I don't know where to start ! Thanks to everyone who wished us bon voyage and to those who sent messages yesterday and today asking if the trip was everything we wanted it to be. The answer ? Yes...
We've been to Barbados at least 20 times. Our marriage sort of grew up and matured during those years. Our last trip was the November prior to the year I discovered I had cancer. That November trip was not good. I was ill and didn't know it. Just knew I wasn't feeling well. Then, the following February was St. Barts. A good trip, but again I wasn't well. May of that year I was diagnosed. Barbados had to be cancelled, but we were fortunate to be in St. Barts in February of the following year. After that, we missed several trips due to business woes and illness. To say the least, late last year and early this year have been quite the battle for both of us. I was nervous heading to Barbados, but we both felt we had to get away. The morning of the trip I was a bit shaky. Didn't know how I would be on a flight, etc.
The flight was wonderful. No gliches. When the plane doors opened and we exited, I will never forget the smell of that ocean.
The hotel - Coral Sands - was located on our favourite beaches which join to form one long gorgeous beach - Worthing Beach and Sandy Beach. It is the most beautiful length of beach I've seen in my travels and the water is amazing for swimming. Coral Sands was all that we expected it to be. A lovely small hotel located on the beach with lovely gardens and a great swimming pool. The room had two Queen sized beds, lots of room, a large bathroom plus a lovely kitchen to prepare our breakfasts. The patio was quite large and the view was stupendous. The staff were excellent and the Bajuns were as friendly and kind as always.
We didn't hire a car this time around which was surprising. But both Roger and I , when we talked about it, well, it just seemed like to much work
We spent our mornings walking the beach. In the past, we would power walk the beach. This time, Roger power walked and I limped up and down the beach on my own. That was frustating for me, but the fact that I spent an hour doing it, made me happy. The hours between 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. were spent either in the shade at the hotel having lunch or some other restaurant. Late afternoon was another walk on the beach and then a retirement to the bar for a "few" drinks. The most difficult decision of the day was where to have dinner.
Barbados is similar to Grand Case on the French side of St. Martin in that their restaurants are excellent. I have still not had meals on St. Barts that have impressed me to the point where I would say they are the best. They aren't. The food in Barbados is fabulous. We had a leisurely lunch at a restaurant on the West Coast called Lone Star. A small boutique hotel. Unless you knew about it, you'd never go. The restaurant is located on the beach. Wine selection is excellent and the food ? Almost, just almost as good as Sand Bar. We had lunches at other spots, but this was memorable. As for dinner, too many to mention, but four stars go to The Cliff, Josefs and Restaurant on Southsea. If you want to know more about these restaurants, just let me know. One of our favourite meals was recommended to us by Robin, the bartender at Coral Sands (and yes, we became good friends with Robin !). Robin is Bajun and recommended Lobster Alive to us. Very small, located on a beach and frequented by the locals. We shared a lobster that could compete and win over the lobster we've had in St. Barts and even our East Coast lobster in Canada.
Okay, memorable moments:
Getting off the plane, smelling the sea air and not quite believing we were there. We had moments last year when we thought I was for the broth pot.
Arriving at Coral Sands, unpacking, standing on the patio and looking at the view. Roger putting his arms around me from behind, telling me he loved me and what was I thinking. I just shook my head because I couldn't speak. The tears were rolling down my face. He gave me some time alone.
Getting into a cab and recognizing Peter, a cab driver we've had many times over the years.
Visiting Salt Ash - a small apartment complex we stayed in for the first 10 yearly visits to Barbados and having Eddie, the bartender, stop what he was doing, yelling "Star !" (which is his nickname for me), giving me a huge hug and then looking at Roger and saying, "Hey Red. Where you been, man ?" And hugging him.
The first morning when I put on a swimsuit for the first time and having Roger ask what did I want to do first. Walk or a dip in the ocean. He never finished his sentence. I ran into the surf and plunged in and yelled to him "I'm here !"
Knowing that I could wear swimsuits, shorts, dresses and you'd never know I was wearing appliances.
Sitting at the bar every night with Kurt from New Jersey and his lovely wife, Joanne. Won't go into details other than he has been through hell and back like I have. Each night, when we received our first drink, we would look at each other across the bar and raise our glass and silently toast each other. We exchanged e-mail addresses. We want to keep up with each other's progress. Yet again, new friends made.
And the most memorable ? Knowing that even though there are still things I can't do with Roger and not knowing whether I'll ever be able to again, he didn't care. We just seemed to love each other more on this vacation. On June 5th we celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. Guess this marriage is going to last)
It wasn't sad to come home. Home is home. I missed Irie Dog and since we arrived home last night, he has been my shadow. The front and back garden is lush, the weather today is absolutely gorgeous and I had breakfast on my back deck. When you have a good trip and know you have a good space to come home for, you can't feel sad. Barbados will be there for us next year just as St. Barts will be there when we arrive in February of next year.
I'd love to say I learned something more from this trip, but I can't think of learning anything more than I have over the past 4 years. I don't want to be maudlin or dramatic or drippy. But what I've learned was reinforced. Life is good. Love is good. Friends are good. Being in a good space is good. Like Kurt, he and I are worried about our futures. How long will they be, how will we fare with our health. But we've learned to carry on. To get on with it. To take what we can from our lives and to enjoy every bit of it. I didn't say goodbye to Barbados because we'll be back. I won't say goodbye to St. Barts in February because we'll be back. But if my life map doesn't make this possible, well, I'll be able to say I've had a good run for my money.
But I am going to be maudlin. Remember I said this to all of you before. Look at your partner, no matter what they are doing, no matter if they are wearing their sweats or dressed to the nines. Look at your partner and when they ask why you're looking at them that way, just tell them "No reason, I just love you."
Deb
We've been to Barbados at least 20 times. Our marriage sort of grew up and matured during those years. Our last trip was the November prior to the year I discovered I had cancer. That November trip was not good. I was ill and didn't know it. Just knew I wasn't feeling well. Then, the following February was St. Barts. A good trip, but again I wasn't well. May of that year I was diagnosed. Barbados had to be cancelled, but we were fortunate to be in St. Barts in February of the following year. After that, we missed several trips due to business woes and illness. To say the least, late last year and early this year have been quite the battle for both of us. I was nervous heading to Barbados, but we both felt we had to get away. The morning of the trip I was a bit shaky. Didn't know how I would be on a flight, etc.
The flight was wonderful. No gliches. When the plane doors opened and we exited, I will never forget the smell of that ocean.
The hotel - Coral Sands - was located on our favourite beaches which join to form one long gorgeous beach - Worthing Beach and Sandy Beach. It is the most beautiful length of beach I've seen in my travels and the water is amazing for swimming. Coral Sands was all that we expected it to be. A lovely small hotel located on the beach with lovely gardens and a great swimming pool. The room had two Queen sized beds, lots of room, a large bathroom plus a lovely kitchen to prepare our breakfasts. The patio was quite large and the view was stupendous. The staff were excellent and the Bajuns were as friendly and kind as always.
We didn't hire a car this time around which was surprising. But both Roger and I , when we talked about it, well, it just seemed like to much work
We spent our mornings walking the beach. In the past, we would power walk the beach. This time, Roger power walked and I limped up and down the beach on my own. That was frustating for me, but the fact that I spent an hour doing it, made me happy. The hours between 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. were spent either in the shade at the hotel having lunch or some other restaurant. Late afternoon was another walk on the beach and then a retirement to the bar for a "few" drinks. The most difficult decision of the day was where to have dinner.Barbados is similar to Grand Case on the French side of St. Martin in that their restaurants are excellent. I have still not had meals on St. Barts that have impressed me to the point where I would say they are the best. They aren't. The food in Barbados is fabulous. We had a leisurely lunch at a restaurant on the West Coast called Lone Star. A small boutique hotel. Unless you knew about it, you'd never go. The restaurant is located on the beach. Wine selection is excellent and the food ? Almost, just almost as good as Sand Bar. We had lunches at other spots, but this was memorable. As for dinner, too many to mention, but four stars go to The Cliff, Josefs and Restaurant on Southsea. If you want to know more about these restaurants, just let me know. One of our favourite meals was recommended to us by Robin, the bartender at Coral Sands (and yes, we became good friends with Robin !). Robin is Bajun and recommended Lobster Alive to us. Very small, located on a beach and frequented by the locals. We shared a lobster that could compete and win over the lobster we've had in St. Barts and even our East Coast lobster in Canada.
Okay, memorable moments:
Getting off the plane, smelling the sea air and not quite believing we were there. We had moments last year when we thought I was for the broth pot.
Arriving at Coral Sands, unpacking, standing on the patio and looking at the view. Roger putting his arms around me from behind, telling me he loved me and what was I thinking. I just shook my head because I couldn't speak. The tears were rolling down my face. He gave me some time alone.
Getting into a cab and recognizing Peter, a cab driver we've had many times over the years.
Visiting Salt Ash - a small apartment complex we stayed in for the first 10 yearly visits to Barbados and having Eddie, the bartender, stop what he was doing, yelling "Star !" (which is his nickname for me), giving me a huge hug and then looking at Roger and saying, "Hey Red. Where you been, man ?" And hugging him.
The first morning when I put on a swimsuit for the first time and having Roger ask what did I want to do first. Walk or a dip in the ocean. He never finished his sentence. I ran into the surf and plunged in and yelled to him "I'm here !"
Knowing that I could wear swimsuits, shorts, dresses and you'd never know I was wearing appliances.
Sitting at the bar every night with Kurt from New Jersey and his lovely wife, Joanne. Won't go into details other than he has been through hell and back like I have. Each night, when we received our first drink, we would look at each other across the bar and raise our glass and silently toast each other. We exchanged e-mail addresses. We want to keep up with each other's progress. Yet again, new friends made.
And the most memorable ? Knowing that even though there are still things I can't do with Roger and not knowing whether I'll ever be able to again, he didn't care. We just seemed to love each other more on this vacation. On June 5th we celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. Guess this marriage is going to last
)It wasn't sad to come home. Home is home. I missed Irie Dog and since we arrived home last night, he has been my shadow. The front and back garden is lush, the weather today is absolutely gorgeous and I had breakfast on my back deck. When you have a good trip and know you have a good space to come home for, you can't feel sad. Barbados will be there for us next year just as St. Barts will be there when we arrive in February of next year.
I'd love to say I learned something more from this trip, but I can't think of learning anything more than I have over the past 4 years. I don't want to be maudlin or dramatic or drippy. But what I've learned was reinforced. Life is good. Love is good. Friends are good. Being in a good space is good. Like Kurt, he and I are worried about our futures. How long will they be, how will we fare with our health. But we've learned to carry on. To get on with it. To take what we can from our lives and to enjoy every bit of it. I didn't say goodbye to Barbados because we'll be back. I won't say goodbye to St. Barts in February because we'll be back. But if my life map doesn't make this possible, well, I'll be able to say I've had a good run for my money.
But I am going to be maudlin. Remember I said this to all of you before. Look at your partner, no matter what they are doing, no matter if they are wearing their sweats or dressed to the nines. Look at your partner and when they ask why you're looking at them that way, just tell them "No reason, I just love you."
Deb
