Atlantic Submarine Dive, Beach Party, and more!

As you read earlier, my last week was booked with several exciting events. I can’t write about all of them, but I just have to tell you about some of my experiences!

On Monday morning a bus came and picked me up at the hotel. The drive went to a harbor, where a little submarine was waiting for the passengers to go on board. The submarine had a grey-blue color, and big windows at each place. It took us down to 40 meters, and we could see the underwater world so clear, we could see thousands of colorful fishes, several sharks of all kinds and some turtles showed themselves too. But the best thing of all: we could do all that without getting wet! Later that day, when I was back from the submarine tour, I went to the Harbour Lights Beach Party. This is a real Caribbean party, and I couldn’t imagine not attending on this event while I was in the Caribbean. During the party, it was served a “beach barbeque”, they arranged two Caribbean shows, and played live music all night long.

While I spend my time here on Barbados, I have learned very much about the culture and the social conditions. The Barbadian people are very nice, and they like getting visitors from other parts of the world. I think that they like to show their country, and show what they values and attractions are. It is a wonderful country, and it has so much to give. Not just all of the cultural events that I have been reporting about in the last entries, but also the inhabitants and the whole atmosphere in the country makes the stay on the island so gorgeous and unforgettable. The Barbadians eat very much fish and seafood (that causes their localization and their limited access to large amounts of other food like meat), so during my stay I have tasted much “Caribbean style” seafood and I am sure that I will keep them in my mind for a long time.

I almost forgot to tell you, but I got to see the family from the world star Rihanna, two days ago. Rihanna was born on the island, and grew up here too. Sometimes she even spends her holidays here, but I didn’t get to see her during my stay.

The last thing I want to tell you, before I leave this amazing place, is the meaning of the Barbadian flag.

The flag consists of three bands (triband), two marine - blue bands on each side and one golden band in the middle of the flag. In the middle of the golden band, we can see the upper part of a trident (which also is called “the broken trident”).

The two blue bands symbolize the ocean, while the golden band symbolizes the sand on the island. The trident is taken from the old Barbadian flag (the colonial badge). The old flag shows Britannia holding a trident. The broken trident is therefore a symbol for the symbolic break of the colony from Britannia. The three points of the trident, symbolizes the three principles of democracy (government of, for, and by the people).

The flag was designed by a teacher (Grantley Prescod), and during an island – wide contest, the Barbadian people picked this flag from around 1000 other ones.

The Atlantic Submarine :

 One of the Caribbean shows on the beach party:



The Berwind wreck:



The flag of Barbados:

Well, now I will pack my luggage and enjoy the last hours on the island, before the bus takes me to the airport and my plain leaves this paradise...

My plans for the last week

Well, the last week in paradise has started, and I there are so many things that still are waiting for me…

Here is a list of things that I want to do the next four days:

Monday:

·         Atlantis Submarine Dive

·         Harbour Lights Beach Party

Tuesday:

·         Wreck diving on the wreck of Berwind

Wednesday:

·         Go shopping on a real Barbadian marked  

Thursday:

·         Eat lunch at Fisherpond Great House

Friday:

·         Tour to the Harrison Cave and the Barbados wildlife Reserve

Saturday:

·          Go diving a last time

Sunday:

·         Pack my luggage, prepare everything for the flight, and just enjoy the last hours in paradise, before my plain leaves at nine in the evening.

The world underneath the surface!

One reason why I picked Barbados as a holiday destination was because of the wonderful world that is located under the water. Barbados has many things that it’s known for, but one of the main things is the diving culture in the country.

I love to dive, so day five, six, and seven from the first week was booked for my favorite hobby. It was so much to see, and even though you always dive the same route, you’ll never get to see the same thing twice. It is amazing how two places can be so different, and how a place can change in such a short time.

When I am under water, I see the world in so many different ways. It’s so peaceful and quite when you’re diving, and that’s what I like about it. In the 60 minutes that I am under water, I feel like I am in another world… I feel free.

The first dive was a “check dive”. Some dive bases have this kind of dives for people like me that do not dive very often in their daily life, but in their holidays. During the dive the instructor guides you, and “checks” that you can follow the rules and respect the underwater – world.

In the three days I went diving five times, two times on day five, two times on day six, and one time on day seven. I saw many beautiful creatures, including sharks, turtles and dolphins. This was my first meeting with dolphins, so I was very excited about it.

Next week I will go wreck diving, to the wreck of Berwind, and also attend on several cultural events here on the island. 



The first days

During my first three days on the island, I have experienced so much that I don't know where to start.

The first day on the island I used to get familiar with the hotel and the environment. I went to bed a little earlier that day, because I was supposed to get up quite early the next day.

On day two, I went on a tour around the Island. The whole trip took six hours. I was quite tired after so many hours in a bus with tourists, air condition and cameras, but I am very glad that I attended on this “event”.
We started on the west coast and went to the great Cherry Tree Hill, wherefrom we got a wonderful view of the “Scotland District”. After that we hid for the amazing Batsheba bay and the St. John’s Church. The church is located on a cliff, and has a stunning view over the ocean. At the end of the trip, the bus went to the Sunbury Plantation House. There we could see how the life on Barbados was 300 years ago.
Back on the west coast, after the trip around the island, I went to a local restaurant together with some other people that also had been on the bus trip around Barbados.

The afternoon of the third day was used for a catamaran boat tour. We went a little hour from the western part of the island. I went snorkeling and saw some turtles and thousands of colorful and different fishes. We arrived back at the hotel at 18:00 and the rest of the evening was used for good food and dancing.

The view from The cherry Tree Hill 

 The St. John's Church on Barbados

My first week on Barbados!

After a long trip, I have finally reached my destination. Everything is so gorgeous, big palm trees, white beaches, blue water, and sun all day long.
The first week on the island has been very exciting. I have traveled a lot and seen very much from Barbados. The culture and the local people are totally different from us in Europe, but I like it.
This is my first travel-blog entry, and I'll start telling you a little bit about this beautiful place.

Barbados is an Island in the Caribbean Ocean, and is divided into 11 parishes. The islands capital, and at the same time biggest city, is Bridgetown. Bridgetown is located in the parish Saint Michaels. The official language in the country is English, but mainly the Barbadians speak another kind of English, that is called Bajan. Bajan is a regional variant of English which can be compared with slang.

The island has also a great historical background, so if you're supposed to visit Barbados on your next holiday, then read a little bit about Barbados history before you leave, that will help you understand the culture and the aboriginals.
Saladoid-Barrancoid, also known as Native Americans, was the first known settlers on Barbados. In the 4^th century they came to the island and lived there until the 7^th century.
 In the early 1600, the island was settled by England. The settlement of Barbados was the third big settlement from England at that time. Later, around 1640, they started to build sugar plantations.
When the Portuguese came and claimed the island in the 16^th and 17^th century, they used some of the Barbadians as slaves for the sugar plantations. Other inhabitants are believed fled to neighbor island, to get away the slavery.
After the Portuguese had left Barbados at the 18^th century, some of the earlier inhabitants came back and settled the island again.    
We can still find some of the sugar plantations on the island to day, but the mainly the country earns its money from the tourism, which stands for 75 % of the economical income from Barbados.

Well, that was a little information about Barbados. I'll tell you more about my time here, the culture, and the inhabitants next time.