Surfin’ Barbados

Combine 6 friends + a beach house in Barbados + 10 bottles of rum and you’ve got a reality TV show…I mean our Barbados vacation.

When Tim and I invited BJ, Lisa, Gretchen and Brad to go sailing in the Grenadines, we figured we’d be in the Caribbean for a week and a half. As we all started trip planning, it was BJ who came up with the best idea we’d heard yet. “Well if we are going to spend all that money on airfare, why not go see another island while we’re there?” Brilliant.

5 months later, we were flying to Barbados. When we got off the plane from Miami, we were hit by a wall of 85 degree wet air. It was 10pm local time, raining and we were tired. We climbed into the cab of Dwayne Wade (son of Wayne Wade) and drove to Cotton House 2, 1 mile from Oistens.

When we got to the house, Stephanie showed us around from room to room. It was a pretty house with plenty of space. Then she opened the doors to the deck and the house went from good to amazing. Perched right over the water, the doors opened to a 180 degree view of the ocean and Freights Bay.

It immediately felt like home. We spent the next 5 days working, surfing, swimming and getting to know the town of Oistens.

 

 

 

During our 10 days in Barbados,  Lisa, BJ, Tim and I were still working.  But the lunch breaks were the best…

 

 

 

 

But when  in a place like Barbados you can’t work ALL the time…so I took Friday off for a surf class.  And there is no place better than Barry’s to learn.

 

Surf Class 101:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday was rainy but it didn’t stop us from attending the famed Oisten’s Fish Fry.  Locals from across Barbados arrive for fresh lobster, shrimp, and flying fish.

We searched the many options in the carnival-like atmosphere until we found George’s and were guided to “the best table” in the house.  Full of fish, we toasted with the worst Rum Punch on the island.   But though it was terrible, the rum punch started the fireworks for the night.  Half an hour later we were dancing to “Under the Boardwalk” by the Drifters, followed by homegrown Barbados rap, followed by the Silver Fox Slots and the world’s longest pool game.

Shots of Hennessy anyone?

 

Saturday morning we were rented a car and took to the roads.  Navigating around Barbados is no easy feat with minimal signage, narrow roads, many roundabouts and English style left side driving.  Brad took the wheel and we followed the signage (either To City or Away from City) and circled the island. (Thank you BJ for letting me steal some of your pictures!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Sunday we did some more exploring and Lisa, Brad, Gretchen and I went to St. Nicholas Abbey for a rum tour and lesson in Barbados history.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After our tour and a daring mango hunt, we picked up BJ and drove to St. Lawrence Gap for dinner with Jason Dean, a friend of Tim’s who was visiting his girlfriend Laura and friend Chris.   The choice of the evening was Cafe Sol for a post Cinco de Mayo celebration.

 

 

After a weekend of exploring, we were back to work Monday morning.  We still made plenty of time for a few more surf days though.