Saint Thomas

Despite touching base with Captain Morgan shortly after docking in Barbados, we didn’t drink any rum during our stay.

When thirst struck, we opted for Coconut Cooler instead. While sipping juice straight from a coconut is my favorite, this fizzy concoction really hit the spot.

You might think that huge container at the port contains a petroleum product, but it’s full of molasses for rum making. Barbados invented rum when the island was covered in sugar plantations, but these days, the import the sticky stuff. (Calls to mind the Great Molasses Flood they once had in Boston, but I digress.)

The national dish in Barbados is Cou Cou and Flying Fish. I’ve yet to get a decent shot of a flying fish, although they are abundant here, so that mosaic will have to do.

Our van driver, Peter, provided wonderfully informative commentary as we drove around. He pointed out the street where pop star, Rihanna, grew up.

Although the house she grew up in is now a bed and breakfast, according to him, “Rihanna don’t stay there no more when she visit. So don’t go looking for her there. All you will see is a nice plaque. She stays on the other side of the island, where the movies stars and rich folks go.”

Peter also told us about chattel houses. These brightly painted wooden structures do not have permanent foundations. The house owners rent the land that the houses are on. “This way, if they squabble with their landlord, they can take their whole house and move it somewhere else.”

Doesn’t seem like the safest thing for a hurricane prone area, but what do you I know?

Back at the port, Larry bought me a beautiful necklace made from beach glass and little stones as an early Valentine’s Day present. (Yes, I am spoiled, and I know it!)

The woman who made it has a little booth in the port and we were happy to buy something handmade from her.Read more