Arrival in Barbados - to the Caribbean over Christmas

To escape the dreary German weather and the constant drizzling rain, we set off for the Caribbean shortly before Christmas. The very early flight went via London to Barbados, where we were greeted by sunshine and 30°C.

On the first evening, we briefly explored the surroundings of the hotel to do some shopping. For a little water and some bread with toppings, we paid a whopping 40 USD...

After trying the typical 'Rum punch', which consisted mainly of sugar and rum, we went to bed early after a long day with a four-hour time difference.

The next morning, we were picked up for the 'Barbados: Trail, Tram & Rum Experience' at the hotel.

Taking a bus that stopped at several other hotels in the area, we headed to “Harrison's Cave Eco Adventure Park”.

Here, a huge cave system has become a tourist destination, where you can also visit a high ropes course or go zip lining.

We opted for a guided tour through the cave, which proceeded calmly in a small “train” that drove us through the wide tunnels.

During the trip and at the two stops where you could disembark, there was a guide providing many explanations about the formations and the history of their exploration.

Afterwards, we took a short walk to a bird aviary.

Here, there were many chickens and doves, which looked somewhat different from the breeds at home.

In cages, there were also colorful parrots and budgerigars to admire.

The lady who had accompanied us up to this point would not reveal the time for our next activity, even when asked. She simply said we should take our time and then go for lunch.

We did just that, only to find out that our next tour was supposed to start in five minutes.

However, the guide said we could eat in peace first. Start times seem to be optional here...

After a quick “eco-friendly” lunch with disposable cutlery from a cardboard box, we proceeded to the “Rum experience”.

After an introduction to the history of rum and how it is made, we were allowed to taste three varieties.

During the explanations, we learned, for example, that the name “Grog” derives from an English admiral. He wanted to curb the drunkenness of sailors paid with rum by diluting their liquid wages with water. This naturally led to protests, and the drink was named after the admiral’s nickname, “old grog”.

Feeling slightly tipsy, we looked around in the souvenir shop before the bus took us back to our hotel.

A short walk through the town took us to the “Koala Beach”, which attracts vacationers with palm trees and white sand.