Cruising During the Pandemic--July 12

 The ship docked in Barbados and I must say it was interesting to watch how the tugs put those big ships in to the docks.  They literally turned one around in the harbor to get it docked in front of another ship.

I had forgotten why we never like room service, but since we had a tour leaving at 8:30, I ordered breakfast.  It's not anyone's fault but it is impossible to have eggs that are not cold by the time it gets to your room.

We did enjoy our juice on the balcony.

Bill needed another cup of coffee before he finished getting dressed.

You were not allowed to leave the ship unless you were on a curated ship tour.  We had to wear masks and be temperature checked.  The ships crew handed everyone an aluminum bottle of water before we departed the ship.

We decided on a panoramic tour of Barbados.  Bill always enjoys learning about the history and culture of a country.  Unfortunately, this wasn't the tour for that.  Our tour guide hadn't been doing tours since the start of the pandemic.  The bus rode very fast over the roads and when the guide mentioned something on the right or left he never slowed down.  Some of the things the guide pointed out, you couldn't see at all because the brush and trees were overgrown.  One thing we laughed about with Rebecca and Ron, who we met while on the tour, was the guide pointed out that the black bird on the left was called a blackbird.

We weren't impressed with the area.  They did have a hurricane come through the week earlier, but it didn't appear to have done much damage other than blow the roof of a shack. 

Our first stop was Gun Hill Signal Station.  In 1883 the telephone replaced the signal station.  The Barbados National Trust restored the station in 1981.  

Bill is always drawn to any kind of weapons.  

The views were great, and we were grateful for another beautiful day.  

It wasn't much to see but I did see some interesting flowers that I didn't get a picture of.  I forgot to mention that the camera I brought along on the trip decided not to open the lens cover completely and I took these with my phone.  I should have had some of the rum they were passing out.

Our next stop was suppose to be the Farley House.  As the bus got up to the gate to enter there was a lot of discussion between the gate guard and the tour guide.

The bus pulled through and turned around in the parking lot.  We were told that it was closed because they hadn't finished the hurricane clean up.  All we saw were workers sitting on the picnic tables and a few limbs on the grass.  We were only going to view the outside.

Our tour guide had pointed out a windmill before so she had the bus driver drive past it.

As we left the windmill the "road" turned into a bicycle path.  A car would come from the opposite direction and have to back up until there was room for us to pass.  

Now remember that no one knew we  had been diverted off our original itinerary.  This "road" was not for a bus.   All of a sudden the bus tries to make this steep grade and it just stalls.  The driver kept trying and finally made it.  All I could think of was no one would ever find us.  There were big sighs of relief when he finally got the bus going again.  I'm sure there were no cell phone signals there.  

Our next stop was the beach.  Do you see all the brown stuff near the waters edge?  That's seaweed! The local workers rack it up and use it for fertilizer. 

How do you like this photo of Bill and I?  Well, it was taken by a professional.  Remember I said we met a nice couple, Ron and Rebecca Turner from Beaufort South Carolina?

Sorry I can't figure out to turn the photo, but check it out if you're interested.

It turns out that they are president and vice president of The Beaufort Film Society.  They have filmed the graduating classes of the Marines for many years.  Next February will be the 16th annual international film festival.  I'm sure they filmed some Marines that we know.

The rest of the day was spent lounging by the pool.

Turtle Safely.........