Back to Barbados

We were alongside in Barbados early this morning, long before either of us woke from our slumber.  However, just after 07.00 the Queen Mary 2 followed us in from St Lucia and berthed just opposite.  She is also a huge ship, but has much more elegant lines, more befitting a lady of the seas.

Barbados is the most Easterly of the Caribbean Islands, measuring just 21 miles long and some 14 miles at its widest point and has a population approaching 300,000, which makes it the most densely populated of all the islands we have visited.  Having become independent in 1966, Barbados remains within the Commonwealth.  Again, tourism is the up and coming industry and with hotels like Sandy Lane and a few others that are opening soon, this is definitely a rich man’s playground.

Breakfast was somewhat more full than usual, due to about half the passengers disembarking today and going back to the snow.  We have another 24 hours on board to enjoy the delights of this magnificent ship.  I thought I’d better start weaning myself off the full English, so I opted for cornflakes instead of the grapefruit and orange segments.  Judging by the number of voodoo dolls of the purser, with pins in some eye watering places, we can only assume that the orange segments were still absent.  Maureen and I enjoyed our penultimate fry up, then left to be ‘Immigrated’ by the local immigration staff.

Anticipating mammoth queues, it was a great shock when the tanoy announced that they were running 20 mins EARLY.  Just as well we didn’t go for the extra toast this morning.  I went along with passports and required documentation, duly completed and before you could say illegal immigrant, I was back in the cabin and we had been immigrated.  Very smooth operation, these guys have got it right and totally minimise discomfort to passengers/tourists.

With our new ‘We’ve been immigrated’ passenger cards, we were allowed to leave the ship and head for the taxi stands.  By the time we were disembarked, there were 4 cruise ships alongside and apparently there were 6000 passengers looking for tours and taxis.  With some sharp bargaining, we got a 3 hour tour for US$25 and were soon on our way to Sandy Lane with Clyde the taxi driver.  He turned out to be a bit of a bible basher, but was OK.  He’s probably done enough to book his place with St Peter.

Joy of joys, no snake vendors on our route.  This was turning out to be a good day.  When I say we were on our way to Sandy Lane, we didn’t actually get any further than the front gates, but we did turn into the golf course and saw some wild monkeys.  No, Michael Winner was not amongst them trying to sell insurance.  From here we passed by property owned by Sir Cliff Richard, Sir Mick Jagger, ( thought we saw his house in Jamaica, a few islands ago.  Flash git must have more than one) and Simon Cowell.

We traversed across to the Atlantic coast then back to Bridgetown.  The countryside is nowhere near as interesting from a flora and Fauna perspective as other islands such as  St Lucia or Dominica, but they still grow some sugar cane here and it’s the home of Mount Gay Rum.  The cricket stadium is the centre of attraction in the main town and is a replica of the Oval, with its cigar shaped grandstand.  It’s even called Kensington Oval Cricket Ground.  As we returned to the ship, the steel band that had been playing since we docked were still hammering out the Christmas carols and they continued up until about 5pm.  It was most pleasant sitting on the balcony enjoying a swift half listening to the steel band.  Unfortunately, the sun has not remembered to shine today, as it’s been hiding behind the grey clouds for most of the day.  As the afternoon draws to a close it’s that time to start packing as we have to leave the luggage outside the room between 6pm and midnight.  Terrific service as we will not see the luggage again until it’s (hopefully) on the carousel at Gatwick.  With most of the packing complete and an extra large G&T under our belt (over ordered on the tonics), we adjourned to dinner.  As promised, from the night before, Glyn, our table companion was wearing his Christmas Caribbean shirt and I was resplendent in my new shirt acquisition.  James, the third male on the table, wore a very sober looking ‘T’ shirt and not at all Christmasy or Caribbean. Clearly still young and inhibited!!  Glyn’s wife reminded us of some of the Welsh she had taught us earlier in the cruise. The two phrases we all learned were: Spoken with a Welsh accent:  Noodlly Doodlly and Gankee, which loosely translated means, Noodles, which she doesn’t like and Granddad, who she does like.  As this couple run a caravan site, I dread to think what the menu must read like and what the hell is Welsh for Grandmother???

The other couple sharing our table were very kind and treated us to lunch at the Asian restaurant on board for our anniversary, so it would be unkind and ungrateful if we were to mention the gills that they appear to have developed due to the unnatural amount of snorkelling they appeared to have done over the last two weeks.  At the same time it would be a pity not to mention them.

As this is the last dinner, it is also time for handing out the envelopes containing our appreciation for the waiters, assistant waiters and wine waitress.  It has to be said, that the service we have received from all of them has been excellent for the whole two weeks and not just the last day or so.  Nothing has been too much trouble, not even if someone wanted two deserts.  Not me, I hasten to add, but the guilty party will know who they are when they read this blog. – Won’t they James???  

For some reason better known to them, the two couples sharing the dinner table think that we have a massive cabin, with at least one bath, possibly two, a dressing area, balcony, seating area, three taps in the bath room, hot, cold and Champagne, two television sets, chocolates and champagne in the fridge on a daily basis, flowers and a butler to run the milk bath every night.  If only they knew the truth!!!!  Still, bullshit always baffled brain.

Having spent the first night on our own in the dining room, we were keen to get onto second sittings, but we have to say, they have been terrific company and we have enjoyed great banter with them over dinner and now have no regrets being on first sittings.  When they read this blog, we hope that the legal letters will not follow.

After dinner, we retired to our cabin to complete the packing, seal the luggage and get it outside the room ready for collection overnight.

All in all, this cruise has been a very pleasant experience and we have met some great people along the way.  Whilst this was a very last minute holiday, I think we will probably take another cruise at some time in the future, but it will be difficult to be as good as this one.  We hope that you have all enjoyed reading this blog and we will endeavour to maintain one for our exploits in New Zealand and Australia next year.  If you’re interested in the next epic, please let us have your email address and we’ll give you the new blog address, once we start it.  Contact us on djpu@btinternet.com or mgpu@btinternet.com.

Dominica

Could this be the start of a good day, as we entered Dominica slightly ahead of schedule, only time would tell.  Before Full English had assembled in the main restaurant, the captain was announcing that we were tied up alongside and just awaiting formalities before we were free to go ashore.  The good news was short lived; when it became apparent that there were no orange segments in the orange and grapefruit for breakfast – again!!  Well, if the purser had been around he would have been tied to the mast and received numerous lashes.  Lucky for him there does not appear to be a mast on this ship.  There was more to come – sat at our breakfast table was Richard Fothergill’s brother Derek, or so it seemed.  This guy came from Northern Ireland and had two brothers who lived in England.  I was positive he must be a Fothergill, but no he wasn’t.  If Derek ever needs a stunt double then I know just the man for the job.

Geographically, we have headed North again and Dominica sits midway between Guadeloupe at the tail end of the Leeward Islands and Martinique at the head of the Windward Islands.  Dominica is roughly 29 miles long, 16 miles wide and has a population of around 79,000.  Again, like most islands, the economy is becoming more dependent on tourism, although they still export bananas, coconut oil, cocoa and limes.  This place is like one giant rain forest.  Very fertile and has the highest rainfall of any Caribbean Island.

After breakfast we took, what has become our usual venture ashore to find a taxi that will take us round some of the island on a sightseeing trip.  No More than a few paces from the gang plank and we were soon accosted.  The going rate seems to be around US$25 per head for about 3 hours round trip.  This taxi driver was exceptional, not only was he very very proud of his island, but he could recite the full history of the place from when it popped up out of the sea, millions of years ago, to the present day as well as name just about every tree we passed.  Trust me there were millions of them. 

We were soon going through the Botanical gardens with its incredible display of trees and shrubs.  This is without doubt the best botanical gardens to date.  As we ventured up to a high point overlooking the main town of Roseau, it was clear that the view was going to be stunning, and it did not disappoint when we got there.  From here we continued to climb up heading towards a sulphur pool, when horror of horrors, there was another snake vendor on the side of the road. The driver stopped right alongside him asking if anyone wanted to take a picture.  Yesterday was bad enough, when we were on the other side of the minibus, but today, we were in the front seat and the snake and his dummy were just by my left ear, on the other side of the glass window.  That peculiar sulphur dioxide smell seemed to permeate through from the front through to the rear of the minibus as I shuffled uncomfortably in the front seat.  Fortunately, this minibus was full of like minded people and nobody wanted pictures or felt a burning desire to stroke it, unlike yesterdays Muppets.  As we sped off we continued towards the sulphur springs and much like yesterday, pools of water bubbled away spewing boiling water over the surrounding rocks.  Guess this is just a warm up for Rotorua in New Zealand.  The local vendors were also selling the same sulphurous, creams that will allegedly cure all ailments from prickly heat to multiple chins if you rub it on once a day ‘till eternity.

From here we headed to the waterfalls in the National Park, deep inside the rain forest.  The humidity must have been almost 100% and very hot.  Not the best climate for walking in, but the result was worthwhile.  Finally, ahead of us were the twin cascading waterfalls of Trafalgar.

From here we made our way back to the ship and a spot of silver service lunch.  Curry for me and fishcakes for Maureen, chased down with ice cream.  After lunch we needed to check that the sun deck was still operational and caught a few rays before the sun disappeared behind a huge cloud for over an hour.  It was soon time to get ready for the ship to depart our last port of call before heading for base in Barbados.  The ship slipped out of the berth bang on time this evening and we were soon ‘Going to Barbados’ – as the song goes.

We do not get off the ship until Saturday afternoon, so for us, it is not our last day on board.  For those flying home tomorrow – weather permitting, dinner was their last supper.  As always a terrific choice of food, but tonight, starters were course pate for both of us followed by steak for Maureen and haunch of venison for me, followed by posh blueberry tart and a cheeky bottle of New Zealand Shiraz.  Again, just practicing.

Lots of speculation as to whether tomorrows flights will be leaving as rumours abound regarding the closure of Gatwick.  What a pain if we get stuck out here!!

After a short stroll on the promenade deck, we went to watch a very humorous and very talented pianist in the main theatre, before retiring to write this blog.

Back to home port tomorrow and the wonders of Barbados.  We turned down a lunch with Michael Winner at Sandy Lane as we just knew that all he wanted was to sell us car insurance.

St Lucia

Wednesday and we’re in St Lucia, however, we should be in Dominica. For some reason better known to the captain, we have changed locations.  However, we arrived a little early this morning and by the time the FE association had mustered in the Saffron Dining room, we were berthed alongside with gangplanks down and ready to disembark.  This was the last time that we have been early for the rest of the day.

Things started to go downhill from breakfast, when to poor steward had to announce that the grapefruit and orange segments were without the orange segments. The ship had run out of them!!!  How mutiny was avoided is beyond me.  I’m still not sure how our taste buds survived the shock of just grapefruit segments on their own.  Hopefully, they will be able to replenish supplies here in St Lucia.

On to the geography – St Lucia is the second largest of the Windward Islands, which is not to be confused with the windward passages mentioned previously.  With a population of some 160,000 and 30,000 of which live in Castries, the main town, it is one of the more populated islands that we have visited.  Although independent since 1979, St Lucia remains a member of the British Commonwealth.   Like many other islands, tourism has taken over from sugar production as the islands main source of income. However, bananas are still a strong export.  That is, until hurricane Thomas hit about 4 weeks ago and wiped out the banana plantations.  It will now be many months before St Lucia bananas will be in our supermarkets.  The hurricane caused a lot of landsides which are still being cleared from the roads as we drove from Castries to Soufriere.

We took a taxi ride from the capital town of Castries taking in the coastal town of Marigot Bay, the fishing port of Canaries and on to Soufriere.  Along the way, we went up and down the steep hills and valleys that are characteristic of this island.  The roads are cut through lush vegetation and as you head towards Soufriere, through the edge of the tropical rain forest that covers part of the island.  At Soufriere, there is a clear view of the twin Pitons that are synonymous with St Lucia.  From Soufriere, we headed in to the volcano and foul smelling sulphur springs.  Speaking of which, it’s the second time today that the stench of sulphur dioxide filled the taxi. The first time being when there was some lunatic holding a boa constrictor on the side of the road.  For some god forsaken reason someone in the taxi wanted to take a picture of this lunatic with his snake, so the driver pulled over. As if it wasn’t enough for the man and his snake to appear at the minibus window, some raving idiot opened the window to get a better picture and wanted to touch the snake.  For those that know me, you will understand why there was such a strong sulphur dioxide smell at this stage!!!  Needles to say, there were no pictures from our cameras.

This is the most lush and fertile island that we have visited so far on this cruise, mainly due to the high rainfall that occurs between June and November.  There is a profusion of rugged jungles, ferns and trees as you drive along.  We saw lots of different birds along the way including humming birds.

The taxi ride took longer than estimated, so we were back on board a little later than anticipated and therefore we had to forfeit the silver service lunch and just get a snack at the poolside grill.  We then headed for the top deck to capture the last couple of hours sunshine before it disappeared over the hillsides surrounding the port.  We were scheduled to leave at 5.30 and as this is our last quayside departure, Union Jack flags we handed out ready to bid St Lucia a fond farewell.  The music started and the flags waved, but the ship remained alongside.  There were a number of other cruise ships berthed alongside us and it appears that they had priority over us for departure. As it is the final formal evening on board, we had to leave the sun deck and get to our cabin to get ready for the early dinner shift at 6.30.  Tonight we had a superb dinner of Atlantic prawns for starter and Beef Wellington for main course.  Deserts included Chocolate torte and orange souffle which were fantastic.  An Australian Shiraz helped with the digestion and washed the cheese and biscuits down very nicely.

After dinner, we waddled along to the Havana Room to watch a Cher tribute act, followed by the same George Michael act that we saw the other evening.  Cher was actually pretty good in that she not only looked like her, but even sounded like her.  The shame was that the sound engineers simply think that loud is good. I think that the quality of the entertainment could be hugely improved if they sacked the sound engineers and replaced them with someone who knows what they’re doing.

Just one more island before we return to Barbados.  Dominica – a new experience for both of us.