Barbados Taxi Tour, West Side of the Island

2 April 20184 January 2025

Strolling through Bridgetown, I was approached by a driver who offered me a great deal on a tour of Barbados. His name was Gene and I spent the next couple of hours with him touring the west side of the island. We started in Bridgetown and rode up the coast, stopping at St. James Parish Church, passing through Holetown and Speightstown. We eventually worked our way inland towards St. Nicholas Abbey and Cherry Tree Hill.

The drive began on Spring Garden Highway which is known as the coastal road of Highway 1. The coast is absolutely breathtaking with its crystal clear waters and a myriad of blue seas on the horizon.

Gene slowed down along a stretch of beach to point out the pyramid monument. The memorial marks the location where terrorists took down a Cuban Airliner in 1976 which was traveling to Jamaica. Unfortunately, all 73 passengers were killed.

Our next stop was Sandy Lane, known for its upscale resorts and luxury homes. Many celebrities and millionaires have made their homes here. Behind a wrought iron fence and security, we caught a glimpse of Rihanna’s new $22 million dollar condo.

Gene slowed down to point out where Tiger Woods was married as well. Sunderlin is another fashionable, extravagant housing development in Sandy Lane, Barbados.

On the outskirts of Holetown is Barbados’ oldest church, St. James Parish. Gene suggested we stop due to its historic importance to the island. I was happy to walk into the auditorium, admiring the stained glass windows and church organ. Outside of the church was an old cemetery, dating back to the early 1600s.

North of St. Peter’s Parish is a little fish market in Speightstown. Second to Bridgetown, this is one of the largest town centers on the island with several historic structures dating back to the time of slavery. Arlington House and the Bridge of Tides Mural are some of the top attractions.

Our journey led us through the beautiful scenery of historic Speightstown, heading a little further north.

Gene stopped for a few moments so I could takes photos of Coral Cliff Beach Club. One of the newer developments in the area, there are properties here that are available for sale starting at $1 million.

The scenic road began to curve inland as we passed the entrance to St. Nicholas Abbey Plantation. This small neighborhood is located in the Irish/Scotland District. The plantation, the Cherry Tree Hill scenic view and Morgan Lewis Windmill are a part of this lovely community.

Driving further down the road towards the water, the high tide was crashing up against the rocks. We had a beautiful view from Cherry Tree Hill and with a closer look, there was a small village not too far from the shoreline. Nestled in the parish of St. Andrew, I was standing about 850 feet above sea level. An avenue of mahogany trees have since replaced the cherry trees that once stood here.

I could tell we were nearing town as cows were randomly chained along the side of the road. Gene explained that this is a very common tradition as people do not always have property for the cows to roam in an enclosed space. He also said that the roadside cattle benefit the city as the cows maintain the height of the grass along popular roadways.

I thoroughly enjoyed my taxi tour of Barbados’ west end and thanked Gene for his hospitality. It is not often that you have the opportunity to see a place from the perspective of one who lives there and of course, it is always wonderful to explore rather than staying on the ship. Just another beautiful day in paradise.

Have you visited the island of Barbados? What attractions did you see or would you recommend for future trips? I would be so happy to read your comments below! Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

St. James Parish Church
Church Road
Holetown, Barbados
Telephone: 246 422 4117

Admission Fee: No Charge, donations appreciated
Length of Visit: 1 hour
Tips for Your Visit: Dress appropriately for a place of worship. At times the church may display a table with local food items for purchase.

St. Nicholas Abbey
Cherry Tree Hill
St. Peter, BB 26007
Barbados
Telephone: 246 422 5357

Admission Fee: Adults: $45 BBD (US $23); Children ages 5 – 12: $20 BBD (US$10)
Hours: Open Sunday through Saturday from 10AM to 4:30PM. Last ticket sold at 3:30PM. Closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day, Good Friday and Kadooment Day.
Amenities: Light refreshments at the Terrace Café, steam operated syrup factory, sugar cane grinder; hourly tours of the grounds and factory, formal gardens, Cherry Tree Hill (avenue of Mahoganies), museum, complimentary rum drink on the terrace overlooking the gully, rum tasting tour (visitors over 18), detailed brochure to go on your own and the opportunity to take a train ride of the grounds.
Scenic View: Breathtaking view of the coast
Length of Visit: 2 – 3 hours
Tips for Your Visit: The abbey is not air conditioned so it can become extremely hot, so wear comfortable, modest clothes for the weather. Wear appropriate shoes for walking should you decide to explore the grounds. You may be greeted by Simon who is one of the owners of the property who will be happy to provide you with information about the plantation as well as answer your questions. Only the first level of the home is open to visitors.

Where to Stay:

Hilton Barbados Resort
Needhams Point, St. Michael
Bridgetown, Barbados, BB11000
Telephone: +246 426 0200

Where to Eat:

Waterfront Cafe
The Careennage
Bridgetown, Barbados, West Indies
Telephone: 246 427 0093

Order the local beer and a flying-fish sandwich!

What to Eat:

Flying Fish – the national dish of Barbados
Fish Cakes – salted cod or whitefish
Pepperpot – meat with Bajan spices and hot peppers
JugJug – guinea corn flour, pigeon peas, salted beef brisket, ham or other salted meats, pork or chicken, onions, and other herbs and spices
Pudding and Souse – steamed sweet potatoes made with onions, salt and pepper and souse is a picked pork dish
Roti – island burrito

What to Read:

Washington Black, by Esi Edugyan
A Caribbean Mystery, by Agatha Christie
Captain Blood, by Rafael Sabatini

Photo Guide for Barbados:

The Animal Flower Cave
Cherry Tree Hill
Silver Sands Beach
Almond Beach Resort
Speightstown
Rihanna Drive, Bridgetown

Monument of Plane that Crashed as a Result of Terrorism

Mullins Beach

House for Sale in Barbados!

The entrance into St. Nicholas Abbey Plantation

Another view from Cherry Tree Hill

Travel Plans for 2016

5 January 201622 July 2024

2016 is going to be another great year for travel. With close to 20 trips already planned and more in the works, I am excited that I will be venturing out into the world and experiencing fun, local trips across the state of Ohio.

With a Caribbean Cruise coming up, I will be working with tour operators and agents to maximize our time in each port. I am most excited about this opportunity as I will be leading some tours throughout the Caribbean over the summer and fall months of this year.

The Harbor of St. Thomas

Some of the islands I will be visiting include: Antigua/Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados (Bridgetown, West Side, St. James Parish Church, Malibu Rum Tour and Beach), Bermuda, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts, St. Lucia (Part 1 and Part 2), St. Maarten, and St. Thomas.

Snorkeling with Stingrays

I will also be making visits to Jamaica, Grand Cayman and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.

Sunset in Key West

Booked Travel in the US & Canada includes: Key West, Tampa, and St. Augustine; Yosemite and the Pacific Coast Highway, Yellowstone and Glacier National Park (maybe); the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Booked Travel Elsewhere includes: London and Paris

I was hoping to hit Machu Picchu this year, but that did not work out with my current schedule, only because I want to hike the trail which would require a guide and a permit.

Local Travel includes: Exploring the neighborhoods and restaurants of Cincinnati (Hamilton and Butler Counties) as well as Covington, Kentucky, the Erie Islands and Cleveland.

Have you already booked your vacation for 2016 or made travel plans? I would love to hear about your adventures for this year, so please leave a message in the comments section below. Wishing you many Happy Travels!

Disclosure: Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information

A Collection of Blog Posts from 2014

29 December 201421 July 2024

What a great year for travel! Here are some of my adventure blog posts for 2014:

ASIA:

Philippines

Arriving to the Mission by Tuk-Tuk

Pre-School and Pampering at Naomi’s Heart

Haircuts for the Amazing Women at the Mission

CARIBBEAN AND PORTS OF CALL:

Antigua

The Bahamas

Freeport, Grand Bahama

Barbados

Malibu Beach, Barbados

Belize, Honduras and Mexico: Altun Ha

Altun Ha Mayan Ruins

Costa Rica: A Photographic Review

Gorgeous Beaches in Costa Rica

Jamaica: Dunn’s River Falls

Climbing Dunn’s River Falls in Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Mexico: Cozumel

Downtown Cozumel, Mexico

Hurricane Gilbert

The Massive Destruction of Hurricane Gilbert to the Yucatan Peninsula in 1988

EUROPE:

Italy: Venice

A Morning Stroll Through Venice

Monaco

Views from the Perfume Factory

UNITED STATES:

United States, Arizona: Jerome Historic State Park

Hotel at Jerome State Park

Meteor Crater

Meteor Crater, Arizona

Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Wood

United States, Arizona: Sedona

The gorgeous rocks of Sedona

United States, California: San Francisco

Alcatraz Island

Approaching Alcatraz Island

United States, Florida: Cypress Gardens

Enjoying the Beautiful Grounds

United States, Florida: Key West

Beautiful Sunset from Mallory Square, Key West

United States, Florida: Walt Disney World

The Magic Kingdom

United States, Hawaii: Diamond Head

The Hike is Worth the View

United States, Hawaii: Pearl Harbor

USS Arizona Memorial

United States, Hawaii: Hanauma Bay

Amazing View of Hanauma Bay

United States, Hawaii: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Exploring Hawaii’s Volcanoe National Park

Hawaiian Luau

Enjoying the Luau at the Polynesian Cultural Center

The Epic Kauai Experience

The Gorgeous Landscape of Kauai

United States, Illinois: Chicago

Chicago Fountain, Illinois

United States, Louisiana: New Orleans

Jackson Square, New Orleans

United States, Michigan: Hale

Arriving in Michigan – The Start of our Vacation

United States, Michigan, Hale: 1st Day of Vacation

The View from Our Vacation Rental

United States: Michigan

Mackinac Island

Shepler’s Ferry

A View of the Grand Hotel from the Ferry

Mackinac Island Harbor

Bike Rentals on Mackinac Island

Beautiful Flowers in the Shopping District of Mackinac Island

Transportation to the Grand Hotel

United States, North Carolina: Bodie Island

Bodie Island Lighthouse, Outer Banks

Bodie Island Lighthouse

United States, North Carolina: Carolina Beach

Choosing our Campsite

Currituck Heritage Park, Corolla

Currituck Heritage Lighthouse

United States, Ohio: Conkle’s Hollow Gorge Trail

Exploring the Gorge

United States, Ohio: Eagle Sighting at Highbanks

Spending the Afternoon Searching for Eaglets

United States, Ohio: Marietta

Road Trip to Marietta

United States, Ohio: Living Word Outdoor Drama

The Resurrection of Jesus

United States, Ohio: Renaissance Festival

Strolling the Medieval Town During the Festival

United States, Ohio: Battelle Darby Creek

A Lovely Winter Hike

United States, Ohio: Living Word Outdoor Drama

Living Word Outdoor Drama

United States Ohio Christmas:

Columbus: Alum Creek Lights

Drive Thru Christmas Lights

United States: Rhode Island: Cliff Walk

The Chanler in Newport

United States: Sioux Falls, South Dakota

My First Buffalo Sighting

United States, South Dakota: Needles Drive

The Needle

United States, South Dakota: Sylvan Lake

Beautiful Reflections off of Sylvan Lake

United States, South Dakota: Custer Park

Custer Park’s Wildlife Drive

United States, South Dakota: Yellowstone

Where the Buffalo Roam

United States, South Dakota: Yellowstone

A First Impression of Yellowstone

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

United States, Texas: Galveston

Todd Shipyards, Galveston

United States, Wyoming: Yellowstone

The Grand Lodge at Yellowstone

Disclosure: Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.

Climbing Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica

10 April 201431 August 2024

It was our one-year anniversary and my husband wanted to take a dive trip to Jamaica. We had decided to stay in Ocho Rios so that we could visit the Dunn’s River Falls, one of Jamaica’s most visited attractions. We found an all-inclusive resort that was close to the falls, offered fabulous amenities and provided an airline discount.

We flew into Montego Bay and took a bus to the hotel. The drive seemed to take forever but after an hour and a half, we finally arrived to a welcoming staff at this luxurious, gorgeous estate. The hotel was absolutely stunning and we could not wait to explore the exquisite grounds. Renting a villa away from the main house, we were offered plenty of privacy and our own private pool.

Ciboney Ocho Rios was considered one of Jamaica’s most luxurious hotels with a AAA Four Diamond Rating. Located on the northern coast, east of Montego Bay, it sat on 45 acres offering a long list of unbelievable amenities to include watersports, concierge, on-site basketball, golf, and volleyball, a salon and spa, gift shop, boutique, and several fabulous restaurants.

We made reservations for the Italian restaurant and decided to stay on the resort for the remainder of the day to enjoy all of the complimentary offerings. We were excited to check out the resort’s entertainment and found ourselves dancing until 3 o’clock in the morning. Each night was based on a theme, and we just happened to arrive on disco night.

We awoke for breakfast and had several hours before meeting our tour group for an afternoon snorkeling excursion. The restaurants served fantastic food with so many options. We loaded up on fresh fruits and made to order omelets that kept us full until lunch.

Heading back to the room after breakfast, we took a short nap and then sat around the pool until it was time to meet our tour in the lobby.

Our afternoon snorkeling trip was a bit uneventful but we were able to see horseshoe crabs and handle sea urchins. I was hoping that our dive in a few days would provide more excitement with colorful fish or sea rays and sharks. It would be Mike’s first underwater dive and I was hoping he would be hooked to finish his underwater certification.

We had a free day before returning home and scheduled a trip to Dunn’s River Falls. We were excited for the opportunity to climb up the 600 foot waterfall surrounded by lush, tropical forests. From the bottom of the falls, we posed for photos and then carefully made the trek behind a large group of tourists as a local guide directed us through the climbing process. The water was refreshing and it took us about an hour and a half to reach the top.

We boarded the transport back to our hotel and enjoyed an afternoon at the small beach across from the resort until it was time for dinner.

Placing an early reservation, we changed out of our swim gear and showered before enjoying a lovely Italian dinner. The food was excellent and we took advantage of our last night at the resort enjoying the entertainment with drinks and dancing.

We absolutely loved our vacation at Ciboney in Ocho Rios, Jamaica and would highly recommend the resort. We later learned that the Ciboney had been purchased by Sandals Resorts and had been renovated and renamed the Sandals Ochi.

Have you been to the new Sandals Ochi or perhaps you had actually been to the Ciboney resort? I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for reading about my celebratory visit to Ocho Rios and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Dunn’s River Falls & Park
Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Telephone: 876 974 2857

Admission Fee: Adults: $25; Child: $17 (ages 4 – 12).
Hours: 8:30AM to 4PM daily (regular hours); When cruise ships are in port, the facility opens at 7AM
Guided Tours: Included in the admission price
Amenities: Guide during the falls climb, tubing, beach bar, dolphin swim, zipline, catamaran cruise and city tours are included in the Dunn’s River Falls Tour Packages
Length of Visit: 1 – 2 hours
Tips for Your Visit: If you are staying at a local resort on the island, schedule your visit when the cruise ships are not in port. Wear comfortable old tennis shoes or water shoes for climbing the falls. Bring your camera and the guide will take photos for you. Tipping is not included in the fee for visiting the falls and the guides expect more than what you would expect to pay in the US, so be aware.

Where to Stay:

Sandals Ochi
130131 Main Street
Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Phone: 888 726 3257

Where to Eat:

ValenTino’s Cucina Romana
Sandals Ochi
130131 Main Street
Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Phone: 888 726 3257

What to Eat:

Bammy was one of my favorite treats in Jamaica. Made from cassava or yucca, this sweet dish is then soaked in coconut milk and deep fried.
Coco Bread is made with coconut milk, giving it a lovely sweetness.
Jerk Chicken is the national dish for the island of Jamaica. Made with a blend of spices, the Jamaicans also provide jerk pork, jerk fish, etc.
Jamaican Curry Goat is another meal that is popular with Jamaicans, but is difficult to find at touristy restaurants. Half Moon is highly recommended for trying this Jamaican delicacy.
Jamaican Meat Pies are similar to empanadas, a pastry filled with meat.
Jamaican Scotch Bonnet Pepper is a staple in making the island’s hot sauce.
Rice and Peas are really a dish of rice and red beans and is a popular side dish that goes well with Jerk dishes.

What to Read:

Jamaica Me Dead, by Bob Morris
Wide Sargasso Sea, by Jean Rhys
Rasta Heart, by Robert Roskind

Disclosure: Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.

Hurricane Gilbert 1988: The Aftermath in Photos

22 January 201431 August 2024

Hurricane Gilbert made landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula on September 14th, 1988 after destroying the island of Jamaica just a couple of days prior. It would go down in history as one of the worst hurricanes to hit the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.

The beaches of Playa del Carmen following Hurricane Gilbert in 1988

During this time, I was working as a Purser on the SS VeraCruz and based out of Tampa, Florida. The cruise ship was scheduled to leave port with an itinerary to include Cozumel and Playa del Carmen for a five day voyage. It was determined that the hurricane would most likely continue its path heading west with a slight direction towards the north, but the Captain decided to set sail. In hopes that we would miss the hurricane, the ship headed north towards New Orleans with the possibility of docking in Progresso.

As you can imagine, our ship did not make it to Cozumel that week and no sooner did the ship depart out of the Port of Tampa, it was determined that the ship needed to head north towards New Orleans to avoid the hurricane. With swells reaching over 30 feet in height, we waited out the storm only to return back to Tampa. Gilbert would eventually hit the Yucatan Peninsula resulting in massive damage and destruction.

According to the website Hurricanes: Science and Society, there was $1 – 2 billion dollars worth of damage to Mexico alone. Ships were tossed ashore and 341 people lost their lives.

Hurricane Gilbert was documented as a category 5 hurricane that resulted in 83 ships sinking, 60,000 homes destroyed and 35,000 people left homeless.

It was later learned that the aftermath of the hurricane had an impact on Mexico again in 1989 when wildfires went out of control as a result of the debris left by the hurricane, burning 460 square miles.

According to the website source, there were storm surges that reached heights of 20 feet causing ships to be washed ashore.

Some of the ships were literally tossed out of the water, making contact with the buildings ashore. This created additional destruction to hotels, homes, and other coastal establishments.

I visited the ports of Cozumel and Playa del Carmen weeks after Hurricane Gilbert touched down. In addition to damaging the coral reefs and buildings, we couldn’t believe the condition of the beaches which looked as though they were under demolition.

The island of Cozumel and resort town of Playa del Carmen have long since recuperated from the destruction of the hurricane, but for those who were there or visited the Yucatan shortly thereafter, it will forever have a long lasting impact on their lives.

Disclosure: Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.