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Carlisle Bay off
the capital Bridgetown is the island's only proper anchorage. Most
yachts now bypass Barbados heading for St. Lucia and other islands
which have made more effort to provide facilities for yachties. This
is a shame as the island has much to offer. |
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It was lovely to
be met by our friends Peter and Katherine Camp and their children
Louis (background) and Emil (foreground) when we arrived. Here we
all are having lunch on Christmas Eve. |
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Emil was never
slow to don a snorkel. We went swimming with tame turtles in
Cobblers Cove and Peter and Louis tried out our scuba diving gear to
check out a wreck in Carlisle Bay. |
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Emil on the helm
of Zingano, though he preferred driving the dinghy, at which he soon
became adept. |
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Balmy winds and no
mozzies made sleeping on the trampoline fun for the children. |
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A rare sighting of
Léonie in the water, tempted by Katherine for a walk ashore. They
did hire a hunk in a speedboat to bring them back though. |
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Where's the white
Christmas? Peter and Katherine search the skies in vain for signs of
a snowstorm. |
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Dawn over
Cobbler's Cove on the sheltered West coast. |
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Sunset over
Payne's Bay a little way South. |
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St. Nicholas
Abbey, one of the oldest plantation houses, was built in the late
17th century to an English design. They even put in the chimneys,
though they have never yet had to light a fire. The new 'owner'
inherited just a few months ago and looks like he is still trying to
work out whether he has an asset or a liability. He certainly has a
labour of love. |
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Sugar is still
grown, but now centrally processed. Here you can see the remains of
a sugar mill (some of the heaviest mills ever built - it took ten
men to turn them into the wind) and on the left the chimney for the
steam mill which replaced it. |
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Harrison's cave,
in the middle of the island was 'discovered' in the '70s though in
fact was known about for many years as a haunt for runaway slaves.
You can now go on a one mile drive through on an electric tram and
admire the stalagmitic and stalactitic grottoes. A further two miles
of cave have been left untouched. |
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St. John's church
in the South East corner of the island. This is its third
incarnation the first two having been flattened by hurricanes. It
now dates from the late 19th century. |
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The interior of
the church is charming and makes much use of the local wood. There
are many churches all over Barbados which are very active. In the
main department store I even saw ten copies of a book on "doubling
your congregation and putting your church on the path to
prosperity". |
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The churchyard is
full of wonderful mausoleums and tombstones which now predate the
church and reveal something of the islands colourful history. This
one reads: "Here lyeth ye body of Ferdinand Paleologus descended
from ye imperial line of ye last Christian Emperors of Greece.
Churchwarden of this parish 1655 to 1656. Vestryman twentye years.
Died October 3rd 1678." |
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Here's another
commemorative slab which you should be able to read yourself. It
commemorates Elizabeth Pinder who died in 1799 aged 30. The
sentiments are a bit pompous for modern tastes but touching
nonetheless. |
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A view of the East
coast from the churchyard of St. John's. |
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The shade of the
trees at Barbados Yacht Club make a pleasant place to have lunch and
a drink. |
