Dreadlock Holiday

[Noel Mugavin]

What did you think of the butterbeer? I could barely finish it was so sweet.

Took me a while to finish it, as you say very sweet, but had to try it.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 9

Left the dockyard and on the way to the next stop it seemed that Mr Friday had picked the dummy up as he started to get a bit talkative. H e really came into his own when he sung the national anthem, then went into a 10 minute concert, followed by a monologue about his contribution to Antgua's tourism development, stories about his kids, and passed around a photo of himself and the Prime Minister. Was good fun, and he is quite a character.Last stop was Fort Mason Beach, about an hour and a half to sit and relax, have a swim, and down a few rum punches.





Back to the boat woth about 10 minutes before final boarding time, so straight in and down to the cabin for a shower and dress for dinner.
Leaving Antigua



It was Thanksgiving, so had to have the turkey, then followed it with pumpkin pie for dessert. Surprisingly the pie was very nice.



Another towel animal in the room after dinner



Really good show tonight, Nick Lewin, British comedian and illusionist, good way to finish the day

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 10

Second stop - St Lucia

Coming in to Castries Harbour





Airport is right next to the harbour/city



Duty free village that you have to walk through to get to town



Today's tour was a boat cruise down the coast to the Pitons. Quite a few boats around

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 10

A few local fisherman out and about



After about 30 - 45 minutes we started to slow to stop and have a swim. The local vendors started to make their move towards our boat.



Tried for about 5 minutes to stop and drop the anchor here, for whatever reason wasn't happening and we had to keep moving to find another location



The vendors weren't going to miss their opportunity and they were in hot pursuit of us

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 10

We eventually dropped anchor, vendors caught up, and I went for a swim.



Mostly conch shells and bracelets made from shells



This guy wasn't getting much interest and took off looking for other boats



Some other little trinkets on offer



Half hour or so then we were off again

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 10

As the swimming component was over, the crew was free to start doling out the rum punches, and soon The Pitons came in to view



Cruised to get a closer look then turned around an we were on the way back.



A few villages along the coast



Fishermen going at it



Then we turned in to Marigot Bay

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 10

Marigot Bay - stunning

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 10

More Marigot Bay

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 10

Last one of Marigot



Was very warm and sweating like a pig at the back of the boat, so was a bit of a relief when a rain shower hung around for a few minutes

Docked back by the ship, I went back to drop off my towel. Towels can be taken but if not returned you get a $25 US charge on your account, all towards limiting environmental pressures on the islands of course. There was no one in line to get back on the boat, so I took the opportunity to take a quick shower and head up to the buffet to feed my face again. Still had a good 3 and a half hours to explore Castries.

Duty free village you have to walk through to get to town



Outside the gate of the duty free village and within 50 metres, and the first local I spoke to, had been offered the chance to buy some weed. No thanks kept walking around the harbour.





Into Castries without any more offers, all traffic was stopped as a convoy of limos sped along the road. Few days later someone told me one of the royals was in town at the time, so was probably him/her. Went to the markets, bit of a wander, picked up a couple of things.

 

[love_the_life]

Making a good read. Am I losing it or is the b&w photo of the fishing boat reversed?

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Making a good read. Am I losing or is the b&w photo of the fishing boat reversed?

Nah, as is. Had to have a look at it a few times myself to make sure.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 10

Out of the markets one of the locals sidled up and started a conversation, then began making a leaf animal. Stopped him and told him I wasn't interested in the animal, he said no worries. Then he offered to sell me some weed. No thanks again.
Crossed the road to have a look at the markets the other side of the street, still hot, still guzzling heaps of water. So much so I realised I had to spend a penny
Unfortunately I was out of luck.



Walked in to the huge shed that was the indoor part of the market, had the urge to fire up a durry and let go a lugy.
Out of luck again



Walked outside of the shed, bit of hustle and bustle in the street



Wandered around the food market



Could be an interesting spot

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 10

Don't know that the franchise would work in Australia



It was pretty hot and uncomfortable and I wasn't going to see any more than I had, so headed around the harbour and back to the ship





Back through the duty free village, had a bit of a yarn with one of the ladies working an outside shop, telling me the climate had changed, and the island had been getting hotter and hotter over the last few years.

Sat near the water, a very weak but pleasant breeze blew threw.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 10

Mains selections were a bit ordinary tonight



The Boston cream cake though, sublime



The show tonight was Bobby Arvon. If you don;t know who Bobby Arvon is, he's the bloke that sung the Happy Days theme. And doesn't he play on that. Stories about how he got the gig, sang it in different styles, sang and did impersonations of Ray Charles, Mick Jagger, how they would sing it. If your 70 plus years old and swaggering around the stage like Mick Jagger, and you aren't Mick Jagger, you need to stop. He then sang some other songs, but he was terrible, best days definately behind him. I left about 30 minutes in, couldn't stand it any more.
No towel animal tonight either.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 11

Another new port today





Few ships already in port



Once again, through the duty free shops



Out for a about a 10 minute walk, and arrived at Kensington Oval, statue of Sir Garfield Sobers out the front

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 11

Signs near the entrance said there were stadium tours, so went to the fella in the box by the entrance and asked if any were running today. Unfortunately a no on that one but he said for $5 I could go in and have a wander.



Sobers pavilion with players change rooms, and Hall and Griffith stand to the left


From the player's viewing area. Concert area being set up for the 50th anniversary of Barbados' Independence


The 3 W's stand, also known as the Joel Garner End


Haynes and Greenidge Stand

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 11

Apologies, more of the cricket groundMy favourite fast bowler, the Malcom Marshall end



Sobers print outside the office entrance


View from the 3 W's stand




Reminders for the 50th anniversary were prominent all over the island

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 11

Down the road a little from the ground is the Cricket Legends of Barbados Museum, unfortunately not open on this Saturday




Walked back to the port, chance for a few photos on the way




Princess Alice Highway runs from the cruise terminal and in to Bridgetown, about a 10 minute walk, then another short walk to Carlisle Bay. Had already walked a bit, and it was getting very hot, so took a cab instead. Cab was a minivan and went through Bridgetown, so able to have a bit of a look as we traveled. I had researched the beaches and wanted to get to Pebbles Beach, cab stopped at one called Harbour Lights, and everyone but me got out. I asked the driver how far Pebbles was, and he said about 500 metres, so thought bugger it, I'll get out here, have a look and walk down. Handed over my $5 and walked in, immediately set upon for money for a chair and umbrella, snorkel gear, tortoise tours. 'No mate, I just want to lie on the beach and go for a swim'

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 11




Water was as good as it looked, not happy with this bloke prancing through the photo though






After a swim and a laze, went for a stroll down the beach

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 11

Water from Pebbles Beach



Prime Minister's Office, conveniently located across from Pebbles




Further down to get past the pier you have to wade under the jetty, or go through the no access to non members Barbados Yacht Club



I went through the yacht club, one of the ladies working in there was happy to give me directions to get around the pier