Barbados .. hot and spicy!

If you've read my blog before you will know by now that I love Barbados and go at least once a year! It's such an easy place to be .. the people are friendly, the weather is always the same temperature (with a little rain thrown in from time to time) and the sun rises and sets at the same time every day .. twelve hours of night and twelve hours of daylight .. and it's usually sunny!  

On arrival at Grantley Adams airport the first thing you notice on stepping out the door of the aircraft is the warm air hitting your skin as you make your way down the steps onto the tarmac. There is no need to rush here...and we didn't! Unfortunately for us there was a bit of wait in the immigration queue as another flight had just pipped us to the post so we had a wait of around 45 minutes .. but a mere drop in the ocean compared to some of the waiting times I've had in the USA!  You have to accept that it is what it is and wait your turn. The upside was that our baggage had been unloaded from the carousel and ready to collect so we could just walk out the door.

Coconut Grove

We stayed on the south east of the island at the Crane resort .. far removed from the popular west coast where the super rich like to stay and where the majority of the resorts and restaurants are situated. The Crane is the Caribbean's first resort hotel. First opened in 1887 and now fully restored and expanded, this truly unique property combines old-world charm and incredible natural beauty with a romantic sense of seclusion. Crane beach is listed in the top 10 beaches in the world .. a gorgeous stretch of pinkish white sand .. perfect for that early morning walk or run. The beach is accessed by a staircase or glass fronted elevator.

The elevator was out of action the whole time we were there but we had already decided that we wouldn't use it to maintain a pretense of keeping fit!  

Being on the Atlantic side of the island there is always a breeze and the waves are playful and just right for body and kite surfing and boogie boarding. It is never overcrowded and there is a small picnic area in the coconut grove just to the rear of the beach with a bar and a limited menu for lunch. It was the most beautiful and peaceful setting .. I wish I had discovered it earlier in the week as it's not publicized very well .. although the guys in the towel hut do come around and take drink orders which they deliver to your lounger.

The resort is such that you don't have to leave if you don't want to. There are a few restuarants, a cafe, a general store and specialty shops and if you don't like the beach there are two pool areas. It's not a rowdy place and at night is very quiet and serene. For a livelier scene St Lawrence Gap on the south coast is not too far and if you want to go to the west side to eat a cab ride will take up to 40 minutes and cost around US$80 for a round trip. Most of the drivers who take you will wait and take you back for that price.  The food is always good, particularly if you like fresh fish. My favourite is mahi mahi and I have to admit to it being my first choice on most nights but done in a variety of ways .. cajun, grilled, fried, spiced .. always absolutely delicious! My lunch fave was salad and flying fish with a healthy dollop of Bajan hot sauce!

Pre dinner drinks at the Cliff

My recommended restaurants -
Zen St Philips
Cin Cin By the Sea St James
The Tides Holetown
Champers Christchurch
The Cliff St James


I'm already thinking about my return visit next year but I have other fish to fry first .. next stop a long weekend to the Middle East!