anything. I had big plans to make many dishes but I woke up groggy and we decided to take a ride in the south where I am from. I laughed at how small the car was. I felt like a giant in this car. The plate of food is vegan yes it is. I found a vegan ham to take to Barbados and I basted it with beer and pineapple juice, liquid smoke and cherries. The result was a slice ham worthy for a cutter. I made this chocolate cake from the Joy of Vegan Baking and here is my husband getting into his 3rd slice.

On Boxing day my parents aunt, cousin, grandmother and friend some who were on vacation in Barbados themselves went on a tour of Barbados Dad Style. We left home at 11 am and I had already started to get hungry. Lucky for me I made my signature dish ( fishcakes) to take on the picnic so my dad handed me a bunch of those to shut me up. We stopped off on the Platinum Coast formally the Gold coast of Barbados where the British celebs frolic. I did not see any on this visit but this is one of the beaches that they frequent.

I was really starting to get hungry and we had to go to the North of the island, St Lucy. Another 15 minutes of driving lol. Did you know that Barbados has one of  the largest network of roads in the Caribbean and it is not a few roads as you would think an island to have but it is a lot. Getting from one part of the island from say south to north can take 2o minutes on public holidays so that is pretty neat.

Finally I got to the picnic spot. Not your typical picnic spot but this place is breathtaking. I dined on fish cakes and  Christmas leftovers and took in the view. This is the most Northerly point in Barbados so it is very rough and rocky. It is also very beautiful. Let me show you what I am talking about.

Here is my scaredy cat friend and aunt looking over. The roof that surrounds this picnic spot is made of coconut leaves. It gives shade and it is cool to sit under. Behind is a restaurants and bathroom facilities. There is one thing I love about home is that most beaches in Barbados have bathroom and showers. When I go to other islands I never have this luxury and there is an attendant that maintains the bathrooms and showers all during the day funded by the government. For me bathrooms in open spaces are uber important.

Now for the view

This is not the whole view as I only brought one lens with me but you can see  it is pretty amazing.

We then drove to St John on the East Coast. My father and my family were in one car and my husband and my friend were in the other car following. Sometimes my dad lost us and this is what we were left looking at.

Dad??

Finally we made it to the only recreational East Coast Beach and it is called Bath. The colour of the water here is less beautiful than most beaches in Barbados but it is full  of trees and the water is warm and it is calm or an east coast beach. Even if I am  5′ 8 I always like to be taller. Here I am doing a  barbie toe thing I saw on America’s Next Top  Model where I try to make myself look taller. Did it work?

Here  I am in level 4 tan. Yes Black people do tan a lot and I tan faster than most of my other family members. Just because it was Christmas did not mean I did not hit the gym. I went three times with a personal trainer so I could eat more food during the days yes I know that sounds bad but you have to give some to get some. I started out eating light but by the end of my trip I think I gained 2 happy pounds. Thanks mom and dad for spoiling me.

When I  go home I always try to spend one day in  Bridgetown. This is the capital of Barbados and it is where most of the clothing stores are etc. Even if I like going to  Bridgetown, during the holidays I dread it. The excited tourist, the last-minute shoppers, the people who like to get dressed up to go to the city…ugghhhh….Let me get in an out quickly! I went hunting down a tawah to make my roti skins but I did not get the size I wanted. I am supposed to get one on Saturday as I found someone here to import one for me. After a big day in the city I realised there are more Guyanese grocers in the island now. Goodie!

After Bridgetown we went to Tyrol Cott  which is a historical house that was occupied by …Sir Grantley Adams… We were not allowed to take pictures inside the house..strange…but oh well…but we were allowed to take pictures of the grounds. On the grounds they have reconstructed slave huts and chattle houses and here are a few pictures of the grounds.There are many historical tours in Barbados and we are known for that. I have been to almost every historical house in Barbados now. There is one I have to do which is George Washington House. If you want to learn something new and not just do meat head stuff like beach and restaurant go to Barbados. Many of these other tourist destinations in the Caribbean are just for tourist who want to go to the beach but Barbados has  the whole package so book toda. No I am not being paid to say that but I realise now it is an excellent place to visit.

The slaves would heat a coal pot in the oven and close the door. These ovens baked cakes and bread and everything  you can think of. No oven thermometers here! Even if this was a slavehut and so much hardships went down in houses like these. I felt a peace in this hut with dirt floors and the bare necessities.

Here is a picture of the type of houses people use to live in Barbados in the past. Now we live in big wall structures which  can be too big imo. These houses are cute huh? This house is collapsible and can be moved all over the place in 4 pieces for someand 8 for others.

So I attempted to eat at a restaurant for lunch. It promised a vegan meal which was high in protein but I did not like what I ordered too much. It was OK but not in my top eating experiences. You can still go there anyways because the staff is great and look at the view. This is a kinda eco style hotel and they have wooden structures gardens and it is beautiful. The cocktails are worth going for and they serve a mean lentil rice and onion gravy.

Here is the view from Naniki Restaurant in the East Coast of Barbados. I kinda got us lost getting there even if I went to secondary school in the next parish in St Andrew. It is really out of the way and the road leading to this place is scary. When I was there there was a mixture of dinners but many  British with their flowered dresses and good table manners. It felt like a blast from the past. It was beautiful.

I would go there again to have drinks with friends and family. This is breathtaking and you can hear the East Coast pounding in the background.

After lunch we went to Andromeda Gardens which lives up to its name. Beautiful. Here I am looking at some Calabash. I saw trees that I never thought grew in Barbados.  Here are some more pictures from the gardens. Only 2 more days and I have to  leave Barbados:(

Old Years Night came and went. We watched fireworks on the beach and inhaled KFC aromas from everyone around us. I mean everyone around us was eating KFC whats up with that? We had Chefette Veggie Burgers and fries which were great sorry no pic.   I did not take pictures of the fireworks as I planned to hit a street party and I did not want to walk around with the camera. Overall I had a good time. I ate loads of roti’s and almost had a bitch fit on New Years day when Big Johns said they did not make rotis that day. Who does not make rotis on New Years Day????? No I am not going to turn into those Mc Crazy people who throw bitch fits and wet themselves when they cannot get what the want.

Anyways I will update the Vegan Guide to Barbados soon as I need to change up some info on there.

Did you like this trip to Barbados?