Fourteen years ago, my husband and I visited the island of Barbados on a cruise. Barbados is the farthest island in the Caribbean chain, and once we got off the ship, our love affair with the island began.
As a travel consultant, I had read about the island and the images of “flying fish” and “green monkeys” sparked my imagination. Also, the fact that there is nothing but water separating Barbados from the coast of Africa meant that we were actually going to be in the West Indies and close to the equator. That alone was enough for a sun and beach lover!
When our ship docked, we opted to take a taxi cruise around the island. Four hours later, we had covered the coast of the island from the calm waters of the west coast in the Caribbean Sea, to the raging Atlantic coast of the east and the lively south coast. You just have to love an island that offers a completely different experience on all coasts. When the cruise went to sea, I remember longing for an island that I had only experienced for one day.
Upon returning home, we began planning an overland trip to the island. Being a beach lover, we made reservations for next year on the west coast of the island. I remembered that the water was crystal clear calm and I longed to spend lazy days on the beach. The west coast attracts the rich and famous, and is home to fabulous homes, hotels, and villas. This coast is on the Caribbean Sea and the water is perfect for snorkeling and swimming. Fine dining is a reality and Barbados is known for some of the best restaurants in the world.
When we started meeting other vacationers, we quickly learned that most of them had been to the island many times before. I found this unusual as most Caribbean vacationers choose to experience new islands. What was even more surprising, many of the English and Canadian visitors spend the entire winter season on the island each year. It certainly made us “short term” with our two week vacation.
My curiosity about these long-term repeated vacations led me to wonder why they kept coming back year after year. Their responses focused on the friendliness of the locals, the variety of accommodations catering to long-term visitors, sunny weather, excellent food, and a standard of living conducive to making the island a winter second home.
After a week of being beach bums, we ventured to the south shore and found the St Lawrence Gap. As we walked through the mile-long Gap area, I knew that this would be our future place on the island each year. The west coast is fairly quiet and stretches out compared to the lively south coast. We found more than 20 restaurants, hotels, nightclubs, shops, and a great beach, all in one area. We could hardly contain ourselves until the holidays next year. The love affair with Barbados was in full swing.
Thirteen years later, we are still in love. The same driver picks us up at the airport every year and welcomes us back home. As timeshare members, we have made many friends over the years. Who would have thought that fourteen years ago we would have English, Canadian, Danish and Downhill friends that we keep in touch with throughout the year and we look forward to seeing each winter season.
As soon as winter comes here in the Midwest, I think about eating flying fish and watching the vervet monkeys playing outside on our balcony in the morning. Do fish really fly? Well, they glide on water and they have wings. Are monkeys really green? Its color could best be described as a combination of green, brown, and yellow.
The real reality is that the sun is shining brighter, the water is like a warm bath, and some of the friendliest people occupy this 160-mile paradise. I feel safe there, and unfortunately I gain weight every year eating good food from one side of the island to the other. And when I receive a travel request to Barbados, I can hardly contain my excitement at telling a client all the inns and outings on the island.
This is a short story about a love story with an island and its people. Sometimes I feel guilty for not having the same feeling about the other islands I have visited in the Caribbean. After all, I am a Caribbean travel consultant and I am not supposed to be biased for just one island. I love all the islands in the Caribbean, but I am in love with Barbados.
If your curiosity peaks after reading this article, keep in mind that after a visit, your future travel plans may take you in the same direction every year.