Last year I decided that I will miss Advent in Prague. and I'll go out into the heat. No frosts, no stress, just disappear for three whole weeks and not come back until Christmas Eve. I combined business with pleasure and set off for a language course in Barbados. How did I spend these three weeks?
Transportation as an adrenaline experience in the Caribbean
My plan was clear – to take the state bus. But he caught me at the station yellow bus driver and with a smile he promised me that I would get there much faster with him.
The truth is that these yellow "„reggae bus“" are an experience in themselves, so I jumped in and got a ride to Speightstown. There, the driver willingly pointed me to a white van, the legendary ZR taxi, which dropped me off in the direction of the distillery.
I got off about two kilometers from the destination and wanted to walk. But after a while I a local lady stopped by and she gave me a ride half the way in her car. The people here are simply incredible and this willingness immediately lifts your spirits.
Mount Gay in St. Lucy: Where History Began in 1703
The distillery in St. Lucy is a true production facility. The history of Mount Gay Rum Distillery dates back to 1703, making it the oldest continuously operating distillery in the world.
The tour cost 60 US dollars and lasted a little over two hours. Our guide took us through the entire distillery, explaining and showing us how they make rum. See those endless rows of barrels, where the rum matures in the heat, is really powerful.
Fifteen thousand barrels in one place
Walking through halls full of barrels is an incredible experience for all the senses. They have fifteen thousand in one hall and there are five such buildings on the campus. It smells everywhere wood, vanilla and aged alcohol.
Once you soak up the atmosphere, you'll understand why this rum is so famous. I spent two hours there, exploring every detail of the production. Seeing the process with your own eyes is something completely different than just reading about it in a guidebook.
The culmination of the entire expedition was the final tasting. I tasted four different types of rum and each one was a completely different world. Of course I'm taking two bottles home and I just hope my suitcase isn't overweight when I leave.
Travel tips
If you're planning a vacation in the Caribbean, Mount Gay is a must-see. Here are my tips for your trip:
Book book a tour in advance via website, it is usually quite crowded.
Don't be afraid to use the local ZR taxi, it's cheap and authentic. And you can also get here by public transport. Or you can take a taxi from Speighstown.
Take it. sturdy shoes and a t-shirt, which covers the shoulders. These are the conditions of entry.
The way back and Saturday relaxation in Oistins
After the tour, I headed back. Nice. on their own at the same crossroads where that kind lady picked me up this morning. At the stop with the sign "„That City“"I waited about 15 minutes for a shared taxi to show up.".
Because once you travel around Barbados, you have to follow the signs at the stops. There are basically only two types that determine the direction of your journey:
To City: It means that the connection goes towards the capital city of Bridgetown (central hub).
Out of City: It means that the bus is going out of the capital, i.e. to the countryside or to the coast.
A shared taxi took me back to Speightown. From there I then jumped on blue state bus, which dropped me off directly at Oistins without a transfer.
In total, transportation for that day cost me 4 rides of 3.5 Barbadian dollars, which is ridiculous in terms of 160 crowns. I then ended Saturday afternoon a well-deserved relaxation on the beach in Oistins and watched the sun disappear into the ocean.
All about Barbados in my e-book
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