2024 Ruth and Rik's visit to Barbados

We went out on a hobie cat this morning. The water is glorious and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to get out on a watercraft during our vacation.   I’m having my final beverage, while we wait for our cab to the airport. So sad to leave. 😩

Check out the smoke machine. -Rik

Today I went out in search of postcards and stamps. No stamps anywhere and the post office is closed until Monday so that idea is dead. I wanted a souvenir so I went out shopping at the Chattel village. I got Rik a T-shirt. I found a top but I couldn’t make up my mind so, by the time I decided I wanted it, some other chick snapped it up. Darn.  On my way back to the resort I got caught in a downpour, but it’s so warm here, I wasn’t cold.  Just wet.  I stopped at a wobbly-pop shop to look for some sipping rum.  I got help from the store clerk as I had no clue what’s good (seeing as we missed out on our rum tour at Mount Gay). She poured five different rums to give me a tasting and I got 2 kinds, plus liquor-filled chocolates  WooHoo! After lunch, Rik and I borrowed some flippers from the resort and went snorkeling. I had great luck this time and saw all kinds of different fish. Pink ones, purple, yellow, stripe-y, translucent ones and schools of thousands of minn...

While Ruth has been off chasing monkeys etc., I've been reading a book on the Justason's front deck, doing yoga on the back deck, enjoying the catcalls from a nearby parrot, making fluffy fluffy pancakes, finding locally made chocolates at the Green Monkey Chocolatier in the Limegrove Mall, locating nearby coffee shops to have some matcha, like at the Buzz Box café and Starbucks, and sipping exotic cocktails at the Bearded Rose bar in the middle of the Limegrove Mall while waiting for our pizzas to be made. Any cocktail with rose petals in it has a permanent home in my heart, err liver. I've never had a Hawaiian pizza as spicy as they make 'em here and a new pizza-life started for me right here and now.  The signage is awesome. And I've learned that clocks are for non-locals; time here is much less important. I'm learning to live that way quite well while here.  Mongooses are everywhere and they are as big as small dogs. They were brought here to control the rat...

The Justasons had something very important to celebrate today: their daughter Eve got her letter of acceptance to medical school.  Woo-hoo!!  I was in the shower when I heard a huge whoop of excitement and I knew instantly what had happened. Many calls, hugs and tears of joy followed. What a huge sense of relief the whole family must all be feeling.  We are so proud of Eve.  I’ve known this wonderful little human most of her life and she is a gem. She will be an exceptional doctor.   We were so blessed to be with her folks for such a huge moment  ❤️ This afternoon we checked into a one-bedroom condo that’s part of a resort. Mango Bay is an all-inclusive property directly on the beach. It was a bit of a debacle checking in and we missed our scheduled rum-tasting tour …but my liver is probably better for it. Instead of a rum tasting, we went to an upscale restaurant, and had a toast to Eve. I picked out the bottle of champagne and Monica paid for it. Talk abo...

This morning I set my alarm for 6:30am. I usually sleep the morning away but it’s our last day with the Justasons and  I was determined to find some monkeys.  I walked through a field and down some windy roads. It turned into a very posh neighbourhood with signs up saying “Do not feed the monkeys” so I knew it was on the right track. The mansions in this area are seriously impressive. I hoped none of the residents noticed me skulking around with my camera. I can hear it now. “Jeeves, there is one of those paparazzi near the drive. Shoo her away!” Walking in the morning, before the heat of the day, is very popular with the locals.  I ran into all kinds of people out for a morning, walk or jog.  Dogs are really popular here. I met a guy with a dog whose head was so big, I couldn’t help but jump back as he approached. He looked like a killer (probably tame as can be but he didn’t look it). A lot of properties have viciously-barking dogs behind their fences.  Monica...

Rik and I have been enjoying our vacation so much. A big part of that has been sharing our time with Monica and Andy. They are the best hosts and such great companions.  A big cheers and thank you to them for being such good friends. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Ever have one of those days when you feel making a local Bajan (Barbadian) dish just because you're here and you can get the ingredients? Oh, and you have a kitchen too. Today was that day for me. I had bought flying fish, okra, garlic, and onion and was ready to get cooking. After boiling the water, I realized there was no whisk in the kitchen. Eff. A fork just didn't work as well. Effing mess. Luckily, the was a colander so I made it work by straining the lumpy mess. Frying the flying fish was easy.  It was a little bland but we had that for lunch. Nap. Wake. Beach. Back to snorkeling. Andy saw three fish that were over 40 inches long. I saw a pipe fish or tarpin; it was a bit murky and the nearby catamarans filled with tourists were stirring up some murkiness so I could be off by a species or two. I've been taking pics and video with the waterproof camera and wine me able to see them well until we get back. We had supper at a Bajan chain called Just Grillin' and eati...

I lounged in bed today until noon. Glorious.  I love bed. Monica has to work today and the boys are off doing boy things so I am at my leisure. I transferred my lazy bones to the pretty patio to read. It’s 31 degrees in the shade today. The birds are tweeting, and flitting around. They come over and perch on the railing from time to time, to say hello.  The palm fronds sway in the soft breeze, and there’s a sound of dead tree pods clattering on the walkway. I’ve been told there’s a monkey family nearby but I haven’t spotted them yet.  For now I’m accompanied by Fluffy, the neighbourhood stray who was abandoned by her German owners. She’s white cat with a black tail who lounges on her patio all day, minding her own business. Plotting revenge on her owners, no doubt. “Meow, I’m biding my time until those rotten bastards come back.” Beware the cat, bearing a grudge. 

We have a definite IN with the snowbirds here through Monica and Andy. After coming here to Holetown last winter and this one, they have made friends. Here's one way that affected our vacation. As if a day off beach, pool, snorkeling, and grocery shopping wasn't enough for one day, last night we had tickets to the Sunset Seniors of Holetown Chinese Food Social.  The four of us piled into a van along with Heather, Vonnie, Fred, Anne?, and Hal, who drive us to the East Moon Chinese Restaurant. This is Hal. We sat with Charmain (yes, without an e), Maureen, and Mary. We had the most conversation with Charmain, who was from Trinidad, but was also from New Zealand, Montreal, and now Coburg. Our table topics immediately went to politics and women's equality. That was a great beginning to an evening. The conversation was lively and I learned a lot; Charmain is a history buff and had some really interesting perspectives. Smart girl. Ruth and I really connected with this wonderful h...

Monica and I are kindred spirits in some ways; one thing we have in common is that we love shopping at grocery stores. Yep, and that's where we got some extra joy today. Andy and Ruth had naps. We dragged our sunburnt asses to the Limestone Mall, where Monica introduced me to the Buzz Box Café and my first matcha latte in Holetown. Sitting in the warm Barbadian sun and chucking back a matcha; dems da stuff tea dreams be made of. We found a grocery store in the mall and walked every aisle looking for stuff for me to make breakfast and lunch tomorrow, and exploring the weirdness of this Bajan food paradise. There were some crazy Bajan spices and odd things like dolphin meat. The toughest thing to find was coffee cream but, mission accomplished. I also found flying fish so I can make flying fish and cou cou, which I think it's the Barbadian National dish. BTW, the prices on some things are insane. A small bottle of salsa is about $15 USD. Thank God the okra was cheap.  They also h...

Today we went to a private beach club. We got lounge chairs under the palm trees to protect our super-white flesh from the blistering sun. This was our view:   Rik and Andy went snorkeling and saw about 20 different kinds of fish.   Monica and I walked along the beach and scouted other rental locations on the beach. She gave me some career advice and I got to exercise my bum ankle by walking in the sand. We went bobbing in the ocean for a bit.  The water is so warm it’s ridiculous. We walked home for lunch and I’m already burned so that’s the end of my beach day.  It’s unbelievably beautiful here.  I haven’t been taking enough pictures to do it justice.

What a large day. I slept in until 11am.  (I’m still recovering from a bad cold. Plus, lack of sleep yesterday). I awoke to the sound of mourning doves. The property Monica and Andy have rented is in a peaceful community. They have lovely patios on both sides of the house.  Monica made reservations for us at 12:30pm at an opulent restaurant on a seaside cliff.   Chelsea Clinton and her family were at the table beside us. They had two Filipino nannies with them to mind the children. 😄 We were on the top floor overlooking the band. Here’s a picture of Monica and Andy trying to start a dance party with Chelsea and her two buddies blocking the way.  They eventually moved and we joined our friends on the dance floor.  We spent 5.5 hours(!) at this place, having delicious food, tropical drinks, fine wine, enjoying the view and dancing the day away.  The band was amazing and they loved the Canadian couples who set the tone for the rest of the crowd. We had so muc...