So, Alex and I part ways for most of Saturday.
It starts in the morning, because I only have to get a rapid test to get back in the states, but he has to get a PCR. The difference in how much it costs to get a rapid at the hotel vs the main gymnasium place of Barbados is negligible, especially when you factor in cab fare.
But, for a PCR, the difference in money could be argued to be worth it. And it’s not like he’s stingy with money at all. (He paid for basically every single thing we did, since the trip itself was free for him. So, he got us that sweet private tour with Island Safari, and all our touristy stuff. At the end, he ultimately even paid for my Covid test when we were checking out, which was really sweet!)
But maybe because he’d paid for so many things, might as well save a little where you can, especially since he didn’t have any giant things he wanted to do on the last day, and he was already going into town anyway to meet up with his old roommate’s friend who happens to live in Barbados. So, why not just go early and get a Covid test?
Well, okay. I have other ideas haha. So, I’m gonna grab my test very quickly at the hotel, and then get on the road!
I got the sense that Alex wanted a semi-low-key last full day. And I wanted more like a last hoorah – trying to fit in everything recommended from tourist books etc., just checking off that list! So, we happily went separate ways for the morning/afternoon, with the idea that we would meet up for dinner.
I hired a driver for a handful of hours. (Thank you Wheel of Fortune for that extra spending cash.) And I told him all the things I hadn’t yet gotten to hit, and asked if we could try our best to do it all. And we did!
We headed up to Archer’s Bay, which was a fun little beach (covered in… seaweed, maybe? Definitely covered in something!).
It was cute though, and relatively empty/serene.
Then we went to Hunte’s Garden, which was actually really gorgeous. Someone had recommended Hunte’s Garden, and I was sort of thinking, “I’m from LA, where we have Huntington Gardens, which is sprawling and gorgeous, and has stuff from so many areas of the world. I wonder how unique this garden will be.” But it was unique!
It was reeeeally peaceful. Barely anyone was there. It was a perfect spot if you wanted to clear your head or read a book or something. The air felt so fresh. It was small, but mighty.
Then, I went to the animal sanctuary during monkey feeding time. There were a lot of monkeys! I always talk a big game with monkeys, like “oh yeah! I wanna be monkeys friends! I wanna hold a monkey!”
But then when I see a million monkeys running around in the wild, I’m like “aaaaagh! Monkeys!” haha
One of these days, I plan to hold a monkey! Today was not that day. (But you’re not supposed to hold them there anyway. You’re supposed to look at them.)
I also stopped at the “Hot Pot” which is a little makeshift natural hot tub on a beach in Barbados. It was kinda warm, and I’m glad I got to see it in its glory.
I also stopped at this bar I’d kept seeing every time we went to Bridgetown, which had this blow-up obstacle course in the ocean. Sadly, I didn’t have time with all I wanted to do to go to the obstacle course, but they did tell me about it. And if you feel like it, they’ll boat you out there and let you play!
If ever I were to go back to Barbados, this would absolutely be on my list of things to do.
So, then!
While I’d been scuba diving earlier in the week, Alex went to the cricket game and had an amazing time!
I’d never been to a game of cricket. And I think I mentioned, maybe, that while we were there, there was this HUGE tournament that happens only once every four years for cricket.
Basically everyone in our hotel was there for cricket.
Cricket, cricket, everywhere.
So, why not? I headed over to the stadium to see if I could get a ticket.
And this(!!!!) – this A+++++ such a memorable Barbados experience is where I’ll pick up tomorrow!