Day 17 Barbados revisited

Like San Juan, I thoroughly enjoyed my second visit to Barbados. I selected as a shore excursion, “Island Drive and Tea at Sunbury Plantation,” where the brochure promised a sumptuous afternoon tea. “Pleasant” would be a more accurate description; a choice of tea bags was put on the table, along with silver jugs of hot water. Various minute sandwiches were accompanied by different local cakes which were rather nice. The Sunbury Plantation house was destroyed by fire in the 1990s, but has been restored to its former glory, albeit with very little of the original furniture. It is now a most interesting tourist attraction; perhaps I may get to stay there one day. I like Barbados and its “warm- weather laid-back” ambiance. The drive around Barbados was most enjoyable, but I did have to come to terms with the over-the-top commentary from an enthusiastic tour guide, which otherwise was most informative and comprehensive. Her English grammar was very good indeed, even if she did use the term “very unique” on just one occasion! She explained to me that education in Barbados is highly important, and the literacy rate is an impressive 98%. She showed us most of the island; there were long intervals between “photographic stops.” It was a pity that the windows of the coach were heavily tinted. But at one point, a blinding sun shone through; deeming the tinted windows most necessary. I contributed to the local economy, purchasing the usual souvenir baseball cap and tee shirts, as well as a small oil painting, depicting the type of sunset I have difficulty photographing well.The harbour provides wonderful opportunities to photograph up to possibly four vessels. I was hugely impressed with Viking Sea, immaculate in an overall livery of “cruise ship white.” There was no disappointment in tonight’s sunset as once again, the sky looked as if it set alight.Already, it is time to change for dinner. Sail-away is at 20.00hrs. It was rather warm today, 27 degrees Celsius. Our next port of call, Manaus on the Amazon, promises heat, humidity and mosquitoes in spades! This I feel will be the most challenging part of the voyage, as well as being perhaps the most special.It was a great day today. Thank you for reading, and best wishes, David.The pictures above were taken, top to bottom, as the day progressed. The house illustrated and the interior images are of the Sunbury Plantation dwelling. D.N.